I'm in the market for a Passion. When I look at completed auctions on ebay, the majority of cars sold were Passions with no reserve. Average sold price is about $11.5-12k. But that's only 10% of the completed listings... 90% of the smart completed auctions didn't result in a sale.
While I understand why a new smart owner might be motivated to try to flip it for a quick sale, I'm surprised how many vehicles are up for sale with 2000 - 5000 miles on them already. Yet these owners are also trying to get more than MSRP on them.
If you're trying to flip a car based on speculation, you don't drive it. Is there a period around 2000-5000 miles where the honeymoon is over and folks who just don't get this car try to cash it in? I'm curious why so many "used" smarts are on the block (and very reluctant to cave to paying too much for a used car).
I understand supply/demand, waitlists, etc. But there's also cars on the lot at the dealerships now, a bad economy, the post-christmas lull, and gas at relatively low prices. In one instance, I know of a car with over 16k miles on it, and the stealership is advertising it for roughly MSRP. 2/3 of the warranty is GONE, and they want $14k. And like the other 90%, it's not selling.
If you're trying to flip a car based on speculation, you don't drive it. Is there a period around 2000-5000 miles where the honeymoon is over and folks who just don't get this car try to cash it in? I'm curious why so many "used" smarts are on the block (and very reluctant to cave to paying too much for a used car).
Hit the nail on the head. The people that are flipping for profit are coming to the sad realization that they speculated based on 5 dollar gas. Now that the bubble's burst, all the trucks are back out on the streets and the people that sold theirs for a loss are ticked off that someone else picked up their truck for half price.
Add to that the fact that so many didn't test drive the car before committing, and some think the "automatic" transmission is screwed up, and a few want to trade in what they bought on impulse. Simply put, this car isn't an impulse buy - it's unique, a long term investment, and you either love it or hate it. The vast majority love their cars.
Add in other market timing issues - January = slow, March/April I think are peak due to tax refunds. Sales of everything are slow. The Smart is doing better than other Mercedes - so they're doing something right. Buy the car you want, not what a trend or your neighbor tell you to buy. Buy it when you're ready, not on some rumor of X dollar gas or unemployment. Now's not the time to speculate on much of anything, especially a product that traditionally depreciates on day one.
Look in the marketplace some members have a decent price on their cars.
Got 15,ooo mi on my pure if someone were silly enough to offer me MSRP on it I'd take it in a heart beat! And then turn around and buy a new '09!
59 smarts currently listed and 250 prius's listed. Also most have reserve and quite a few relists. I would assume with the high number of silly reserve prices a lot of people hoping for the big score.
Get in line and call around if you don't mind driving a few miles (ok several hundred) you can probaly get a new passion at a dealer for msrp.
Hit the nail on the head. The people that are flipping for profit are coming to the sad realization that they speculated based on 5 dollar gas. Now that the bubble's burst, all the trucks are back out on the streets and the people that sold theirs for a loss are ticked off that someone else picked up their truck for half price.
Add to that the fact that so many didn't test drive the car before committing, and some think the "automatic" transmission is screwed up, and a few want to trade in what they bought on impulse. Simply put, this car isn't an impulse buy - it's unique, a long term investment, and you either love it or hate it. The vast majority love their cars.
Add in other market timing issues - January = slow, March/April I think are peak due to tax refunds. Sales of everything are slow. The Smart is doing better than other Mercedes - so they're doing something right. Buy the car you want, not what a trend or your neighbor tell you to buy. Buy it when you're ready, not on some rumor of X dollar gas or unemployment. Now's not the time to speculate on much of anything, especially a product that traditionally depreciates on day one.
Exactly Super. One guy at work asked me if I wanted to buy his Yellow Loaded Passion. I said no, I want a convertable. He ordered it Aug 07. Most that ordered without test driving are now tossing it out on ebay because they are dissapointed. I told my wife and friend I would not buy one until I drove it to see if I liked it. Why order a car if you don't know what it is like. Oh, that is right, a FAD. I hate FAD PPL. I am one of those do what I like, not FAD because it is in. Now from what I hear, the 09 tranny is way better then the 08. Another reason I don't go out and buy the first Xbox 360, or PS3 when they come out. BUGS! Everything has them. They get the FAD PPL or SUCKERS as I like to think of them as, to go and buy, find the bugs, and then they make the next model better. Thus the IDIOT Gas cap sensor. If you know anything about a new car, you must make sure the darn gas cap is screwed on tight, and turned until it clicks several times. They have a torqued cap so you can't break it by turning it too much. The tranny was another big issue so they made it better. I am sure there will be better things to come in the 10 models and so on and so forth. They will only get better and cost more money.
I say test drive, read the forums to see the problems, and then decide if the car is for you. Gas prices will go up as soon as summer comes around, and as soon as the new government enacts their higher taxes to cover more spending that good old congress will do.
The strange thing about my interest in this car is that I've driven manuals all my life and absolutely despise slushboxes. But I found during the test drive (as been mentioned in the forum) that if I simply lift on the accelerator the same way one drives a manual, and use the paddles, the shifts are smooth and without any lurching or drama. So yes, while I would prefer a full manual transmission, the smart automated manual to me is more enjoyable than the typical torque converter. Although if i had to use the paddles all the time, I concede the novelty might wear thin.
Update: I checked the marketplace ads. 90% of them seem to be from ebay.
ebay is free to list for low volume sellerrs. you only pay if you sell. ever since they changed to this sytem, i've seen a lot more cars with ridiculous pricing. basically sellers are fishing...
Simple Supply and Demand.... There are lots of Orphans around now and demand is lower with people getting laid off, gas prices dropping etc. Right now it is a buyers market and the people holding out for top dollar may be holding on for awhile. I did buy mine off Ebay and probably paid more than I should have but at the time there was a long waiting list and I deciided it was worth it to me to get one now. I'm happy with what I got so I don't worry about it. I'll probably sell it when it hits 250,000 miles.
Simple Supply and Demand.... There are lots of Orphans around now and demand is lower with people getting laid off, gas prices dropping etc. Right now it is a buyers market and the people holding out for top dollar may be holding on for awhile. I did buy mine off Ebay and probably paid more than I should have but at the time there was a long waiting list and I deciided it was worth it to me to get one now. I'm happy with what I got so I don't worry about it. I'll probably sell it when it hits 250,000 miles.
I'm gonna run mine until parts start falling off...
But I found during the test drive (as been mentioned in the forum) that if I simply lift on the accelerator the same way one drives a manual, and use the paddles, the shifts are smooth and without any lurching or drama. So yes, while I would prefer a full manual transmission, the smart automated manual to me is more enjoyable than the typical torque converter. Although if i had to use the paddles all the time, I concede the novelty might wear thin.
You hit the nail on the head. Like I just said in another thread, 3/4 of the "problems" with the transmission in this car are caused by the driver. If you get in and drive it like an automatic without lifting, it'll get the job done - but it will do what it needs to do to protect itself. If you help it out a bit by lifting when you want it to shift, or coaching it to do what you want it to do with the accelerator (ie slight kick to the pedal and then back off to bring on a downshift when entering a turn... etc), it's quite nice to drive.
The only place where mine gets aggravating is in my parking garage here at home. There is a turn where you have to slow down a bit before entering, and it seems to confuse my car whenin D. It will usually downshift from 2 to 1, but then rev higher than it should, so it goes back to 2... but for about 1 second it has no forward oomph when it is deciding what it wants to do.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
.
1999 Ford Expedition
Smart
Today
Linear Mode
