Maybe readers wouldn't be so "smart sensitive" if you had chosen a different title for this thread.... It was hostile and adversarial, so I'm not surprised at the responses.
And yet, it got over 100 replies and nearly 3000 views. Sometimes a controversial title helps draw attention to a real problem. And this fellow had a real problem, with his car and mostly with his dealer.
If a car dealer had left me hanging like that and paying for the rental myself, I am not sure that the title of my thread concerning it would have been as kind as the title of this thread.
With my dealership, if you got the extended warranty you also get a free loaner car. Unless it's otherwise specified, I'm not aware that dealerships have to give you a loaner.
The battery problems are well documented. If and when my battery dies, I will not be surprised. Put out, temporarily, most certainly.
The OP stated that the car was "towed three hours" to the dealership. IMO, I would never buy a car if the closest dealership for warranty repairs was that far away. Especially a car that's new to America.
I'll admit that the battery issues--like the stuck shifter and the emissions problem--are, at least, valid. Those seem to be the largest three issues with the car so far. As for the rest of the "issues" that crop up on this board--the fact that it has slow acceleration, shifts roughly, uses premium gas, and blows around in the wind, to name a few--I think those are more with the purchasers than with the car. JMO.
We've had ours for a month, and have had one major problem: not enough time to drive it, or places to drive it to.
If a car dealer had left me hanging like that and paying for the rental myself, I am not sure that the title of my thread concerning it would have been as kind as the title of this thread.
Then the title should be "Don't buy a car from this stupid farking' dealer"
Been in the electronic repair biz for 25-years. Parts get back ordered or are NON-existent on new gear. This is where the quality of the dealer comes into play. If they
assume x% failure of a part that's what they carry if it turns out to 10x or 100x that's when the bull hits the fan. Have I pulled a lamp out of a demo TV to loan to a customer when there is no stock you bet I do! Pulling a battery out of a demo car is such a no brainer I can't believe they didn't do it as soon as they found the batteries were b/o.....
With my dealership, if you got the extended warranty you also get a free loaner car. Unless it's otherwise specified, I'm not aware that dealerships have to give you a loaner.
The battery problems are well documented. If and when my battery dies, I will not be surprised. Put out, temporarily, most certainly.
The OP stated that the car was "towed three hours" to the dealership. IMO, I would never buy a car if the closest dealership for warranty repairs was that far away. Especially a car that's new to America.
I'll admit that the battery issues--like the stuck shifter and the emissions problem--are, at least, valid. Those seem to be the largest three issues with the car so far. As for the rest of the "issues" that crop up on this board--the fact that it has slow acceleration, shifts roughly, uses premium gas, and blows around in the wind, to name a few--I think those are more with the purchasers than with the car. JMO.
We've had ours for a month, and have had one major problem: not enough time to drive it, or places to drive it to.
We just arrived here in Kentucky after 1700 mile, 3 day trip. As far as slow acceleration, shifts roughly and blows around in the wind, I guess we got real lucky because we have non of the problems listed above. The car handled the 75 mph on the interstates with no problems at all. Came thru wind and rain storms with no problems, even no problems passing the semis as far as the wind problems. Getting on and off the interstates was no problem either, the car accelerates with no hesitation right up to speed. We will be here for another week and then head back home to New Mexico, 1700 miles again. So far no problems or complaints except for a little rough ride on rough roads, mostly Oklahoma interstates. Great car, gas mileage so far is between 38 and 51 mpg. Hopefully will have an uneventfull trip home. I recommend this car to everyone I meet.
Of course they don't have to give me a rental....but my Nissan dealer does, without an extended warranty, and so does my BMW dealer and Mercedes dealer, and granted I would not expect it from smart then, but if a dealer is going to sit on your car for weeks for a battery......please. They better cough up for the rental.
Glad you got it resolved though. Myself, I will not bother driving the distance to the dealer for a battery issue. And I am willing to bet that I will have that issue too. 120 miles is too far for a $40 item for me. Cheaper for me to just buy another one and forego the dealership.
Of course they don't have to give me a rental....but my Nissan dealer does, without an extended warranty, and so does my BMW dealer and Mercedes dealer, and granted I would not expect it from smart then, but if a dealer is going to sit on your car for weeks for a battery......please. They better cough up for the rental.
Glad you got it resolved though. Myself, I will not bother driving the distance to the dealer for a battery issue. And I am willing to bet that I will have that issue too. 120 miles is too far for a $40 item for me. Cheaper for me to just buy another one and forego the dealership.
$40 for a battery????? A bit more than that BUT if mine goes out AND I know it IS the battery then I will shell out the cash - then again the closest dealer is 3 hours for me. Still, I don't care for factory batteries and like to upgrade.
$40 for a battery????? A bit more than that BUT if mine goes out AND I know it IS the battery then I will shell out the cash - then again the closest dealer is 3 hours for me. Still, I don't care for factory batteries and like to upgrade.
Yes, $40....and if I get them at costco, they usually free. If the battery fails within the first three years, they refund the full pruchase price of the battery and you can get another one. I have never even had them ever bother prorating one....they always give me all my money back. Battery died in Sequoia NP this summer on the van, used the deep cycle marine battery on my trailer to jump it till I got to costco where they refunded the full amount on a three year old battery, bought another one for $40 and put it in in 5 minutes.
I have never had a battery last the warranty period out here in the Arizona heat. If they did motorcycle batteries there, I would get them there too, but I prefer the Odyssey in my adventure bike as you may be hundreds of miles from help if your battery goes, but for the smart, a costco battery will be just fine for me....or they sell Optima there too if I am feeling ambitious that day.
Will a battery from COSTCO, SEARS or WALMART even fit the smart?
I had the same expectations when my AUDI A6 battery died. I walked to Walmart located about a 1000ft away and discovered that they didn't even have a battery for that car, ditto for SEARS. I had to drive to the dealer in my wife's car and purchase one, then drive back to install it and then had to return the original back to the dealer. The battery location was also a surprise...I know now.
I did get some prorating of course but such an episode again makes one feel a bit concerned about taking a long trip.
I don't always buy the correct battery for the vehicle, but buy the biggest one I can fit in the tray that at least meets the minimum requirements in power. I don't know that you can find an exact match for the smart in any particular place, but I am sure you can find a close enough match.
I even shoehorned an oversized battery into my motorcycle for a few extra amps.
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2009 Smart Passion Cabrio
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A bit more than that BUT if mine goes out AND I know it IS the battery then I will shell out the cash - then again the closest dealer is 3 hours for me. Still, I don't care for factory batteries and like to upgrade. 
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