So they took away laziness (auto wipers and headlights) and that horrible looking hockey puck and added great practicality (fog lights) and safety (DRL's)
Could someone please explain the downside here??? The only downside is I have to wait till March to get my 09 orphan...
My two smarts came with the full comfort package. The auto lights work the same as my minivans and reduced the 'learning curve'. The auto wipers are a very nice addition to keep the intermitent wipers working only when actually needed. It is much more convenient than continually adjusting them yourselves. Since the have a 'variable' wipe interval they are much more flexible then the basic system. Leather and heated seats match what I am used to with the older cars. It is hard to give up these luxuries once you have lived with them for a long time.
I purchased these extras for the same reasons I chose the passion over the pure. The power windows and power mirrors are nice but not a necessity. The fog lights are also nice, but not necessary. I also installed auto dimming mirrors to help with the rear mirror issues at night.
It is disappointing to see them going away on my next smart.
So they took away laziness (auto wipers and headlights) and that horrible looking hockey puck and added great practicality (fog lights) and safety (DRL's)
Could someone please explain the downside here??? The only downside is I have to wait till March to get my 09 orphan...
No, they took away convenience (which is different from laziness), the hockey puck which isn't even visible if you are somewhat tall, added something that can be bought (and for $120 should be bouht anyway for the amount of light they give off), and nothing has been listed about DRL being available now.
The downside is that they are taking away semi-premium features, adding mundane ones back, and making more profit in the process.
I received the same email today. OK, so now that I know the wiper sensor / automatic wipers and auto-off headlamps with exit delay are not longer part of the 2009 comfort package, I really see no advantage to keeping my reservation for the 2009. My 2008 orphan is just perfect. It lacks only the alarm system and has every other option. Why pay more for a "newer" model? My 2008 runs great and has just over 6000 miles. I am quite partial to the auto wipers and auto-off lights.
Really no reason to go with the new Smart until they IMPROVE it. I am calling Monday and requesting th $99 back.... Not even sure when they were going to deliver the configured vehicle anyway. In addition, I reserved it waaaaay back in October of 2007!!!! And still don't have it. So glad I got my beautiful orphan!
I think I would have done the same thing in your situation. I LOVE my auto wipers and auto headlights. I also came from a car that had them and it would have been hard to adjusting to a new car that didn't. It was part of what sold me. All the bells and whistles of a Mercedes without the size or poor fuel economy. If they get rid of those features it will be hard for me to buy another...
I think this is a VERY BAD decision on their part to get rid of these options. If anything they should make them additional options for those that really want them. It will make me think twice when it comes time to buy another smart...
I think the ding-dongs that have never had them and didn't understand them complained too much so they have done away with them. Who knows, they might be failing to share a glitch that will show up later down the road as a result of having them.... One never knows. I wish we could find out from our friend from the plant why they removed them.... Its a bit concerning to me...
Last edited by bradgarbus; 01-31-2009 at 07:10 AM.
No, they took away convenience (which is different from laziness), the hockey puck which isn't even visible if you are somewhat tall, added something that can be bought (and for $120 should be bouht anyway for the amount of light they give off), and nothing has been listed about DRL being available now.
The downside is that they are taking away semi-premium features, adding mundane ones back, and making more profit in the process.
I'm so glad I own an '08...
I couldn't have said it better!!! I am just glad I have a very early version of the 09 - with all the bells and whistles!
I like the fog lamps, over the hockey puck. I use the fog lamps everyday. It doesn't rain or snow here everyday. I know when to turn on the wipers, when it rains or sprinkles. They really need to add variable wiper speeds to the cars system. That would be a better feature.
I'm not surprised - I thought those were the culprits behind the battery drain issue in the early 2009 cars? Looks like they've found a permanent fix.
Not true. It was the heated mirrors on the early 09 that were connected to the back defrosters that caused the battery drain. I went in for the fix within the first 2 days and now my smart has worked fine - over 2000 miles on it now. I monitor my batter power using a Scanguage and it is fine. I also leave my wipers and headlamps in AUTO mode at all times. (except when I take it through the touchless car wash of course.)
I love my auto headlights. Also love the auto wipers, most of the time. Sometimes it seems like the wipers get confused and I have to switch them off then back to auto to reset them. They'll either start going faster than they need to or the windshield will be totally covered before the swipe. Was going to ask about it at first service. Wish smart would at least keep the auto headlights. There are cheaper ways to do it than the hockey puck. We replaced the sensor in our Grand Am for $13!
So they took away laziness (auto wipers and headlights) and that horrible looking hockey puck and added great practicality (fog lights) and safety (DRL's)
Could someone please explain the downside here??? The only downside is I have to wait till March to get my 09 orphan...
If DRL are part of the comfort package then it is a good move. Besides it is a easy mode to get the lights to come on by them selves.
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The auto wipers are a very nice addition to keep the intermitent wipers working only when actually needed. It is much more convenient than continually adjusting them yourselves. Since the have a 'variable' wipe interval they are much more flexible then the basic system. Leather and heated seats match what I am used to with the older cars. It is hard to give up these luxuries once you have lived with them for a long time.
I am calling Monday and requesting th $99 back.... Not even sure when they were going to deliver the configured vehicle anyway.
In addition, I reserved it waaaaay back in October of 2007!!!! And still don't have it. So glad I got my beautiful orphan!
2010 Smart 
Today
Linear Mode
