Got Delivery today. 1st in Beverly Hills!!

[ginoesto]

I have a few first impressions. I tried posting earlier but it appears it didnt work.

We got the first car today (black/black passion)at BH Smart Car (we have #2 coming tomorow, will pick up sat). The staff was amazingly friendly. Truly enjoyable experience. They treated us like rock stars.

The car is neat as heck. The quality is not up to what I expected. A little on the subpar level. Carpeting doesnt fit flush on the floor. Very loud engine noise. Seats sit uncomfortably high. You feel like squating down to see. The rear view mirror feels like it's in the way. Visibility overall is good. Feels like you are in a big open space. Car feel really safe and secure. I think after they burn through the first 40,000 there needs to be a price adjustment. It's honestly an overpriced car. Minus the wow factor.

Story of our delivery is on the front page of The Beverly Hills Courier.
http://www.thebeverlyhillscourier.com/editions/

[spdickey]

Congrats on the new smart. Vinnie is a great guy, I was there yesterday when I learned the first cars arrived. Mine wasn't there, but I grabbed a bunch of pictures of a near identical yellow/black beauty right next to your car!

Just to be noisy, what was your rez number? I did mine around noon on March 19th. Just checking to see if your car got off the boat before mine!

[ginoesto]

Yes Vinnie is very cool. Very personable.

We had 2 of the magic 1173's or whatever it is. We reserved the first couple hours the 99 came online. Feels like the deliveries is somewhat random. Overall I think they are handling the launch flawelessly. Maybe becuase we were number 1 in BH :-)

[Derek Bell]

Originally Posted by ginoesto

I have a few first impressions. I tried posting earlier but it appears it didnt work.

We got the first car today (black/black passion)at BH Smart Car (we have #2 coming tomorow, will pick up sat). The staff was amazingly friendly. Truly enjoyable experience. They treated us like rock stars.

The car is neat as heck. The quality is not up to what I expected. A little on the subpar level. Carpeting doesnt fit flush on the floor. Very loud engine noise. Seats sit uncomfortably high. You feel like squating down to see. The rear view mirror feels like it's in the way. Visibility overall is good. Feels like you are in a big open space. Car feel really safe and secure. I think after they burn through the first 40,000 there needs to be a price adjustment. It's honestly an overpriced car. Minus the wow factor.

Story of our delivery is on the front page of The Beverly Hills Courier.
http://www.thebeverlyhillscourier.com/editions/

Just drove mine home, and here are my impressions:

1. Quality is fine.
2. Carpeting fine.
3. Didn't notice engine noise. (Paddle shifting is a blast!)
4. Seating position fine.
5. Mirror DOES hang down too much, blocks forward view. (Expecting aftermarket solutions)
6. But great vis, interior volume, agreed feels safe, secure.
7. Overpriced? WTF? $15,750 OTD overpriced? Serial # 40,001 is gonna be twice what we're paying now.

Just my opinion...

[CruisingAZ]

This is exactlythe kind of informationI am looking for, I know this car is not perfect, keep sharing your evaluations regardless of which side of the position you take. We all want to know the good and the bad as you new purchasers see it.

[PassionforPassionCT]

Your buying a $15.000 car built by mercedes... no offense, but I think they have done a damn fine job with such a limited budget. Sure its half the size of a regular car, but your getting all the saftey features that mercedes is famous for, and they also invented in many cases. Sure their will be places where cost cutting is obvious, but its an economy car. One shouldn't have unreasonable expectations.

[bucketboss]

I suppose it really matters what you are used to driving when you get into a Smart. If coming out of an S,E,C Merc., 7,5,3 BMW, etc... the difference will be much more drastic than someone getting out of say a Rio, Yaris, etc....

So some perspective might help the objectivity of this.

[ginoesto]

Figured i would get a little bashing. That's fine. I have driven an insight for 5 years. So, I am use to low end vehicles.

For the record I wouldnt be cought dead in a BMW or Mercedes.

This car is overpriced. Compare it to a Yaris or a Scion. That's okay. I'm paying for the wow factor. But it will wear off. Both yours and mine even.

[spdickey]

They keep rolling into BH Benz. Not overpriced IMHO. Mine just arrived today!

[smart bird]

Not Over priced, Add these options on a Yaris or Xb and you meet Or exceed, the Safety and quality are for better in the Smart for the $s