I cancelled my reservation today

[4two4me]

I canceled my smart reservation today for a variety of reasons. I told smart some of the reasons so maybe they can improve the process for those of you still waiting. Anyway, here is an expanded version of the reasons I told smart I canceled:

1. Until I really started reading this site, I had no idea the wait was over a year from reservation to actually getting the car. I guess I could get on some orphan lists, but the chance of getting exactly what I want is slim. I suppose when I think about it, I have seldom gotten the exact car I wanted from a regular car dealer lot. They never seem to have exactly what I want, so I usually compromise on SOMETHING, even if it is just the color. We lucked out on our last 2 cars (Mazda CX-7 and MX-5) and found exactly what we wanted on the dealer’s lot, including color. With an orphan, you may not get much of anything exactly the way you reserved (different color, different interior, different options, etc.).

2. The 2 year/24,000 mile warranty is a joke. Even Hyundai can warrant the Accent, which has a base price lower than the smart ($10,775), bumper to bumper for 5 years/60,000 miles and the powertrain for 10 years/100,000 miles, plus 5 years/unlimited miles of free roadside assistance. If you chose to purchase the smart extended warranty, it’s a third party warranty with a $100 deductible. What a deal!

3. Cruise control is not an option, even as a dealer installed one. I commute 45 miles each way and due to my work schedule, most of my commutes are in light traffic. Cruise control makes the commute much easier for me. I used to commute in a car without it and that was one of the reasons I traded it in.

4. In the first month of delivery, there seems to have been a lot of problems. I would estimate that at least 25% of the people in this forum who have taken delivery in the first month had problems. Most were related to the shifter linkage recall, but I have also seen other problems, such as a broken clutch actuator module, a purge sensor problem, a combination valve for secondary air system failure, a fuel sensor failure, and a broken plastic shifter component. This doesn’t bode well for a car with such a short warranty.

5. For such a small car, the gas mileage isn’t stellar. I know it’s better than any other non-hybrid car, but in my current commuter vehicle (Ford ZX2), I’m averaging 31 MPG. For the $15K I’d spend for a smart passion, I could buy a LOT of gas to make up the difference between 31 MPG and 40 MPG. The ZX2 also has a real automatic transmission and cruise control.


6. My nearest smart dealership is 50 miles away, so if I get a check engine light, it’s a 100 mile round trip to get the codes checked. My MX-5 had the check engine light come on, so I took it to the dealer 5 miles away. It turned out to be the gas cap (even though I had clicked it 3 times and put 200 miles on the tank before the light came on). With a smart, it would have been a 100 mile round trip to find out it’s the gas cap.

Some other reasons I didn’t tell smart:

7. From what I’ve read, even by many who love their smart, the ride is stiff and choppy. I used to own a Scion xA RS 1.0 with a stiff and choppy ride. Combined with the lack of available cruise control, I traded it in after 2 years.

8. It doesn’t seem to be stable in the wind. One person is already giving theirs up for this reason and another is considering it.

9. The economy. My ZX2 is paid for. My wife was recently laid off until they get more work, so even though I make over $100K, why drain the savings or take on the extra car payment? Who knows how bad the economy is going to get?

I will probably still keep up on the forum and maybe I will still get a smart some day. Who knows?

[JRyan]

My car is not here yet, but I do share many of your concerns. The warranty is clearly an issue, lack of an integrated factory cruise control, and a more adjustable seats (height adjustment is almost standard these days).

In my case, the lack of power is the biggest issue. I would really like to get the turbo engine so I can better keep up with the traffic. So far, I have yet found a car or a SUV that accelerate slower than the smart. I don't need it to be fast as a Cooper S, but it would be nice to know I am not driving the slowest car sold in America.

I care less about the "wow, look at me" factor. In a few months, the wows will be gone. I need to love my car for what it is, and so far, overly slow cars never stay long in my garage, thus it is a big concern for me to knowingly buy the slowest new car sold here.

So for me, the question is "should I wait for the turbo which may or may not show up in a couple years".

[meaux61]

I appreciate you posting that you cancelled and why. I really do, but in response, I want to comment on your post as to my thoughts as I read it. Maybe I am rationalizing but I still want to give this car a try.

1. I waited over 11 months for my smart, I am picking it up on Monday and I reserved it on March 26, 2007. The wait was not terrible at all. I just accepted it and thought about other things until it was close to the time to arrive. I was promised a smart in first quarter of 08 (back in March 07) and that is what I got.

2. The warrantee IS a joke...this IS bothersome to me as well.

3. I have been "practicing" driving without cruise control (35 mile commute) since I found out that the smart does not come with cruise. It really is not so bad. Again, a personal choice. There is someone working on cruise control on this website somewhere, I am sorry I cannot remember where. I have put my name on a list to be notified when it becomes available.

4.Yes, there are often problems with brand new cars. The shift linkage problem has been addressed. They have changed the way that it is put together in the factory after a certain point and are inspecting all cars for the problem. I expect some problems. And then I expect that they will be fixed.

5. 40 on the highway is alot better than the 27 I currently get in my Avalon. I love the Avalon but it just seems so silly to drive that big thing around with just me and my junk in it. My husband has a car and an antique truck, my daughter has a civic, my son has a Camry, nobody needs a ride anymore. For just me and my stuff to do errands and drive to work, the smart seems perfect. ALSO....parking is HORRIBLE where I work. I expect to get some prime parking once I have my smart. Parking is one of my prime reasons for getting the car.

6. My dealership is 90 miles away. I purchased a scanguage II so that I can check my own codes and track mileage etc. The local Mercedes dealer said that they can do maintenance on my car, I called and checked. For warrantee work, smart offers towing to the nearest dealership. Hopefully in two years, there will be more local mechanics familiar with the car and can help with breakdowns. If not, I can sell the car then.

7. I dont remember my test drive being stiff and choppy. I really dont know about this. I guess I have to find out for myself what I consider too uncomfortable of a ride after I have the car.

8. I do not remember anyone saying that it is not stable in the wind, just harder to drive. Hold on to the steering wheel tighter. Some folks on the board are working on fixes for this and again, this would be something that I would have to experience for myself. My drive can be quite windy.

9. I am sorry that your wife was laid off My plan is to buy the smart for cash and sell the Avalon, I should get close to 19,000 dollars for it. If the smart ends up being a lemon, I sell it, add the money to the Avalon money (that has been collecting interest in the interim) and buy something else. I am very fortunate in this regard, all 6 of the family cars (including the smart which will be picked up on Monday) are completely paid for.

I am not trying to start a fight here, just commenting with my thoughts to what you posted. Again, maybe I am rationalizing, but I have lived long enough and made enough sacrifices in my life that it is time to have a little fun and get something......maybe impractical, just for the fun of it.

Thanks for listening,

Meaux

[esugrad]

Originally Posted by 4two4me

I canceled my smart reservation today for a variety of reasons. I told smart some of the reasons so maybe they can improve the process for those of you still waiting. Anyway, here is an expanded version of the reasons I told smart I canceled:

1. Until I really started reading this site, I had no idea the wait was over a year from reservation to actually getting the car. I guess I could get on some orphan lists, but the chance of getting exactly what I want is slim. I suppose when I think about it, I have seldom gotten the exact car I wanted from a regular car dealer lot. They never seem to have exactly what I want, so I usually compromise on SOMETHING, even if it is just the color. We lucked out on our last 2 cars (Mazda CX-7 and MX-5) and found exactly what we wanted on the dealer’s lot, including color. With an orphan, you may not get much of anything exactly the way you reserved (different color, different interior, different options, etc.).

2. The 2 year/24,000 mile warranty is a joke. Even Hyundai can warrant the Accent, which has a base price lower than the smart ($10,775), bumper to bumper for 5 years/60,000 miles and the powertrain for 10 years/100,000 miles, plus 5 years/unlimited miles of free roadside assistance. If you chose to purchase the smart extended warranty, it’s a third party warranty with a $100 deductible. What a deal!

3. Cruise control is not an option, even as a dealer installed one. I commute 45 miles each way and due to my work schedule, most of my commutes are in light traffic. Cruise control makes the commute much easier for me. I used to commute in a car without it and that was one of the reasons I traded it in.

4. In the first month of delivery, there seems to have been a lot of problems. I would estimate that at least 25% of the people in this forum who have taken delivery in the first month had problems. Most were related to the shifter linkage recall, but I have also seen other problems, such as a broken clutch actuator module, a purge sensor problem, a combination valve for secondary air system failure, a fuel sensor failure, and a broken plastic shifter component. This doesn’t bode well for a car with such a short warranty.

5. For such a small car, the gas mileage isn’t stellar. I know it’s better than any other non-hybrid car, but in my current commuter vehicle (Ford ZX2), I’m averaging 31 MPG. For the $15K I’d spend for a smart passion, I could buy a LOT of gas to make up the difference between 31 MPG and 40 MPG. The ZX2 also has a real automatic transmission and cruise control.


6. My nearest smart dealership is 50 miles away, so if I get a check engine light, it’s a 100 mile round trip to get the codes checked. My MX-5 had the check engine light come on, so I took it to the dealer 5 miles away. It turned out to be the gas cap (even though I had clicked it 3 times and put 200 miles on the tank before the light came on). With a smart, it would have been a 100 mile round trip to find out it’s the gas cap.

Some other reasons I didn’t tell smart:

7. From what I’ve read, even by many who love their smart, the ride is stiff and choppy. I used to own a Scion xA RS 1.0 with a stiff and choppy ride. Combined with the lack of available cruise control, I traded it in after 2 years.

8. It doesn’t seem to be stable in the wind. One person is already giving theirs up for this reason and another is considering it.

9. The economy. My ZX2 is paid for. My wife was recently laid off until they get more work, so even though I make over $100K, why drain the savings or take on the extra car payment? Who knows how bad the economy is going to get?

I will probably still keep up on the forum and maybe I will still get a smart some day. Who knows?

I can understand your concerns regarding the cruise etc, but the smart was designed as an urban car. Cruise control in an urban area is not practical. The warranty is an issue too. Kia Motors estimates the 5 year bumper to bumper, 5 year roadside and 10 year powertrain warranty costs the company about $750.00, or did about 4 years ago. The lack of 3 year to 5 year coverage and more than 24,000 miles seems to be 'cheap' on the part of smart. A car I would recommend for you for commuting is either the Kia Rio or the Spectra. Both have good room, 16 V 4 Cyl engines and the above mentioned warranties. Our family currently has 5 Kias. Not one has had a major vehicle issue. Routine maintenance has been the norm. My Rio Cinco (the 2002 wagon), while slow off the mark, cruises easily at 75 mph. That is with a 1.5 L engine without multi valves or variable timing. Good luck.

[Tinman2000]

4two4me, I was called a few days ago and have an appointment with the dealer on Saturday, the 8th of March for pickup. I've been reporting things to my wife over the past months and she's having second thoughts also. The warrantee, or lack there of, is a REAL concern and I'm not really sure what Smart is thinking. Not standing behind the product makes me wonder. As for now, we're planning on going through with the transaction but cold feet may eventually take over, I don't know. Can you give me a clue on what your dealer experience was like, did you work with Gary?

[4two4me]

Hi Meaux,

Thank you for your response. I don't look at it as starting a fight. I gave my reasons and I know everyone is different and will have their own opinions. I lived with a car without cruise control for 2 years in my commute and that was enough for me. As you said, it's a personal choice.

I guess what irritates me the most about this forum is the people who say the smart is a perfect car with absolutely no issues. Come on, EVERY car has issues. For instance, my '08 MX-5 is a blast to drive on back roads, but on the freeway, it drones along at over 3000 RPM at 70 MPH, it's noisy even with the top up, and the steering is so touchy (responsive) you have to stay on top of it all the time. You can't just sit back and relax. But get it on a winding back road with the top down on a nice day and it's the perfect car. BTW, I got the newest Consumer Reports car issue in the mail today and the MX-5 is the top rated roadster under $40K with a rating of 89 out of 100. The smart fortwo is too new to be rated.

[4two4me]

Originally Posted by esugrad

I can understand your concerns regarding the cruise etc, but the smart was designed as an urban car. Cruise control in an urban area is not practical. The warranty is an issue too. Kia Motors estimates the 5 year bumper to bumper, 5 year roadside and 10 year powertrain warranty costs the company about $750.00, or did about 4 years ago. The lack of 3 year to 5 year coverage and more than 24,000 miles seems to be 'cheap' on the part of smart. A car I would recommend for you for commuting is either the Kia Rio or the Spectra. Both have good room, 16 V 4 Cyl engines and the above mentioned warranties. Our family currently has 5 Kias. Not one has had a major vehicle issue. Routine maintenance has been the norm. My Rio Cinco (the 2002 wagon), while slow off the mark, cruises easily at 75 mph. That is with a 1.5 L engine without multi valves or variable timing. Good luck.

Well, since I have no kids at home anymore and I'm in a permanent midlife crisis , I won't buy anything but a 2 door coupe, 2 door convertible, or 3 door hatch (my wife picks her own cars and has a 4 door CX-7). There are several cars on the horizon, such as a possible new Honda CRX (possibly based on the CR-Z concept), the new Hyundai coupe, and some others. The ZX2 only has 65K miles on it, so I can wait...

[4two4me]

Originally Posted by Tinman2000

4two4me, I was called a few days ago and have an appointment with the dealer on Saturday, the 8th of March for pickup. I've been reporting things to my wife over the past months and she's having second thoughts also. The warrantee, or lack there of, is a REAL concern and I'm not really sure what Smart is thinking. Not standing behind the product makes me wonder. As for now, we're planning on going through with the transaction but cold feet may eventually take over, I don't know. Can you give me a clue on what your dealer experience was like, did you work with Gary?

I didn't reserve until last month, so I haven't been working with anyone yet. My wife and I did go to Tyson's and she was not at all impressed with the smart. She essentially told me if I get it, she wouldn't be riding in it. She hates the ZX2 also and won't ride in it unless absolutely necessary (probably because it's lowered). Surprisingly, she likes the MX-5 Miata (which is as low or lower than the ZX2) and we even took it down to the Outer Banks earlier this week.

Don't base your decision on what I said. Everyone's situation is different. If my wife LOVED the smart and wanted her own, we would probably get an orphan, since when she's working, her commute is only 7 miles each way.

[vanslam]

Coupe ony sounds like there maybe a Corvette in your future.

[4two4me]

I owned a Chevy once. Once is enough...