Megan (sorry we bought a smart?)

[PHCMegan]

I ordered a Smart about 7 months ago. I live about 80 miles from the dealer and was in the area last week and did a drive by. On the lot was a cabriolet with all of the options I had ordered except for fog lamps. I live in a rural community and asked about having them added. The price I was given was $500. Knowing that the option price on the website is $110, I'll be patient and wait. My concern is how available and cost effective service is going to be. Expecially with the new car warranty only being a 2 year 24000 miles. Now I am a little concerned about going through with the purchase. Are there any Smart owners that are sorry they made a deal with Smart?

[misscatears]

Originally Posted by PHCMegan

Are there any Smart owners that are sorry they made a deal with Smart?

Are you asking if anybody is sorry that they waited, or if they're sorry they bought one straight off the lot?

[kwagar]

Originally Posted by PHCMegan

Are there any Smart owners that are sorry they made a deal with Smart?

Megan,
You have asked a really broad question on a site that is populated primarily by people very happy with their smart cars.

The vast majority of us are very happy with our choice of a smart car. There are likely a few who have been dissapointed in some way but I don't know if you will find them here and I don't know how meaningful it would be if some small percentage of buyers have decided the car is not for them.

Keep in mind that none of the US 451 models are more than 14 months old yet so none of us know how we will be affected by the short warrenty period. There have been plenty of reletively minor issues reported but most have been or are being resolved. Some are unhappy with gas mileage while most are thrilled with the same.

There is no doubt that many owners live at a significant distance from their dealer and while this is always a concern they bought them kmowing this so it wasn't a deal breaker.

In the larger scheme of things you are far closer to the dealer than many are.

Anyway, good luck with your decision making and I hope you find the feedback you are seeking.

[mvaldes]

Kwagar is right, you're bound to get a biased opinion. Here's mine.
I've never really been a "car guy" and haven't worked on cars since I was out of school and could afford to pay someone else to do it. Then I bought a Smart for commuting. To my great surprise, it turned out to be so much fun to drive that I got started playing around with it. That turned out so much fun that I've added dozens of decorative and functional do-dads (mufflers, speakers, cruise control, HID's, dash kits, etc, etc.) and had great fun doing it. While I'll readily admit that I have a Smart obsession/addiction, there's no chance you'll get me into rehab. Perhaps into another Smart....

[padi176715]

I am new to the Smart, but love it. As for work done at the dealer, the prices I have been quote seem fair. My "other" car is a land rover and the work done at the dealer costs a fortune. Also, at this point I am not sure how many non-dealer mechanics can even work on the Smart. We bought an orphan that was close to what we ordered and are thrilled.

[Smart09]

i love my car.. i made a good decision

[forestacademy]

I think the only deal you have made is a reservation. Its $99 and it's refundable if you don't want the car. As you can now see the best way to get the options you want for the best price is to make that deal.

[smartHHO]

I love my car, but I do loath the darn Euro antenna. hehe.

[agcojoe]

I share your same concerns. We placed our reservation last May and the delivery date estimator shows sometime between late March and mid-June. I wouldn't say that I'm getting cold feet, but like you I'm not close to the dealership (approx. 145 miles) and and concerned about long-term reliability and the shorter than average warranty. Consequently, I've been reading these boards trying to learn all that I can.

On a different point, I would like hear from someone about their experience using Smart Finance.

[Macaw]

I live in the country (outside of Sidney, Il) and 2-hours from our Dealer in Indy. Got our first smart (Pure) in May '08 and liked it enough the Wife went ahead with our reservation and we picked up our second one ('09 Cabrio) in December '08. If you are worried about service you can buy an extended warranty. But I plan on doing most work myself as the car is relativly simple to work on. Gonna hit 18k on the Pure and 5k in the Cabrio this month.