It has the Mercedes 3 cyl. gas turbo engine and claim 50mpg. The Company is in Kirkland, WA and must be importing these from Canada. They claim they're all set up for the US market, proper emissions, etc.
They're actually kinda cute, but I'd really worry about warranty repairs on them. Make sure and read the disclaimer at the bottom of their page.
That's a "grey market" imported car and it would have NO WARRANTY with any authorized smart dealer here in the states. Authorized smart dealers will not even touch these cars or order parts for them. They also must have the roof converted to even get in this country which means... no see thru roof. It is covered with a huge peice of padding and stuck to the roof with double sided tape.
Before you get suckered in to buying one of these cars... Take $15,000 and throw it in the street... you'll get the same effect.
You are correct that it is a grey market car and that smart dealers will not honor the warranty or order parts for you, but you are incorrect about the rest.
The cars do come with a warranty, but it is only honored by Green Car Co.
The cars do still have the see-through roof. The padding that has been inserted can be removed by the owner, but it must be sold in place. Green Car Co has made sure that it can be easily removed.
This is also about the only way to get a 450 in the US. Some people want the older cars, and as is often the case with older and collectible cars, they're more expensive. When I toured the facility a year or so ago they were asking $27,000 for the convertible which I felt was far too expensive... but that's because I was already on the wait list for my 2008 451 and I was perfectly happy to wait.
There is always an ad on craigslist in Denver from a gray market importer who got stuck with a bunch of 450's. Depending on the ad, they want $22-27K for them.
driving a GRAY MARKET 2005 passion fortwo coupe 450 in L.A. for year and half . been having great fun. it's cuter, more loveable, has a daimler-benz engine w/ six speed trans instead of that mitsubishi junk, and it gets better gas milage - avg. 42mpg. It's the car Americans thought they were going to get.
insurance: no problems
title and registration: no problems
loan: no problems
parts and accessories: no problems
service: no problems
no "Dealers": OMG, there are smart dealers in the US now? Who cares? Who wants to be held hostage and gouged by a dealer?
driving a GRAY MARKET 2005 passion fortwo coupe 450 in L.A. for year and half
parts and accessories: no problems
service: no problems
Hi Belkin666, I too have a 450 '06 Passion coupe. Love it! But still need to find a service center for it. Have changed it's oil once, but not other service needed yet. We are located in Ventura, CA. Where do you go for service? Have you found a service man who has smart computer? Thanks for the input.
PS: there has been a fair amount of 450 bashing, unfortunately. They are the forerunners of the current 451's, paving the way for the arrival of the new smarts.
PS: there has been a fair amount of 450 bashing, unfortunately. They are the forerunners of the current 451's, paving the way for the arrival of the new smarts.
And let's not forget that many of us were first exposed to the smart brand by seeing the 450s in Europe or elsewhere, so let's not bash our "cousins." If you gotta bash, send it over to the smart bashers (miata.net, some Prius and mini owners, ignorant Hummerbirds, etc.).
I bought my 450 smart from Green Car Co over two years ago. They were one of the first G&K / ZAP dealers in the US, and my car was the second smart car that they sold.
The cars DO HAVE A WARRANTY. If I needed warranty work, it could still be done locally by a qualified European shop and they would be reimbursed since I am over 500 miles from Green Car. So far, I have only need to change oil and recharge the AC, both which I did myself.
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at that price!)
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