Smart Dilemma

[stressed member]

Let me start this by saying I dig my smart, but have trouble recomending it to others. This is the first time in 35 years of car buying that this condition has occured. When asked, I just tell people "They are not for everybody" to some pretty puzzeled faces. How about you?

[forestacademy]

Well they are not for everyone, BUT......

- If you want to Simplify your life its a great car
- If you don't mind having 1 vehicle like a pickup sit 99% of the time but still available then it may be right for you.

[stressed member]

I hear you on that, I have 2 other cars and a motorcycle that sit. But the question is would,or do you recomened the smart to friends, family? I can't.

[forestacademy]

I'm saying, You can help them decide it it could be right for them.

-Are you willling to save a ton of money on gas, and give up some cargo room (remember, Home Depot rents trucks)

[mvaldes]

I can, and do, but with the proviso that it's unlikely to make you happy if it's your only vehicle.

[stressed member]

I can't in good faith recomend it mostly because of the laundry list of potential faults. Mostly annoyance issues that you would not expect on the cheapest entry level cars of this century. Add that to the scarcity of dealers,and its a tough sell. Gas is not that expensive, YET. Remember,I'm talking about family and close friends.

[jwight]

This is starting to sound like another one of the "can't understand why people don't see it my way" threads. Hope it's not.

[wiltjk]

I just smile and say, "it's just plain fun to tool around in"

No economy or ecology justifications (although they exist), I simply make it my choice that pleases me and leave it to them to at some point decide that's ultimately how they make their choices too.

[forestacademy]

So why is it the right car for you stressed member?

[John_H]

I wouldn't decide not to marry a woman because of a laundry list of potential faults. I'd marry her in spite of the faults I know.

I haven't experienced the laundry list myself. I haven't been shot at by a disgruntled employee. I haven't lost a child to a serial child taker. There are many things that could happen. What would probably happen? It's only because of this forum I know what could happen to my smart.

I would not recommend the car to someone who is more than a few hours away from a Smart Center without them understanding what they'd be in for with respect to service needs. I would wholeheartedly recommend the car to anyone within an hour of a Smart Center.

Gas will go higher. The smart won't get less fun.