smart Passion available ACT NOW $1000 Non-Refundable Deposit

[2009Aveo5]

I just wanted to let everybody know what Emily at the Smart dealership in Fairfield, CT offered me just now. A black Passion Coupe with a Silver cell base without any factory options and dealer options include a 6yr/60k mile warranty ($995), tire/wheel warranty, LoJack ($695) and fabric protection. She needs a $1000 non-refundable deposit. The car is at the warehouse and will not be able to see the car. She requires the deposit now. The dealership cannot tell you if you are approved for credit or what your interest rate will be until next week, because the business managers are very busy at the end of the month. The dealership also cannot tell you what your trade-in is worth until they have the $1000 non-refundable deposit on the vehicle. The total for the base passion is $17,302 PLUS tax.

I’m still looking for a better deal, and if I don’t find one then I’ll opt for the redesigned 2009 Aveo5 LT which I am told by my local dealers that I should be able to get one in May. I have $3500 on my GM card, so that’ll make the price of the new Aveo5 much more reasonable, however I really would much rather have a Cabrio Smart. I might wait until the 2009 or 2010 model year to get a Smart if they are still selling them. I’d like to see a longer standard warranty. 2years/24,000 miles is a very short warranty, and when I asked how much a 100k warranty was the answer was $1395. (ouch…100k is standard with most dealerships…what is Smart afraid of or are they just trying to charge a premium with the current 2008 Smart supply/demand issue…the supply is so small and with so many orphans popping up, I suspect they will have to reconsider next year but I could be wrong.) The White Plains, NY cabrio is sold btw. I’ve called about a dozen dealers and nobody has one of these cars, so I guess if you really wanted one and money was no object then the dealer in Fairfield, CT has your car.


I’d also like to see an option for a manual without the automatic feature as well as a diesel or hybrid.

I registered for a Smart back in July 2007, but I just now decided that I wanted one this week, but I'm being told by my local dealership that the wait time is 6 months to 12 months if I configure today. White Plains dealer told me that they were told 3 to 4 months delivery for configuring today. Either way, I think I am going to wait. I also read that Toyota is thinking about making an IQ. I'm not crazy about how the Smart's transmission works, but I suspect I could get use to it. I do like the car for its size if nothing else. If I configured a Cabrio with leather/comfort package, the price is a few hundred more than the Coupe base with all the dealer options but the 2yr/24k warranty rubs me the wrong way. My dealer said they don't make commission, so I guess they are doing all they can considering the circumstances. If I can't find a Cabrio with leather by May then I'm likely going to use my GM card points to buy the redesigned 2009 Aveo5. It's suppose to get 27/34mpg but my main interest in getting a car is for its size so I'd prefer the smaller Smart, but I want to be smart with my money too.



I probably would go with my dealers offer if she had a Cabrio leather. I've asked several dealers what kind of interest rate I am eligible for and nobody wants to tell me. I went to my local Chevy dealer and they checked without any issue. Strange. Very Strange. Common Smart. I've been interested in your car since the 1990s when it was in Canada and I really want your car, but I also want to know I'm making a good decision.

[spdickey]

It sounds like smart center Fairfield is trying to milk as much money out of their orphans as they can.

[gamernotwatcher]

Try Long Island, if the posts are correct here, the turn around time is very short.

[PassionforPassionCT]

Originally Posted by spdickey

It sounds like smart center Fairfield is trying to milk as much money out of their orphans as they can.

Its Fairfield County... its to be expected. But now I know why I never see any cars there... they have a warehouse~

[2009Aveo5]

Originally Posted by spdickey

It sounds like smart center Fairfield is trying to milk as much money out of their orphans as they can.

Well, if they can get it then more power to Emily. Maybe she makes some money on the dealer options, and if that's the case then I don't blame her. Or she may be just doing her job. The 2/24k standard warranty is probably my biggest aggravation, because there is no excuse for such a lousy warranty.

I did some more research and Pontiac is making the Aveo5 version yet it'll be called the Wave. Pontiac Wave...hmmm, maybe I should get that...I really don't like the history of Aveo so having a new name might be more comforting. You tell people you have an Aveo and you know they think Geo Metro. Wave, nobody has heard of the Wave. The car looks like they have made some positive changes. I test drove a 08 Malibu 2LT and I have to say that is the first Chevrolet car that I didn't have anything bug me. I was quite impressed to say the least, shocked actually, but the only thing that stops me from getting it is the length and parking it in hard to find parking spots. That's the whole appeal for me for the Smart car, but I'm just not ready to take a car that doesn't have the features I want at a bloated price along with some things that I am sure they will improve in 2009/10 so I might get a less expensive Aveo5/Wave to make due. Feature wise and look wise I think it's a nicer car than the Smart, however I really want a Smart...it's just more practical for parking....but at 18-19k after taxes and everything for a base Passion...I think I'll wait for the next model year or maybe luck out and find a Cabrio leather so I can stop worrying about it.

I suspect the Fairfield dealer will sell her car. The White Plains dealer sold their car which was a $20k base Cabrio and it had the same ridiculous dealer options but they went a step further and added fabric protection, but it also had the lojack and warranty, tire warranty, wheel warranty, you name it. They put an extra $3+k into the base car and I'd probably buy it if it were a loaded Cabrio with say just an extended warranty and lojack is fine (as it probably is an easy car to steal). Ah, I don't know. I want a car NOW.

[PassionforPassionCT]

FYI the Pontiac Wave is Canada Only.

[2009Aveo5]

Originally Posted by gamernotwatcher

Try Long Island, if the posts are correct here, the turn around time is very short.

I haven't called all the Long Island dealers. I called the one at St. James and they wanted a $500 refundable deposit to be on the waiting list. He said they have 50 people on the list already. I've called every dealer in New England and nobody has anything, so I'm on their waiting list. I will drive there if they have my car, and are willing to work with me a little to tell me my trade-in value/financing and dealer add-ons aren't too ridiculous.

NEW ENGLAND
Lynnfield, MA 781.346.6222 Spoke to Ann – She too my full Info
Somerville, MA 617.591.2600 – Todd – Just took name and phone number
Warwick, RI 401.821.1510 Susan – left voicemail message, no return call
East Hartford, CT 317.580.6801 – Spoke to Mr. Music - Took my full Info
Fairfield, CT 203.336.7285 – Emily - Full Info Passion Coupe Black/Silver cell $17,302 plus tax
Warranty prices: 3/36k $395 4/48k $695 6/60k $995 5/100k $1395
LoJack $695

MIDDLE ATLANTIC
St. James, NY 631.361.4500 $500 Refundable Deposit for waiting list
New York, NY 212.629.1639 – Full Info
White Plains, NY 914.328.6200 – Alan says when you configure a car it is 3 to 4 months to delivery, they sold the Cabrio Silver base w/ dealer add-ons $20k and change

ah, this is a lot of work to pay just MSRP. sigh

[2009Aveo5]

Originally Posted by PassionforPassionCT

FYI the Pontiac Wave is Canada Only.

Ah, okay...I was wondering. I saw it on Canadian driver's website. They had some different gas mileage so I guess canada does it different than the USA epa, but it said (32 mpg lpm) and (42 mpg lpm) ...just like that...both mpg and lpm written like that. So no Wave. Thanks for the info!

[2009Aveo5]

I've started calling around to Middle Atlantic dealerships. Kelly at Williamsville, NY (which I think is near Buffalo) told me told me that they don't add on dealer options such as warranty, etc. She actually went so far as to say the Smart dealer can't do that...She said that when they get an orphan they call people on their orphan list and ask them if they want any dealer options such as fabric protection, wheel/tire warranty, tinted windows, etc. It was nice to hear, however this dealership doesn't take down your name or number but rather uses the registration information for their locality.

I think that makes the most sense. I rarely get a car in my own state. I've bought a car in Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas...and well, sometimes I happen to be in a city (I travel for work) and other times I have a specific vehicle that I want, one of them was really rare. The Smart/Aveo is just an inexpensive vehicle primarily for street parking issues, and well the Smart wins but I also want a Cabrio with leather so I guess if they want to add $3k to the bill, then I'm probably going to take it. But otherwise, I'm not going to spend $3k extra just for a coupe with cloth. Coupe with leather/comfort package might entice me, otherwise I'm going to spend $10/11k after my gm card discounts for a 09' Aveo5 LT and get a smart when they start offering the car I want at a price that is reasonable.

[PassionforPassionCT]

lpm=liters per mile.
Just remember that a car like the Aveo and the Smart really cant compare. You have to ask yourself what you are using this car for. This car is like a good pair of jeans. it fits you, or it doesnt. Make sure you try it on before you buy it.