Smart reliability

[Lewis]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

Lewis I assume you have one or more $30+K MBs from Catena...

Or some written info on a loaner car during warranty work on a low priced econo box... ?

Me thinks you are kidding your self... Don't get me wrong, I hope you are correct--- but in this world of every manufacture bleeding red ink, I have a hard time believing MB is going to offer a Loaner car while a first year Smart car waits on a new tranny from France/Germany

Some MB customers that are well known at a particular dealership may get a semi red carpet treatment-- but the rest of the masses will probably not IMO

All I have is their word- You can believe anything a car dealer says- can't you ???!!!!!!

Excuse me now - have to run as my closing on my purchase of the Brooklyn Bridge starts in a few minutes.

[Fredvon4]

Cool you are going to be the 3,289,456th owner of that damned bridge! Can I come across for free?

I would like to think that if someone in authority at Catena MB told you that the warranty package would include a loaner car under the Smart Warranty that they would have the ethical values to honor their word.

I would dearly love to get a peek at the SmartUSA warranty for the 08 Smart car. I would like to be mildly surprised to see that tow and loaner are part of the package.

I suspect that your "dealer" already knows that the loaner service is part of the "Extended Service Plan" and that the base warranty will have "roadside assist" and perhaps "tow-in" included.

[Lewis]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

Cool you are going to be the 3,289,456th owner of that damned bridge! Can I come across for free?

I would like to think that if someone in authority at Catena MB told you that the warranty package would include a loaner car under the Smart Warranty that they would have the ethical values to honor their word.

I would dearly love to get a peek at the SmartUSA warranty for the 08 Smart car. I would like to be mildly surprised to see that tow and loaner are part of the package.

I suspect that your "dealer" already knows that the loaner service is part of the "Extended Service Plan" and that the base warranty will have "roadside assist" and perhaps "tow-in" included.

It was Lynn Farrell their sales manager - and it's possible she had inside information as seriously the Catena organization has a pretty good reputation in NJ. But that might just be the Catena policy, not the Smartcar policy she was referring to.

I'll let you know after I get my secret decoder password (only via e-mail), confirm my order with the company (only via the web), wait for their confirmation of my confirmation (only via email), then get contacted by my dealer Catena, order the car from them (hoping for no dealer extra profit), wait in line for the delivery after the French union settles their issues ....... excuse me while I lay down now as the recitation of all these steps is making me tired...........

[GliderDude]

Yikes, doesn't sound like Smart is living up to their ideals. The whole underlying idea behind the Smart is economical and hassle-free transportation. Having to pi$$ away tons of time and money to fix stupid defects is not economical or hassle-free. I wasn't planning to get one first year; it would be 2009 at the earliest for me. Maybe by then things will have been straightened out. Hopefully the Jap engine will come to the US models.

I guess it also has to do with driving habits. If I live in an urban area or have a short commute and don't need to use my car for work travel, then a Smart should be fine for me. However, if I have to be a road warrior doing 25000 miles a year, I may have to settle for the Yaris or Fit.

[smartie yank]

In Canada they have a free tow service. If you have any kind of problem with your smart, they come and take it to the dealer. I think this service is good for 4 years. The loaners are a dealer option and the program varies widely from dealer to dealer.