Time for decision

[cspark]

At last, I need to make decision soon, since the start date of DDE window is now next week. (I joined the 99 dolar program at last year May)

Currently I'm commuting 80mile (95% freeway) roundtrip everyday with my 96 Toyota Camry. It has 200K mileage already with 25+ mpg and still can run another 100k mile before going to junkyard.

Will it be good move to switch to smart? I already run some economics calc, switching didn't give me the positive ROI over keeping the old Camry.
(ROI=Return On Investment).
However, I have to consider the "Happy" factor that comes from having new and cute car.

So, I was going to take the smart.. but still there was only one concern...
How smart would behave in the freeway? Will I get the same handling and performance as my old Camry?

Yesterday, I went to the dealer to test drive the smart. But the dealer allows me driving in the local road only. When I asked again, he took the smart to freeway, but he drived. I was sitting the passenger seat. He showed me 90mph, boy, it was noisey. That was only thing I felt.

I'm still confusing..

[scdaf]

If you get the smart expecting it to drive like the Camry, you'll be dissapointed. smart takes more attention on the freeway, will follow semi ruts more and be more affected by crosswinds. Drives just fine, but you can't yak on the cell, eat a burrito and play with your GPS while driving with your knee. You will, however, come close to doubling your mileage...

[Kermit]

If Smiles Per Mile mean a lot to you, get it. Getting great mileage too, one more reason. Remember though, it isn't for everyone. That being said, we're VERY happy with ours and trying to figure out how to keep the orphan after the reserved car comes in.

I'm used to driving noisy small cars with "squirrelly" handling. Geo Metro, Honda Insight etc.

[amyrob5]

I love to "drive" ... that means paying attention, feeling the road and conditions, watching the other guys, not setting the cruise (unless I am tending to put the pedal down where I shouldn't) and being a part of the experience. If I want to sleep....I let my husband drive.

The smart is perfect for me!;)

[deltadart]

I would keep the Camry and buy the Smart. How much is a Camry with 200,000 miles on it worth? Rememer,buying the Smart sure isn't going to take up much room. Heck I could park the Smart in front on my Cavalier in the garage and still have room left.

[imcquade]

I kept my Wrangler since I own it out right (its an 04); so now I have 2 fun cars - one is much cheaper to run than the other.

The Wrangler can easily pull my trailer and motorcycles and will be my snow day car

[SmartCard]

One big problem factoring in your decision.....

Originally Posted by cspark

Currently I'm commuting 80mile (95% freeway) roundtrip everyday with my 96 Toyota Camry. It has 200K mileage already with 25+ mpg and still can run another 100k mile before going to junkyard...

can you guarantee that? What if the Camry goes belly up in 6 months? Now that would throw a monkey wrench into your ROI calculations if you needed to spend $2000 on a car that's worth that or less.

[blackbeagle]

You have a Camry. I have a Nissan Maxima. Although both are good sedans, the Maxima is faster, better handling, smoother, and a lot more powerful. I went from that to a Smart and found the change to be refreshing.

If you compare the cars head to head, there would be no comparison. The Maxima takes the title in virtually every category except for these important ones. :

1. Fun factor (look at feel)
2. Much better gas mileage
3. The size makes it more maneuverable around tight spaces

What is the point of all this? Don't compare the two cars. They are drastically different. I'm sure you will be happy with the Smart.

[saskdiesel]

You know, I won't be selling my car when I find a used Smart (diesel).
You lose to much to make it up in fuel savings and its always nive having a second car of you can afford it.

[NCC1701]

My situation is a bit different, but the start of my DDE is also getting near. We share the pressure of making a decision though.

Four months ago my 14 year old Dodge Neon died of motor failure. I'd hoped it would hold out until my smart became available, but such was not to be. So, four months ago I was forced to buy what I thought was a stop gap car ... a 2006 Nissan Sentra S.

I still owe 10K on the Sentra, but at the rate I'm paying it will be clear title in two years. It's a nice, so far reliable car. But, I'd best describe it as BORING ... even compared to the way I felt about my Neon when it was new. The Sentra is just transportation to me. Pretty good on the MPG though, 26 in town and over 30 on the highway.

So, I would very much like to purchase the much less practical, but vastly more interesting smart and keep both cars. But, I'm not rich and am weighing whether I can afford payments on two cars, AND pay insurance on two cars.

Could be as little as 2 or 3 weeks til I hear from smart and I'm still not fully decided. I am, however, inclined to go for it. $18K makes quite a few other cars a possibility, but if not the smart I'll probably just stick with my boring Sentra.

Decisions, decisions ... : (