What's the Smarts future?

[xcrew229x]

Hmmm..... can't get much smaller....... how about a smart stretch limo, would that be a hoot or what?

[EdwardDennis]

[QUOTE=deltadart;85801]... 2 years/24,000 mile warranty is not a good selling point. I haven't see a car warranty like that in 25-30 years. QUOTE].

My '86 AMC CJ-7 had a factory 12/12K warranty. Now THAT'S worrisome...

[texaspierz]

There is a MB factory in Alabama making SUV's.....they just might convert it into a smart plant...we can dream!

[a2jack]

The little car is the car of the future. Yesterday, I was offered twice what I paid for my Fest after I had driven it 5 years. I took the offer.

We will soon have 2 Smart cars. ) A2Jack.

Farewell to a fine little car. May our Smarts be as good?

[grwhitaker]

Daimler posted (this pm) that May 2008 sales figures for smart were 2695 bringing total sales since introduction to 8854. smart's sales represent almost the entire increase for Daimler's MB/smart brands in the USA for the first five months of this year.
This was coupled with the dual announcements by GM's CEO of the closure of 4 plants manufacturing trucks and SUV's, and serious consideration of ending production of the Hummer brand. While I feel very sorry for the workers at these plants, it is no surprise in the face of gas prices racing toward the $4.50 per gallon mark (for 87 octane) here in SoCal. I saw stations posting $4.43 per gallon today.

[MPrice2984]

Fact is none of the domestic car makers will probably be building new plants in the US or Canada any time soon. Ford forced the Mexican union that controls the Toluca plant that will build the new Fiesta to agree to massive wage cuts even at Mexico's low wages. New hires at Toluca will be paid approximately $2.25 an hour. The Mexican minimum wage is $5.00 a day, that's right folks .65 cents an hour. This was in an article in todays Automotive News.

At least MB builds the smart in a country where the workers can afford to buy what they assemble.

[HGB]

Received a postcard from my Lexus/Jaguar/smart Sarasota dealer about a great deal for an oil change. So I called up and asked whether the smart could also benefit from the $15.95 special. The lady on the other end put me on hold and then after checking said that this special is only for Jaguars. I asked to be removed from the list of specials, for I own a smart and not a Jaguar. Being curious about the impending oil change I was to face in the near future, I asked, at what mileage it was suggested. She responded that it would be at 5000 miles and the cost would be $68 because it uses synthetic oil.
I suppose Jaguars use something like Canola oil and that's much more reasonable . The bottom line... is that the smart... as I envisioned it leans towards an economy car and $68 sounds like -we've gotcha now bub. I fear for any maintenance issues coming up, that we will be raked over the proverbial coals, after the mickey mouse warranty is over.
Is this what Penske planned all along?

[deltadart]

At this time the Smart warranty would be a deal breaker for me. I really don't understand why it's not any better than that. I guess we will just have to wait and see how well they hold up. Last year at this time we had a 02 GMC Envoy and on a good day it got 16mpg. My wife got a job where her commute is around 60 miles. I went to the Hyundai dealer and was checking up on a new Accent. Decided not to trade but the dealer was interested if I wanted to sell the Envoy. I said I needed $12,700. He offered $12,200 and I took it. I went back and forth on the Accent because of the 10yr/100,000 mile warranty. Fully loaded I could get it for $14,200. I will admit it was a nice driving econo car. Settled instead for a 04 Cavalier that gets 32-36 mpg. From the news that I hear I sold the SUV just in time. Dealers around here can't get rid of them. Bring a Smart dealer to my town and watch them fly off the lot.

[angel]

Originally Posted by deltadart

At this time the Smart warranty would be a deal breaker for me.

Extended warranty. ;)

[HGB]

Unless there is more clarification, I understand that each visit no matter what reason, will cost $100 at the dealership. Then there is the cost of paying the extra money for that extended warranty. Perhaps I'm too cheap and still live in yesterday's world... as does my pocketbook.