What's the Smarts future?

[Evilution]

I hope the future of smart is the Crosstown concept.



I would buy one in a shot.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by Evilution

I hope the future of smart is the Crosstown concept. I would buy one in a shot.

Me, too.

Now that Hummer owners' balls are shrinking with rising gas prices (GM to put Hummer division up for sale, rumored), the Crosstown might have wide market potential from SUV owners wanting to downsize. Hey, where do the kids sit? Can you fit a gun rack on the back?

[deltadart]

Originally Posted by 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.

Like I said before the warranty issue would not fly with me and if you have to pay $100 for each visit my guess is sales will decline. Remember Toyota and the others are coming out with Smart-size cars in the very near future and you know they will have much better warranties and dealers in most towns. Last night I went to the new Toyota dealer to see what he had as far as the Yaris auto and he had both 2 and 4 door models ready to go. One thing about the Yaris I don't like is the funky dash that they have. It's strange to have the gauges in the middle of the dash. They told me you get use to it but it's still strange. Why did they feel a need to move the gauges there?

[Smart Car Geek]

Originally Posted by curtis

Gm are all hot to trot to get their new Volt to production for 2010, I bet that car is going to have some serious issues.

I don't think so. They are just waiting for the batteries. They got screwed once before with Chevron which stopped them from producing the EV-1. I'm sure they don't want to make that mistake again ;)

[curtis]

I really do like the Yaris but as said before it is not in the same class as the Smart, If you ever see a Smart and a Yaris parked side by side you will see these cars are NOTHING alike... I am also a yaris fan but besides the obvious difference in size if you drive the 2 you will feel the difference, the smart is like driving a luxury car and the Yaris is like driving..a Yaris..Also if you'd or could add options like a panoramic roof, auto wipers and headlights just to name a few things the Yaris would be at the $20,000 point. I have actually looked at Yaris' that were priced at $19,000 without these options! Remember I am not bashing the Yaris because I like the hatchback alot but it's not in the Smart's league. If you want to compare the Yaris to any car I'd compare it to the Chevy Aveo.

[deltadart]

The aftermarket parts for the Smart are endless. Look at the cool green Smart at the top of this page. If I was running the Smart car business I would want to flood the market with them. Like I said earlier maybe Smart will be satisfied just to import a certain number of them.

[JPaul]

Remember that the original concept for smart comes from the founder of the SWATCH (a new one for any occasion...).

[curtis]

yeah, what I really want is a giant rubber "Swatch Guard" wrapped around it to prevent scratches..I guess my stainless bumper guard set serves the same purpose.

[MarkH]

Originally Posted by wahi

Convert the GM plants into smart plants!

GM in OKC just sold their closed plant to OkCity, stupid City Council allowed them to insert a provision that no other car can be mfg'd in it.

[Aerotaz]

Originally Posted by curtis

yeah, I feel sad for the workers at these plants although I think the unions have had the US companies by the balls for years, it's not the employee's fault that the higher ups didn't pay attention to what was going on around them and let this happen.
.

Both the unions and the companies share in the blame to some extent, for what has happened to the american auto industry. But please remember that when WW2 was over, returning GIs were talking about the small cars they had seen in Germany and Japan. The UAW could see the future and tried to get the companies to look into building this type of small car during the first contract negotiations after the war. The companies refused to even discuss it and simply offered more money to get the unions to back off.