Who is going to have to wait til 2009?

[Fredvon4]

And I would be foolish to bet against that prediction.... Mr. P and Dr. Z are crunching numbers as we sit here pontificating...

There are a LOT of reputations and money on the line... NOBODY with any business sense squanders away a 100% sales opportunity if they can help it.

Mr. Pensky and Dr. Z have a lot of long days coming up.... the 451 is a do or die deal for the Brand and the competition is just getting warmed up...

Model Years 2010~2011 will be real interesting in this category.... Asian markets can't get enough of these cars.... This is one hot Lil Bugger on the Taiwan, HongKong, and Thai car forums

[a2jack]

I agree with most of your predictions. But the big 3 will fight Smart tooth and nail.

We've seen the first part of their assault via Global Insights planting of negitives in news papers and blogs across the country. Next will come the lawsuits, and litigation to harass and impede Smart sales in the US.

I predict a tough fight ahead. Lets not help the big three kill our little Smart car.

All members: Please don't spread Global Insights/Big 3s words by posting them on this list.

A2Jack.

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by Carnut

My one prediction is that actual USA deliveries will EXCEED 40K during 2008. Based on VINs posted on Canadian site Hambach has already produced over 100K 451s!

But that just goes to prove that most of the production is going elsewhere, if US deliveries of 2008s exceed 30K ....I'll eat my hat!

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by a2jack

I agree with most of your predictions. But the big 3 will fight Smart tooth and nail.

We've seen the first part of their assault via Global Insights planting of negitives in news papers and blogs across the country. Next will come the lawsuits, and litigation to harass and impede Smart sales in the US.

I predict a tough fight ahead. Lets not help the big three kill our little Smart car. Please don't spread Global Insights/Big 3s words by posting them on this list.

A2Jack.

They will likely try to do it by lobbying for additional government regulations that micro-cars will have an impossible or hard time satisfying (e.g. NOx control systems).

[Fredvon4]

A2Jack is right in this ..this is going to be a nasty year for the big three...and Big Oil is not a friend either.... nor is the TV Advertising market who do not like this model of car sales... nor the Magazine industry-- likewise they won't see much if any ad revenue so they are never going to do a fair evaluation...

On the plus side is this is a highly modifiable car and once the aftermarket SEMA giants see the flow rate of USA $$$ heading to Europe and Canada, for rims and spoilers they will be on this car fast with all sorts of items to keep us drooling for a few years

If you though 2006~2007 were frustrating and interesting you are in for a wild ride this next 24 months....

How many of us will end up as a news feature in our little towns and suburbs?

How soon will it be for PAG to fire IB and get SCOA to continue the march?

Who will have the fastest Smart in America...The most wild paint... the coolest drifting U-tube flik... largest Fleet??

Who will post the first blown motor from too much NOS?

How many will have obnoxious fart pipe exhausts?

Who will be the first to prove that a SPL test really will blow the roof off a car?

How soon will cities pester PAG for meter maid fleet sales?

What town will have the first Black n White Smart Cop car?

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by SmartCard

But that just goes to prove that most of the production is going elsewhere, if US deliveries of 2008s exceed 30K ....I'll eat my hat!

Would you like fries with that?

[mdfortwoguy]

I think this thread coud use a dose of Valium. And this is coming from someone impatient that is hoping to get mine in 2008, even with a September reservation date.

I can only hope that they don't pull what GM is pulling with the Buick Enclave. They are limiting production of it to keep demand up longer. It's an amazing vehicle, and they are producing it in somewhat limited numbers.

[kurt013]

Speaking of model years (somewhere back in this thread), since I am on the edge of confirming, and can expect delivery in late 08, when will the 08 model year cutoff, and will the 09 MY have different options or a higher price? Say if my delivery will be in October 08, I would just as soon wait a bit and get an 09 instead of an 08, unless the price is significantly higher. At some point soon if not already the 08 model year will be sold out and this will become an issue.

[jwight]

Who knows? The 451s we're getting are 2008 models, but the 451 was available in Europe as a 2007 model; when was the changeover? Don't know. If the dollar keeps falling we could see $20K+ smarts by 2009. Pure* speculation on my part, BTW.

*speculation on the Passion to follow

[SmartBob]

We barely know what's going to happen over the next few weeks. LOL We should know a lot more to answer your questions further into Jan or Feb. Let the speculation begin....