Why are you on a waiting list?

[timhood]

I got this in an e-mail from my smart dealer (smart center Lindon).

We have 12 Smart Cars currently available for sale. No waiting list, no deposit required, just come down and pick out your car and drive it home today...Pure, Passion, and Cabriolet's are all available...
We also have 1 Brabus addition for sale...call for more details...

[SIVARTE]

The market is bad for everyone.

I have been trying to sell two of my cars and the bids are crazy low. Just 6 months ago I bought my Passion for $16,992 with dealer fees and taxes and the best offer so far is $11,000.

I would have expected the average drop of 20% but not an insane 40% in the first year. The best offer on my other car is $5000, but I still owe the bank $50,000- yes $50k.

I would be surprised if Smart did not shut down production, since nobody wants a small car when gas is so cheap.

[2smartArizona]

Chandler appears to have at least three times that many sitting around. I don't think that it's that people don't want a small car...nobody is buying anything.

[forestacademy]

Remember, Orphans don't exist if no one ordered them in the first place.
So order what you want. Get in touch with your local dealer, let them know what you want and you might be interested in an Orphan with cirtain requiremnent. If one becomes available get it if you are ready but keep your order active. When yours somes in take it if you haven't got an orphan and if you got an orphan, orphan yours.

Remember, their a a lot of options combinations and the chances of finding an orphan with the exact combo is very thin.

[Godfather]

Hmmmmm....... gas around my neck of the woods is near $2 a gallon, whilst oil is $42 a barrel. Give it a month or so, demand will rise some more, supply will fall some more, and small will be in again.

[jmatero]

I'm shocked at the number of used smarts on the lots at dealers all over the place. Actually I'm not. I think many purchased because it was cute and got you attention... but this vehicle excels as a city car and I suspect non-city owners were, like "ok.. that was fun... but I'm tired of this".

[psychobeth]

I'm on the waiting list because my local dealer hasn't had an orphan like I ordered. My red/black/black leather cabrio should be here in about 2 -3 weeks. I've waited since 10/07 so that short period of time is a drop in the proverbial bucket.

[Smart Enuf]

If dealers keep getting a lot of orphans, smart may need to suspend its $99 reservation program or at least amend it (e.g., increase the reservation amount or make it nonrefundable).

[2smartArizona]

non refundable deposits may be difficult to pull off as the waits have been so long that many people find their financial situations change...and I am sure that some people are showing up at the dealership and finding loans not available now due to the budget crunch. I would bet everyone could sell more cars if banks were loaning more money.
It is true though that things will have to change. I would hope you would still be able to special order, but I would also like to see European delivery available too. Many companies offer Euro delivery and I for one would have done it if smart had offered it.

[LisaERei]

Originally Posted by Smart Enuf

If dealers keep getting a lot of orphans, smart may need to suspend its $99 reservation program or at least amend it (e.g., increase the reservation amount or make it nonrefundable).

i was actually surprised it was refundable to begin with - i would imagine that many people legitimately wanted to purchase the car at the time of reservation, and then a year later when it arrived they either couldn't afford an additional car, couldn't afford a new car, or just out right lost their jobs.

i'm a little jealous you guys have a brabus tho...