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.
Hey Psychobeth,
Just a little FYI: I know your smart should be here in 2-3 weeks but the Round Rock Smart Center has a red/blk/blk cabrio in the nursery just waiting for a new parent. Just a little trip down 35 and still at a great price. Just in case you get delayed in the DFW area. Great staff and great location. Picked up my little Gerdie (Met. Gray/blk/blk cabrio) just over two weeks ago and after a 308 day wait she was well worth it. Round Rock also has a total of 5 cabrio orphans all under $20,000 for any others tired of waiting. If interested call Round Rock (512-493-9000) and ask for Martie, he's the best!!
ltTXsmarty and Gerdie RUSMRT
I have friends who ordered a smart car and the dealer will be in Bloomfield hills Michigan,after ordering they got 3-4 calls letting them know about orphans,but the cars that were offered were either loaded to the hilt or odd colors ,my friends want the leather inteior and I guess that not a popular item in the north,they have had thier ordered in for over a year ,the last e-mail told them don't expect to see the car for at least 4-6 more months
Sacramento is actually advertising in the newspaper to come on in and pick out your car. Smart should consider adding some more colors and bring some of those wild patterns from Europe over here. It would cost them next to nothing and might bring a few more people in.
The local dealers here in SoCal add a bunch of crap to orphans/lot units and ask waaaay to much for the add-ons (you can have the stuff added aftermarket for 60% less). If you want one at sticker, you have to order one.
The current wait here in SoCal is less than 6 months (my wife put one on reserve in the event she wants it when it's available).
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.
The local dealers here in SoCal add a bunch of crap to orphans/lot units and ask waaaay to much for the add-ons (you can have the stuff added aftermatket for 60% less). If you want one at sticker, you have to order one.
I paid sticker for my orphan this weekend and the dealership did not charge me for the window tint or pinstripe. I think if you know what you're getting into then you can shop around wisely.
I did notice that they were charging $2500+ extra for cars with the panels painted in non-standard colors, and that seems really steep to me. I got my old car painted professionally for $600, it can't be more than that to paint just the panels. But what do I know, really.
That is where you do the purchase of your car here in the USA, and then you pick up your car at the factory, drive it around on a trip or vacation, then drop it in a major city to be shipped to the local dealer in the USA that you did the deal with. BMW offers serious discounts for picking up your car in Munich.
If I could flown over to Hambach, picked up my car there, driven it around France for Christmas, then dropped it off in Paris, and flown home to wait for delivery, I would have done it in a heartbeat.
That is where you do the purchase of your car here in the USA, and then you pick up your car at the factory, drive it around on a trip or vacation, then drop it in a major city to be shipped to the local dealer in the USA that you did the deal with. BMW offers serious discounts for picking up your car in Munich.
If I could flown over to Hambach, picked up my car there, driven it around France for Christmas, then dropped it off in Paris, and flown home to wait for delivery, I would have done it in a heartbeat.
FYI -- smarts are delivered on a European Delivery basis at the MB factory in Singlefelden (Stuttgart), just not to North Americans. We picked up our 2009 Mercedes on August 1, 2008 (the second day of their release) and about a dozen smarts were being delivered in Germany. Why not in France I don't know. Our smart arrived in the US on January 28, 2009 and we took delivery 3 days later. We ordered it in March 2008 and configured in early October I believe. It is a white passion with a silver tridion cell (a coupe) with every available factory option and package, but we replaced the premium radio with a dealer installed Kenwood dnx5120 and KT-200 Nav/cd/dvd/bluetooth/sirius system, which is going back for the fourth time tomorrow as the bluetooth keeps failing to connect to either our Motorola Razor or Blackberry Curve or any other phone for that matter.
Sindelfingen....been there a few times.....smart offices are there, so that may be why some people can pick up their cars there. No cars delivered in Hambach. Boblingen is nearby, another Mercedes town, the BB on the license plates denotes that region, and the two towns actually touch each other, and that is why you have the BB plates on the smarts in the brochures......
..that is why I put my own BB plate on my smart.
Last edited by 2smartArizona; 03-09-2009 at 04:03 PM.
Sacramento is actually advertising in the newspaper to come on in and pick out your car. Smart should consider adding some more colors and bring some of those wild patterns from Europe over here. It would cost them next to nothing and might bring a few more people in.
I would definitely second that! I love the scratch pattern and the one with the numbers in various sizes, too (at least from the older 450 model). Or just ship the panels over here. How hard can it be?
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
_thumb.jpg)
(Met. Gray/blk/blk cabrio) just over two weeks ago and after a 308 day wait she was well worth it. Round Rock also has a total of 5 cabrio orphans all under $20,000 for any others tired of waiting. If interested call Round Rock (512-493-9000) and ask for Martie, he's the best!!
and Gerdie
2009 Smart Passion Cabrio
Today
Linear Mode
