Worth It?

[Fredvon4]

dunerunner.....

"what problems? "

Are you not paying attention or what?

This site has only 25% of all the 50,000+ reservation holders
This site has fewer then 15% of all the new owners posting their experiences
Of all those new owners posting, there is a remarkable number of common "Problems"

We are following several of the major "problems" here on SCOA

The real worth of sites like this, is the information we glean giving us Power to make better informed Choices...

I think being flip, or deliberately minimizing these issues, is intellectually dishonest IMO

Because I have not received my car yet I have no way to respond to foolofsand's specific questions....

However, the thread starter implies this may be a car purchase as primary transportation and some of the problems for those who are some great distance from a dealer are significant.

The good news is: (as noted above)... configuring today is going to give a place in line with option to bail at any time with no penalty... and for sure the car will not be a 08 model so some of the growing pains and problems should be worked out before foolofsand is due to take possession of a mid year 09 or early 2010 Model smart fortwo.

But it is still very wise to follow forums like these to see what all the "Problems" are and make Informed choices...

I am researching and following:

Battery problems
Shifter cable problems
Shifter lever problems
Front brake pad excessive dust problem
ECU problems
Fuel system problems
Dealer support problems
Tire inflation problems
Strange noise problems
Loose or missing hardware problems
Radio problems
Lack of interior lighting problems
Wander or instability problems
Fuel efficiency problems
Transmission behavior problems
Servicing cost and frequency problems
Extended warranty purchasing problems
Dealer add on markup problems
Documents fees markup problems
Dealer ability to extend temporary license plate problems
Tire change and jacking problems
Over torqued oil drain plug and filter problems
Paint blister problems
Lack of some important info in the owners guide problems
Lack of maintenance manuals problems
Dealer technician training or ignorance problems
Customer communication problems
Insurance problems
Financing problems
and I am sure there are a few I missed like: aftermarket support problems

Each of us will have different values to assign each of these real or perceived problem areas

Some of these are not really problems and some are significant and may be deal breakers...

But to ask "what problems?" implying there are no problems, is really not helping foolofsand any IMO

[Wizco]

Speaking strictly for myself, I have had exactly one "problem" in the 3 months I've driven the smart. I ran over a nail, destroyed a tire, and had to wait 2 days for a replacement. Not exactly something to pin on a manufacturing defect.

Part of the problem with online forums, is the only thing you read about are problems. Few people bother to post up with "Hey my car started this morning, and got me to work with no issues. I'll report back after I get home tonight."

Honestly, most of your list is really trivial stuff. Tire pressure problems? Check the pressure. Brake dust? Wash the wheels. Are you not paying attention to basic owner maintenance? Sheesh.

[SnakeFarm]

While I'm very impressed with the mechanical quality of the car (MB and Mits) stuff. I have had three problems.

1. Paint adheasion. See my post "Clearbra Damage" I really think this is aresult of poor paint adheasion or a flaw in the application process that admitted some sort of contaminant that was hidden. I would advise people to adopt the molded-in colors (W,Y,Bk).

2. Rattling noise from the rear. This turned out to be a POS license plate holder the sanantoniosmartcenterofamericausa put on with some expansion bolts they drilled into my rear panel. (ouch)

3. Insanley poor customer service accross the board.
3.1 I "reserved" back in September and I have yet to be invited to the configuration site.
3.2 It has been over a week since I first reported the paint flaw and the dealer has not contacted me since.

[mike-in-sa]

So far I have had no problems with either of our two smarts. 3500 miles between the two of them. That puts them ahead of my 02 Thunderbird that has had problems since day one. Doubt if they will be as trouble free as my GMC which has 150,000 miles and has never ben back to the dealer.

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

Battery problems
Shifter cable problems
Shifter lever problems
Front brake pad excessive dust problem
ECU problems
Fuel system problems
Dealer support problems
Tire inflation problems
Strange noise problems
Loose or missing hardware problems
Radio problems
Lack of interior lighting problems
Wander or instability problems
Fuel efficiency problems
Transmission behavior problems
Servicing cost and frequency problems
Extended warranty purchasing problems
Dealer add on markup problems
Documents fees markup problems
Dealer ability to extend temporary license plate problems
Tire change and jacking problems
Over torqued oil drain plug and filter problems
Paint blister problems
Lack of some important info in the owners guide problems
Lack of maintenance manuals problems
Dealer technician training or ignorance problems
Customer communication problems
Insurance problems
Financing problems
and I am sure there are a few I missed like: aftermarket support problems

err...Quite a few of what you call "problems" aren't problems at all. Some may be issues, others may be one-shot complaints, but most of your list looks more like complaints from owners not familiar with the car rather than problems.

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

But to ask "what problems?" implying there are no problems, is really not helping foolofsand any IMO

I think "what problems?" is a relevant question. Your list of "problems," on the other hand, is really not helping anyone ... IMO.

Your pal,
Meat.

[Karl Roth]

Have had mine since Feb now and and it has been good to go so far. It does want me to fill it with gas and wash it and nobody is writing me big checks to drive it. Oh just what I expected so no problem.
karl

[angel]

Originally Posted by foolofsand

I just received my email to select car and give options. I would like to know if this car is worth it considering all the problems etc? Do I go ahead now or wait a year or so to get one. I don't need a problem experimental car. Is it fun or do the problems take away the fun? If you had a choice, would you still by the car? Just want some feedback, I have to decide by tomorrow. Thanks

If you place a reservation now you have plenty of time to watch, listen, evaluate and learn. Just remember to weigh things with a grain of salt. Those of us with complaints generally will jump up and down, scream and shout in the hopes that as many as possible will listen and take heed. Many that are having zero issues with the car are likely to never register much less post. They probably feel less likely to have a need to share anything. Many are just out and about enjoying their new smart.

A major consideration would be distance from the dealership. Because if there are problems with your new car a long drive could be impractical and possible even impossible. While I love my lil smart I also realize it's not practical for everyone. Then again, there are those who don't care about practical and love it just because it's so darn fun.

[Springlering]

Problem with a forum of any kind is, posts tend to lean towards the excitable "I HAD THIS PROBLEM O WOE IS ME THE SKY IS FALLING" type posts, and get some very aggressive complainers who exascerbate the problem.

If you go back and look at the posts, a lot of times, it's the same people, reiterating and rehashing their problem in different threads. Not always, but enough that it's noticeable.

It's no different than someone like me saying "I love mine" ad nauseum in various threads, but negativity does tend to stick out more.

And, ironically, I can't help but notice, some of the most strident complainers are those who dont' even have their cars yet. Flame me, but reserve your complaints til you get the darned thing. If you (not OP, but in the general sense) are looking for problems before you even get the car, then, by golly, you won't be disappointed when you do have them, imho.

We've bought three Smarts in the past month. Last year when we reserved two, original plan was to keep one, sell the second and maybe turn a small profit to help pay for the one we kept. Problem was, the anticipation was so intense, and the whole family loved the first one so much when it got here, there was no question we were keeping the second. When my husband kept casting doe eyes at my cabrio, and we had the opportunity to buy a third, it was a done deal.

We wouldn't have invested this much money in a vehicle we weren't reasonably sure was a good product. We asked friends in Europe what their experience had been, tried to find out what we could, did as much homework as possible.

While ultimately a Mercedes product, if you're looking for a Mercedes Benz, this is NOT one. Not even close. You need to expect quirks, minor glitches, and the occasional head-scratching moment.

You need to be creative, and not blow a gasket at every little problem. Trunk latch won't open? Turn the ignition on and off and it will open right up. Chime keeps dinging for no reason? The ignition is the charm yet again. Car makes a whining noise when backing up? Well, I've had other cars that did, too. Having a problem shifting up? Well, guess what, I hit the left paddle by mistake. Like they said in band camp, "other right, idiot". Car won't go in reverse? Then move it all the way to D and go back to R.

My husband has irritating habits and strange quirks. Would I trade him in for a perfect model? Not on your life. Quirkiness has charms. I would be flattered to be thought quirky. I feel the same way about my car, and I can guarandarntee you, there are two other drivers in my household who would not go back to bland and boring for all the Hondas or Nissans or Benzes in the world.

If you have uber high expectations, or are a perfectionista, read Consumer Reports, and get you a high rated vehicle and be just like everyone else on the road.

If you are a cup-half-full kind of person, enjoy a little bit of adventure in your own strange way, and secretly relish the attention, you will be very pleased with your Smart.

It has been a long, long time since I felt this warm and fuzzy about a car.

[stevenvillatoro]

4,000 happy miles, no problems.

[SnakeFarm]

Nice List Fred. Good Fred. Good.

Naughty Avatar Mike! Bad Mike. NO!



Seriously (mostly), I really DO like this little car. A LOT! I just wish I did not have to deal with this stupid paint issue. It's not ruining my whole new-car experience or anything but EVERYBODY who looks at the car brings it up. I'd put a decal or something over it but I'm afraid the smarmsmen would try to use that against me.