Are you tired of the wait?

[SMART]

Are you tired of the wait for the smart usa launch of the Smart fortwo?

Have you considered purchasing a gray market smart fortwo?

Would you purchase one if they were cheaper?

How long are you willing to wait to get your smart fortwo?

[kurt013]

don't do it. the smart is getting an upgrade, even if you get a grey market car for $12,000 it won't be worth anywhere near that once the new improved models hit the streets. parts for the old style could be a problem. yes, you will have the only one in the neighborhood for a while, but if you are on the list now you will be getting one of the first ones anyway.

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by SMART

Are you tired of the wait for the smart usa launch of the Smart fortwo?

Ask me again this time next year! ;)

[Felinae]

I'm not so tired of the wait as much as I am tired of the ambiguity, specifically on the MPG.

I do not want to buy a grey market smart.

I'd like the 12K version.

Let me get back to you in February as to how long I'll wait.

Question: Why can't I just buy a Canadian model?

[bentoutofshape]

If they what over $14,500 for my passion, it'll be resold. I'm wanting a pure with wheels and a/c or a stripped down passion ( minus sun roof, stereo, paddle shift). I do expect SMART to increase their price by a good $3k before it shows up @ the dealer. If it was being sold as a chrysler, forget about getting more then 12k fully loaded.
BTW, i've been on the list since early april.
Buying my first new car
Buying to get fuel economy
buying due to fits in garage

[Zacman]

If they prices go much over their projection, I will merely buy the Hyundai Accent - 3 door,, which you can get for a base of around 10k. With the options I want/need (AC/stereo/windows/door-locks,etc) they sticker at $12,235. Most likely, about 32mpg. Yes,, that is not Smart mileage, but again,, if the Smart goes much above their projected prices, the difference in monthly payment will about equal the difference in gas. All in all, I hope Smart keeps their word and prices the cars as they have initially stated.

[bentoutofshape]

I stopped by toyota and the yaris hatchback with auto is $13,400 (out the door). Only option on it was a stereo. 39mpg (highway)

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by Zacman

If they prices go much over their projection, I will merely buy the Hyundai Accent - 3 door,, which you can get for a base of around 10k. With the options I want/need (AC/stereo/windows/door-locks,etc) they sticker at $12,235. Most likely, about 32mpg. Yes,, that is not Smart mileage, but again,, if the Smart goes much above their projected prices, the difference in monthly payment will about equal the difference in gas. All in all, I hope Smart keeps their word and prices the cars as they have initially stated.

On the otherhand, you know your slightly higher monthly payment will be fixed over the next 4 or 5 years. What if gas prices double by the end of the loan - for sure the Smart would have been cheaper longterm!

Originally Posted by Bentoutofshape

If they what over $14,500 for my passion, it'll be resold. I'm wanting a pure with wheels and a/c or a stripped down passion ( minus sun roof, stereo, paddle shift). I do expect SMART to increase their price by a good $3k before it shows up @ the dealer. If it was being sold as a chrysler, forget about getting more then 12k fully loaded.

stripped down passion = pure !

I predict the final list prices will be within $1000 of those currently listed, I don't think Smart will be able to justify anything more just because it had to be modded for US safety and emmission standards.

[SmartAmerica]

Here's some information I found on the arduous course the smart car has taken over these many years.

Let's start with the initial deception.

Smart-Automobile LLC's and their domain was the start of the circus environment the smart car has caused.

Smart-Automobile can be traced back to 2003, when their domain came on line. http://www.smartcar-usa.com

This site was very similar to smart USA's old web site and is still up and running. http://smartcarusa.digitaldistrict.de/

The domain was nothing more than a lead generator. A one page, nicely published site that went nowhere, with no information, details, any Smart car content or real association to the Smart Car, till around April of 2004, again similar to smart USA's site.

All hype and no bite.

Mr. Heidemann the ring master asserted Smart-Automobiles LLC was an independent, privately-held company. He claimed to administer the direct importation and modification of automobiles to meet U.S. standards. Smart-Automobile LLC and its owner Thomas Heidemann represented to the NHTSA that he was part of Smart Automobile, Inc., when on July 18, 2003 he sent a report on behalf of Smart Automobile, Inc., through his attorney Mr. Ginsburg, to Mr. Sachs, chief of the NHTSA.

He was actual a contractor from Germany.

Regarding J.K. Technologies, the very first registered importer who petitioned for smart cars approval. Mr. Heidemann said they failed to carry their burden of proof that the 2003-2004 Smart Cars are eligible for importation and sale in the United States, and he request that J.K. Technologies petition be denied.

His comments to NHTSA basically tossed, J.K. Technologies under the wheels of the bus of the NHTSA and DOT, stopping the process right in its tracks!
Six days after Heidemann's bogus document was filed, a Jody M. Foster representing Mercedes-Benz USA L.L.C. filed for an extension on the same petition made by J.K. Technologies.

On the grounds they (Mercedes-Benz USA L.L.C.) needed more time due to the "sufficient engineering data had been submitted to enable NHTSA to make a determination whether the proposed vehicle is eligible for importation".

How can a manufactor monitor this process regarding their own products? Do not believe for one second both Heidemann and Mercedes-Benz USA did not have their own agenda.

In the mean time Heidemann who had worked with J.K. Technologies tossed them under the wheels of the NHTSA and DOT bus, stopping their process right in its tracks!

Smart-Automobile LLC's then hired registered importer G&K Automotive Conversion to do the modification for the Smart cars. I assume Smart-Automobile LLC, selected G&K Automotive Conversion and not Zap.

However, because of greed or just plain stupidity G&K Automotive Conversion petitioned for importation and sale of the cars but added 2002 models which meant the process had to start over. Then they compounded the felony by claiming to want to import 15,000 cars a year. This raised flags and put them into a different position of prominence. Making Zap a real car manufactor.

On May 11, 2004 SMART-Automobile LLC (Heidemann) signed a $10 million agreement with Zap. Making them, Zap the exclusive smart distributor. Something Heidemann had no genuine right or qualifications to allege and Zap had no right to assert. It would be like making me king of my city!

Heidemann got a million bucks cash of Zap's stockholders money and an additional 9 million in Zap stock. Heidemann did supply 5 smart cars to Zap. Five of the most expensive smart cars ever, at 2 million a piece.

Zap sued SMART-Automobile LLC and Heidemann and has since written off the debt.

After more delays than the Italian railroad G&K finally obtained some necessary EPA and DOT certifications for the Smart Cars to meet forty-five state standards. Certification for the remaining five States, California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont may still not have EPA certification. G&K has certification for the cars till 2006.

Unfortunately, Zap had charged thousands of bona fide smart car buyers a $1,000 to get on the list to get their smart and charged a fee to several dealers across the country, charging fees from $50,000 to $100,000 to become a franchisee for Zap.

Zap, G&K and Smart-Automobile cried wolf pointed fingers at each other and any one else and misrepresented the facts for almost 3 years.

Now Zap is suing G&K. Several of Zap's franchisee is suing Zap and the cycle continues.

Zap's CEO did hold talks with smart GmbH officials in Germany on March 21, 2005 at the annual shareholders meeting.

On May 24 of the same year, ZAP placed a purchase order directly to the smart car GmbH and DaimlerChrysler Group. The order was for 76,500 Smart cars, approximately one half of smart's total sales that year!
Then they sent out one of their patented press releases. Claiming they had placed the order after being told not to disclose their meeting.

Ulrich Walker, president of smart, promptly rebutted Zap's press release. Saying smart GmbH was

[zeke1312]

Originally Posted by SmartCard

On the otherhand, you know your slightly higher monthly payment will be fixed over the next 4 or 5 years. What if gas prices double by the end of the loan - for sure the Smart would have been cheaper longterm!



stripped down passion = pure !

I predict the final list prices will be within $1000 of those currently listed, I don't think Smart will be able to justify anything more just because it had to be modded for US safety and emmission standards.

You won't know the gas mileage until you drive one for some period of time so a comparison between Toyota, Nissan and others is questionable. I suspect the resale value of a SmartCar once in the US market will be much lower percentage wise than any of the afore mentioned autos.

Oh, of course, these cars need to hit the US market....they've been "promised" for some years now.

Let's face it, the appeal of this car is size, gas mileage and curb appeal. If other auto mfg's continue to increase gas mileage, that will continue to erode the gas issue. Although the SmartCar is stated to get 50+ mpg, I believe that may be based on the European model(s). I've also seen posted where the US version will get more like in the low 40s, near what some other mfg's models get now.
If so, that makes gas mileage a moot point.