Anyone from NW Florida area?

[Robbie51]

Just wondering how many folks are from NW FL? I haven't noticed anyone on here from this area. Looks like it's gonna be at least a 6 hour drive for me to the closest dealer. If there is an issue with the car do you have to service it at the dealer you bought it from????? If so that's nuts!

[bmx43]

Originally Posted by Robbie51

Just wondering how many folks are from NW FL? I haven't noticed anyone on here from this area. Looks like it's gonna be at least a 6 hour drive for me to the closest dealer. If there is an issue with the car do you have to service it at the dealer you bought it from????? If so that's nuts!

naw, you can service it at any Smart dealer or authorized service center. it would make sense that some cities who don't have Smart dealerships for miles away may train their MB staff to do service. just speculation, but would make sense.

[Robbie51]

Originally Posted by bmx43

naw, you can service it at any Smart dealer or authorized service center. it would make sense that some cities who don't have Smart dealerships for miles away may train their MB staff to do service. just speculation, but would make sense.

I'm hoping the MB dealers will help out. I'm hours way from any Smart dealer. Oh well, I guess I'll worry about it if I'm lucky to get one.

[cinzia]

Originally Posted by Robbie51

Just wondering how many folks are from NW FL? I haven't noticed anyone on here from this area. Looks like it's gonna be at least a 6 hour drive for me to the closest dealer. If there is an issue with the car do you have to service it at the dealer you bought it from????? If so that's nuts!

I emailed that very question to Deniz Tekbilek, one of the sales people at the Jacksonville Smart Center. Since I live between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, Jax is a far way to go to get service. Her answer is below.

"You would have to get your smart serviced in a smartcenter. It really can't be any mercedes dealer unless they have a smartcenter in there vicinity, because there service department would not have the parts to service the smart. You might have to wait till they have a smartcenter in Alabama. I believe that might be closer to you."

I have not followed up to ask her where and when the Alabama dealership was opening.

[Robbie51]

Originally Posted by cinzia

I emailed that very question to Deniz Tekbilek, one of the sales people at the Jacksonville Smart Center. Since I live between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, Jax is a far way to go to get service. Her answer is below.

"You would have to get your smart serviced in a smartcenter. It really can't be any mercedes dealer unless they have a smartcenter in there vicinity, because there service department would not have the parts to service the smart. You might have to wait till they have a smartcenter in Alabama. I believe that might be closer to you."

I have not followed up to ask her where and when the Alabama dealership was opening.

That is crazy! That is the one thing I must say worries me. So its Atlanta, Jax, or Tampa???? Six hours what ever way I look at it, (same for you). That's kind of crapy. Why can't MB take care of it. It's their sister Co. I really think they should have addressed this issue before the distribution of cars started.

[Nicholas]

We are in the Tallahassee area with Jacksonvile probably being our dealership. I hope to take care of most maintenance items myself...if I can help please let me know.

[Kermit]

Ft.Walton area - picking up an orphan on Sat.26. Original reservation #1340 and I couldn't stand the wait anymore.

[REDRIV]

Hello from Perdido Key. Drove to Jaksonville 3 weeks ago to pick up our Smart. If you buy a extended warranty it covers transportation of your Smart to Jacksonville for repairs. You still have to pick it up on your own. We also bought extra oil filters. I've seen a blue one in Gulf Breeze and a topless blue one in Gulf Shores. Don't know who they are, but would like to meet and talk Smart sometime. Its been a blast to drive. We are very happy with our experience at the Jacks Dealership and our salesperson Alex. We should start a Flora-Bama group!!

[Kermit]

Wow, the Smarts here are adding up. I was going to get some oil filters but the parts dept was closed.

Did some searching here and found out the parts stores have them in stock, they just don't know they fit Smarts.

Oil Filter Part #'s
NAPA - 1365
Wix - 51365
Carquest - 83365
Mobil 1 - M1-108
Bosch - 3300

Those are a few #'s I can remember off the top of my head. I just happened to have a Bosch 3300 in my garage. I intentionally didn't include Fram as that's not a favorite company of mine though I have run there Tough Guard filters on my cars when it was a last resort - no problems so that doesn't mean they are bad.

[Silvester]

Jacksonville Florida Smart Car Meetup site
http://importcar.meetup.com/216/
Meeting Sat 11 AM May 31st at Sonic DriveIn on Southside Blvd
Hope to see you there.