Florida news?

[spdickey]

That 1% interest probably cost you $1500 more in the cost of the car. State Farm has been okay for my folks for decades, I'm going with Liberty Mutual since the body shop I've been using really fights the adjusters on my repairs for me and I'm saving a few hundred a year. More money for fog lights and a LoJack.

And fight back on the Florida Fee Rip-off. Make sure you count your chads!

Check out this about the Florida "Prep" fee. http://oncars.blogspot.com/2006/11/o...r-dealers.html

[cinzia]

Originally Posted by Susie

How do I find my dealer? I live in Tallahassee so I assume (and you know what happens when you assume) "my" dealer would be out of Jacksonville, right? Again, thanks for the info. Susie

Susie,
I spoke to Timothy O'Sullivan the head of smart center Jacksonville this morning. He said his dealership would be handling all of the panhandle area and they should be open in 10 days -2 weeks (pending certification and Fl license). They have been given only 20 reservation holders names from smartusa so far and they have been contacted. He expects the first cars to be driven off the lot by 1 Feb. He gave me the names of two points of contact for the Jacksonville dealer, Alex Shelver and Denise ? (Denise is new and he couldn’t remember her last name off the top of his head) phone number (904) 777-5900.

Prior to the above phone call I also spoke to smartusa “customer care� this morning to ask who my dealer would be, of coarse she didn’t have that information. I asked if I would be able to change if it was a dealer that was not convenient for me. She told me we should get an email from smartusa as soon as our car was in the US. At that time you could request a dealer change if you wanted but she did not say that smartusa would guarantee that request would be granted, just that they would consider it. I asked this only because I travel to Orlando and the Tampa area often and NEVER to Jacksonville. Also I took my road test in Orlando and really liked Julie Morelli who is the dealer there.

It’s beginning to make me feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas!!!

[spyderman33]

It's been quiet... Anyone heard anything?? Anyone take delivery yet?

[Fyvel]

Originally Posted by spyderman33

It's been quiet... Anyone heard anything?? Anyone take delivery yet?

I talked to the dealership in Davie last night and they said they weren't officially opened yet and weren't expecting any cars until at least early next week.

[Carnut]

West Palm is still in limbo - no license. They are hoping for the 30th.

[spyderman33]

Originally Posted by Fyvel

I talked to the dealership in Davie last night and they said they weren't officially opened yet and weren't expecting any cars until at least early next week.

That's a bummer... We shall keep waiting then..

[Fyvel]

Originally Posted by spyderman33

That's a bummer... We shall keep waiting then..

Just gave them a quick call to see if they got any in for test driving yet. Said they got a truckload this morning and they're working on getting them ready. Should have them ready later today or tomorrow morning. I don't know if they got any for sale or just for test driving/demos though.

[Susie]

Cinzia,

Thanks for the info. I too called Jacksonville and spoke with Alex S. He seems like a nice enough young man and very knowledgable about the smart. He said their building was not complete but though it would be around the first of Feb., and they had not heard about their cars as of yet (he is the salesman so he is the last to hear). He took all of my information incl. e-mail and said he would keep me in the loop. I hope you are able to use the dealer most convenient to you. Maybe if you have to take ownership in Jacksonville, you can transfer your other use to Orlando.

What did you order? You are probably going to be the first in your are to have one. Good luck.

Susie

[bobnyuma]

Hmmmm, I live up i Brunswick, Ga, close to Jax. Wondering if they will be my dealer or Atlanta. Be nice if its Jax, but not nice for the dealer fee. Hmmm, guess we'll see what happens.

[kmeinhold]

Drove by Weston today. It was a zoo! Counted 65 people milling about / waiting for a test drive. About 18 cars total on hand, oddly not one yellow (which I would have expected in Florida).

The sales people were very busy answering questions and much more polite than I would have been given the circumstances. I stayed out of their way but found the questions interesting - mostly "how much" and "how soon can I get one". Apparently some customers offered significant premiums (enough for me to think hmmm for about 2 seconds) to get one now. And apparently when informed all the vehicles were spoken for a few even became irate enough that they had to be asked to leave!!!

One smart staff person mentioned that the Lexus launch didn't generate the excitement seen at the smart launch!