a Plug for the Clearwater, Fl dealer

Lgaruti · 02-25-2008, 02:22 PM

Took deliver a few hours ago from the Clearwater Smart Center.

The delivery went smooth. Very knowledgable and great sales & delivery team.

This was their first delivery and they are awaiting more Smarts.

Apparently they are keeping up the Lokey tradition of excellent customer service.

Just make note that their delivery fee is presently the highest in Florida.

Carnut · 02-25-2008, 02:40 PM

Have fun and enjoy! Give us some feedback after a few days. Especially since you drive some other interesting vehicles.

meaux61 · 02-25-2008, 02:55 PM

Lgaruti, please note that smSeattle, and smUniversalcity, and scManhattan and scINdianapolis have given EXCELLENT, over the top customer service and not charged 700.00 extra for it. Three of those charge 50-55.00 and Indy charges 150.00.

Meaux

Nicholas · 02-25-2008, 07:15 PM

meaux61, as you might of noticed...Lgaruti is from the west central Florida area so it would seem reasonable his car would come from the Clearwater Smart Center in Clearwater, Florida. I am very happy you have gotten "over the top customer service" from area but some of us really don't have much of a choice in the Florida area and I don't see myself going to the dealerships you mentioned...but thanks for your information, it wasn't very helpful though.;)

meaux61 · 02-25-2008, 07:21 PM

Nicholas, you might not find it helpful but perhaps some of the later configurators will. From this point on, you can specify which dealership you want your smart delivered to. Clearwater is the absolute most expensive in the country. I post information to help smart consumers. I am sorry that you were not helped.

Meaux

Nicholas · 02-25-2008, 07:27 PM

Again, thank you for the information... just seems to us that if we are that far from a "reasonable" dealership it would not be too practical to have a car delivered that far away. Ours will be coming in thru Jacksonville, Florida and their fee is a touch below $400.00. Now just the waitting game...

meaux61 · 02-26-2008, 04:09 AM

We just had a 5000 pound 1952 pickup truck shipped from Ohio to Illinois for 275.00.

More FYI

Meaux

smartfloridadad · 02-26-2008, 04:22 AM

I live in clearwater and Lokey will be my dealer for service ,I bought my E320CDI from Lokey and the doc fee for that car were 499.00 ,I was a little disappointed when I saw the doc fees they , I emailed the sarasota dealer and asked if they had any orphans ,I got a responce the same day ,they had a car with everything I ordered but in a different color ,I ended buying it there ,the doc fee's were over 200.00 less, but as a dealership the dealer in clearwater is fantastic

thefitness · 02-26-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartfloridadad

I live in clearwater and Lokey will be my dealer for service ,I bought my E320CDI from Lokey and the doc fee for that car were 499.00 ,I was a little disappointed when I saw the doc fees they , I emailed the sarasota dealer and asked if they had any orphans ,I got a responce the same day ,they had a car with everything I ordered but in a different color ,I ended buying it there ,the doc fee's were over 200.00 less, but as a dealership the dealer in clearwater is fantastic

Are you in the 727 area? If so my friend saw you driving!

Lgaruti · 02-26-2008, 06:04 PM

Breaking in the new Smart

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carnut

Have fun and enjoy! Give us some feedback after a few days. Especially since you drive some other interesting vehicles.

This may be a bit lengthy… sorry

First impressions: The automatic/ manual transmission takes some getting used to. When in the auto mode it shifts like someone learning to drive a standard shift for the first time. Starts are smooth but the shifts are long and lazy. After awhile you learn to finesse the throttle and the shifts become tolerable. Also the factory programmed shift points seem too low causing the engine to load down in each new gear.

The manual mode is much better as you can pick the shift point, slack off on the gas and the shift is almost seamless. If the Smart had a full manual (clutch) system it would be super. Manual down shifts are great especially when entering a 90-degree turn! Now if we could just get the CPU reprogrammed to provide crisper up-shifts.

The little guy seems to have a fair amount of under steer when entering a tight corner, then followed by over steer. If the throttle is back off during the maneuver you get some under steer. The addition of a sway bar, if it doesn’t have one, or a larger sway bar could help and also reduce the body roll.

In any case it’s a great ride and a ton of fun!
click below
http://www.jibjab.com/view/230561