Good Possibility of Orphans in San Diego

[ladyguenivere]

I was at the Smart Center in San Diego yesterday, 4/10, and my man Ricardo said there is a good possibility of a few Smarts becoming Orphans this weekend. I know there was at leas 3 Cabrios in the group. Also a new truck load will be arriving on Saturday. If you want one - pack a lunch and head over there.

Lady G

[nscaler]

Originally Posted by ladyguenivere

I was at the Smart Center in San Diego yesterday, 4/10, and my man Ricardo said there is a good possibility of a few Smarts becoming Orphans this weekend. I know there was at leas 3 Cabrios in the group. Also a new truck load will be arriving on Saturday. If you want one - pack a lunch and head over there.

Lady G

Another reservist told me of the $11,000 pure "orphan" that the center was selling for $22,000. Yes it had extras. But that much?
Then they would take his car when it comes in and sell it for more. Vicious circle.
Yes, if you can't wait. Get the "orphan".

[sheureka]

I checked with them today - the orphan cab's have gps and a bunch of other after market stuff added - and they're about $25,000 out the door. I didn't ask about anything but cab's.

[ladyguenivere]

Originally Posted by sheureka

I checked with them today - the orphan cab's have gps and a bunch of other after market stuff added - and they're about $25,000 out the door. I didn't ask about anything but cab's.

When I was there Thursday - there were no GPS units installed in the Cabs and the 2 white/black ones had Lojack.

I was looking on other threads about gps systmes for Smarties that werre aftermarket installs - and the posters identified a Garmin unit that sat above the dash. This was not the same system for the San Diego area. However, if Smartusa has a contract with Garmin to use their products, the systems looks like a Nuvi and it's retail value is a max $860. I was quoted almost $3000 for one installed . I printed out a page from the Garmin website. If I go over there today - I'm gonna be armed!

Lady G

[ladyguenivere]

I went back to the dealership yesterday 4/12, and it did not look like there was a new shipment. I checked out the GPS system which they installed in all the cabrios and it is made by Panisonic. What they make a GPS system? When I got home I checked it out and yes appearently they have had a system in Europe for a while. It is also one of the priciest on the market now that it is stateside - retails at $1799, if I remember correctly. However, it has litterly everything in it, including the ability to play videos and satilite radio ready.

If I get an orphan, and it has the GPS, I am certainly not going to pay an inflated price for it.

Lady G

[sreeb]

I bought an orphaned Passion on the 27th. No dealer added options but some stuff I wouldn't have ordered. Heated seats in San Diego? Extra for silver paint? Also had power steering which my wife wanted but I don't think is needed. The wheel is very easy to turn when parked with the engine off.

[smartmuffin]

Sreeb... were you on the Orphan list? I just ask because I'm desperate for one and I am on the orphan list and have a reservation (mine's not supposed to be here until 7\09) and I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to get one significantly sooner. As in, ASAP. I originally wanted the pure but Ricardo in San Diego convinced me the passion would be easier to get me into sooner as those are coming over more often. I mean how did you get yours on the 27th, were you just at the right place at the right time? Or had they gone down the orphan list and given you a call? Helpppp!! And w/out prying could you tell me roughly the out the door price you paid?

Thanks!

[sreeb]

Originally Posted by smartmuffin

Sreeb... were you on the Orphan list?

No. My wife wanted to test drive one so we went to the dealer. They had one, we bought it.

I just ask because I'm desperate for one and I am on the orphan list and have a reservation (mine's not supposed to be here until 7�9) and I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to get one significantly sooner. As in, ASAP.

They were calling people on the list while I was there but I don't think they were holding them for people on the orphan list.

I originally wanted the pure but Ricardo in San Diego convinced me the passion would be easier to get me into sooner as those are coming over more often.

I counted 38 smarts on the lot when I was there. Only a handful of pures in the bunch.

I mean how did you get yours on the 27th, were you just at the right place at the right time?

Yup.

Or had they gone down the orphan list and given you a call? Helpppp!! And w/out prying could you tell me roughly the out the door price you paid?

They were selling at MSRP. I paid the sticker + taxes and doc. In my case it was a Passion with power steering, heated seats, and sticker price of $15,080. Out the door price was about $16,500.

They also had 3 laden with dealer upgrades. They didn't seem to be attracting much interest.

My read is that the margins aren't great and they aren't allowed to sell above MSRP so there wasn't any reason to bargain. When I showed up, they had just had 37 delivered earlier in the week and were setting up appointments with the people who had ordered them. I think the orphan list is primarily to help them move the cars off the lot quickly rather than help you get a car. I think the most important thing you can do is make sure you are ready financially when a car is available. Don't leave your checkbook at home....

As for getting an opportunity to buy a car, I think being there ready to buy a day or two after a delivery is about it. From what I observed they don't know exactly when and what is going to arrive until a truck pulls up and unloads (seems strange when UPS tracks a $10 package by the hour I know). Then they start preparing the cars and calling the customers. At that point they have some customer fallout and those cars are immediately available to the first buyer.

Good hunting

[alanmg]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and finding in it a wealth of info. Placed my $99 reservation early June, and my original date of 9/09-12/09 has just changed to 7/09-9/09. That being said, now that I've heard of others experiences with "orphans" I'd sure like to get my hands on one in San Diego. Any way to tell ahead of time when the dealer's deliveries are coming in? Just trying to figure out how to time it "right" to have the best chance of acquiring an orphan. Looking for a Passion Coupe without dealer ad-ons. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy motoring.....

[SunDiego]

Originally Posted by alanmg

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and finding in it a wealth of info. Placed my $99 reservation early June, and my original date of 9/09-12/09 has just changed to 7/09-9/09. That being said, now that I've heard of others experiences with "orphans" I'd sure like to get my hands on one in San Diego. Any way to tell ahead of time when the dealer's deliveries are coming in? Just trying to figure out how to time it "right" to have the best chance of acquiring an orphan. Looking for a Passion Coupe without dealer ad-ons. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy motoring.....

Ask Ricardo to put you on the Orphan list, while your at it, see if he knows when new deliveries will be in. I don't think Smart Center SD has had any Orphans without the dealer add-ons...to my knowledge at least.