smart value decrease of 45% w/i year????

[GoMXracing]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

When TaTa gets FMVSS figured out and makes there car to sell for under two grand along with twentyfive hundred dollar Jaguars the car industry will implode, pass the crack..
karl

what ever,,,, that will never happen(above)

who ever stated that cars are not an investment is 95% correct...way it is..... i agree...

buy one and use it.....enjoy........ if you want to make money...a car is not the way.

people crack me up........ i purchased my car for the "cool factor" no other reason.

if you sold your gas hog for dirt. and purchased a small car for the fuel economy(at top price) you better drive it for 30 years or so.to "save" the money you wanted

[RVGRINGO]

I'm 70. Does that mean I have to drive more or drive faster?

[Luckysmart]

Don't forget the design factor. I don't see Yaris, Fit, Aveo got put into N.Y. Museum of Modern Art. Don't underestimate the power of cute and design... Look at Mini. they are still hot cake. One can't just look at the fuel efficiency alone. Smart car has got a special aura to it.
But, wait what's this article doing at wheel and tire??

[Dean Smith]

The VW Beetle hasn't been sold in this country for over 30 years, but how many did you see on the way to work today? Their are so many cool things to be done to a Smart, I don't ever see it becoming obsolete.

I wish I could buy a used one for $5,000...then I could put $10,000 into it, and have a "Star Ship" capable of warp factor six.

In addition to "Hip, Slick, and Kool" its actually comfortable too!

[MENSA42]

Originally Posted by gotta have a SMART

I would like to hear other people's thoughts on the smartimes Spring '07 article, on page 13.
I was "flipping through" this on-line issue and read this short article about an aussie stating that his smart car's resale value had decreased 45% within one year (just based on the market NOT the condition of his smart.) Does anyone have any additional history on this situation? I realize it was last year in 2007, and in Australia BUT I am somewhat concerned that the lack of parts, smart centers' knowledge... may affect us here in the states at some point. What do you all think?

www.smartimesmagazine.com/wp-content/smartimes_back_issues/smartimes_spring_2007.pdf

first, it was SPRING OF '07!!!! the "US smarts" haven't even hit the US market yet. this was concerning the other markets that smart was in. if you remember, smart was in trouble financially and deciding to come to the US was a big risk, one that has paid off well for them i'm sure. now they have more exposure and will have even more once they go on sale in China in mid-2009.

like someone else said, just check out 'cars.com' and 'autotrader.com' and see what they're selling for THERE! several thousand OVER msrp.

i have no doubt that with smart keeping either NO inventory or a very low one at smart centers across the US, people will be in line for them for some time and if they can't buy a new one? they simply will buy a used one.....but pay nearly new price for it!

[gmasters]

the car was worth 18,500.00 to me two months ago, today its worth 18,858.00

the math was easy to me, and I could sell mine to the guy down the street who knocked on my door just today who wants to get out of his "small" corvette. I just told him after we drove it to go on line and place order

[Evilution]

Old car,
Different country,
1 mans opinion probably going by what a dealer has offered him for it.

I payed £6200 for my 450 brand new, it's still worth £5000 4 years later.
Smarts were reported as being the slowest depriciating cars sold in UK.

[kurt013]

If gas prices drop back to a buck, our Smarts will drop in value. Otherwise, not so much.

[johnssc]

Originally Posted by WickedMessenger

I have terrible news for some of you: cars are not an investment. They are a consumable. They lose value. How much are your one-year-old clothes worth? How much is your one-year-old computer worth? These products fill a need, wear down, and become obsolete. So, if a lot of great, efficient cars flood the market in a few years, your smart will lose value. Does that mean it isn't a great car right now? Doesn't it get you from point A to point B in fuel-efficient style? Isn't it something you are proud of? And if you plan on keeping it for a long time (like I do) who cares what it is worth? In my state, that just means you pay more personal property taxes. Resale value is of no concern to me. I'm surprised one story from Australia has so many people in a tizzy.

Bingo!

If you want a car that appreciates in value, buy a certified Ferrari 250 LM or a Mercedes Gullwing!

I bought my car to drive it. I think it is a blast to drive and the "value" for me is that I enjoy my commute now. This is why I have a 401K for investments so that I do not have to "mix" the two!

[wahi]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

I'm 70. Does that mean I have to drive more or drive faster?

At 70, if it were me, I'd be happy if I could just drive..