Michigan smart Owners Group - INTERESTED?

[Crew2]

Sounds like alot of fun.

[mismart]

Originally Posted by Billo

I kind of like the name Smart Michigan Owners Group...acronym being SMOG!!

Nevermind!!

No matter what you call it, my wife and I would love to participate.

I leave you with three words: Ride! Eat! Ride!

Billo -

I had been thinking about names and SMOG hit me also, but I thought that might be the wrong message. However a2's idea about a conversation starter might work. The second and similar idea was SMUG smart Michigan User Group

Ride! Eat! Ride! ** Sounds like the motto of my HOG (Harley Owners Group) Chapter

a2jack - By the time you read this you should be in possession of your new smart. Congrats

[Ralph Finneren]

Sounds like a fun time, count me & the mrs in. Maybe a while before we actually have smartie (1311). Moving the site around sounds like a winner, & a great excuse to get your motor runnin, head out on the highway, lookin for adventure, and whatever comes our way.......stop me before I have another flashback

[stuberman]

I love the idea of local user groups in Michigan but from my experience I doubt that one group can really serve the whole state (I was involved with a large professional group based in Detroit that quickly realized it was unable to serve the other parts of Michigan and I helped found a local "West Michigan" group... there are also chapters in Lansing and UP).

So I am enthusiastic about forming a smart owners group but think the reality of serving regions is well thought out. I have heard the call to get together in Detroit but it is too far to seriously consider short of a major event. I know a number of local West Michigan owners and future owners (Grand Rapids and the area) and know they too are not going to commit 5-6 hours in a commute. I would rather create and promote a local club serving either the Grand Rapids metro area (about 1M people) or West Michigan (whatever that exactly may be).

BTW - I just finished touring smartville in France and had a great time. Will post more when I get back to USA. I also visited a smart center in Nuremberg and was enthralled by the size and activity as well as the wealth of accessories.

[akekalos]

Originally Posted by mismart

Calling all Michigan (and surrounding area) smarties. There has been interest expressed in starting a local owners group and we'd like to hear from all owners and waiters.

Bob_Parr started things a few weeks ago and some of us got together for a meet and greet. Discussion centered on ideas of get togethers, road trips, etc. TNT0604 is a member of the MINI owners group and has many great ideas for enjoying our new smarts.

I have talked with Rick Cortright, General Manager of smart center Bloomfield, and he expressed interest in and a willingness to support the efforts of a local group. A few ideas discussed were a possible use of the dealership for meetings, tech seminars, body panel swaps, etc. He also said he would contact the people that they have already delivered cars to and inform them of the forming of this owners group and provide contact information, as not all are members here.

Lets hear your ideas and level of interest, and get this thing going. Feel free to post in this thread or pm me with your thoughts.

Regards,
Roger

p.s. My Jan 17th delivery Blue/Silver/Beige cabrio now has passed the 2000 mile mark, and I'm enjoying it more each day.

I'm still waiting to take delivery of my Smart and live in Traverse City. I'll put forth my tentative interest in becoming part of a Michigan owners group, but will reserve final decision until there's a better reading on meeting locations, etc. Very good idea, though.

[a2jack]

Mismart. SMUG sounds too elitist, and would be sure to cause us grief in some of the rougher coffee shops we might swagger into.

Yep, got the Car today and the last I saw of it was my wife and her girl friend driving off to play. Interesting part was the yellow color was brilliant Yellow, not pale like the Euro cars we test drove. Man it is sharp, and the spare tire fits in the well behind the drivers seat just fine. Our car is the 66th smart delivered in Michigan according to our rep Samantha.

Met Rick Cortright and we had a long discussion about the problems facing dealers and customers, re information flow and Parts. BTW all parts will come from Tulsa OK. That is Smart's central dealer warehouse.

Met the Service manager (Darn! lost his card) and he explained that the hold up at the docks was caused by an extra inspection being performed on the shifter cable clamp (I would guess this was due to our NA shifter being a bit different from the Euro cars coming down the line). All is well though and They have had no problems at all with the Michigan cars.

MiSmart: we also talked about your club project and IB's ties to this site. This can be a topic for another thread.

All the people at the Bloomfield dealer were very forthcoming, and my wife and I left with a strong feeling of trust and satisfaction... Not bad for a car dealer... Eh!

A2Jack.

[Harleyduo]

Jack,
I'm so glad that your car is finally in your possession. There's not a day that goes by that somebody doesn't make some sort of favorable comment about our car. It's hard for me to believe that people are so oblivious to this little car and how it came about to be in the U.S. Tonight somebody was paging us at a restaurant just so he could ask us questions about it after seeing it in the parking lot. I think the more you drive it the more you'll love it. That's what's happened with us.

Enjoy...

[tnt0604]

Originally Posted by stuberman

I love the idea of local user groups in Michigan but from my experience I doubt that one group can really serve the whole state

Check out MichiganMINI.org We have members all over the state. We have events from the left to the right coast. We hold an annual meeting mid state to plan out the year, and do it all with out dues. It can be done.

[ARichte23]

I'd like to join...but I'm not an owner yet =(

And surprisingly enough...I work in Canton, and drive through Livonia often...and have not spotted a Smart on the road!

[mismart]

Wow - Thanks for all the interest folks. I've heard back from about half of the 25 folks I tried to contact. I'm hoping to hear from some folks that are not on the forum based on Bloomfiled contacting their customers.

a2jack - So glad your delivery went good and you got a chance to meet the folks there. btw, the service manager is Mark Hovis. All you need now is a chance to get the keys back from your wife.

crew2 - any word on your car? It shoud be here soon.

Ralph Finneren - Welcome aboard.

akekalos - There is another member in Traverse City that took delivery of his smart the first week - MSUDVM

tnt0604 - MichiganMINI.org looks great. Seems like that group might make a good model for us to follow. I'd encourage everyone to take a look at that


Be back soon.
Regards,
Roger