Anybody else from IA??

[jefferios]

No, winter is pretty much done for. Yesterday Des Moines hit 76 degrees, today we are in the upper 50's. But the chances of snow are slim until this fall.

[smartah]

There's going to be a "mini" smart get together at Battles on Welch this Sat. at 5:30 p.m. or so. Anyone?... anyone?....

[jefferios]

I won't be able to make it, I got too much a group projects at that time...So I won't be able to say hello.

[smartah]

We are going to try and have a meet and greet every last Sat. of the month. Location to be changed every month. Suggestions?

[IASmartie]

Well, I'm pretty sure I won't be getting my car. I have a bunch of 'issues' with the car based on what I have read. I could probably get past them except, I need to replace the minivan and there isn't enough room in the budget for both. So if anybody has friends that have been pestering them...there will be a red cabrio available in Omaha soon. I got my 30 day email almost 30 days ago.

[jefferios]

Sorry to hear IASmartie, I'm going to be getting my car sometime this month up in MN.

What issues were bothering you?

[IASmartie]

There are several things. When I made my reservation in April 2007 I hoped to stretch out the live of my minivan. That wasn't going to happen, so spending $20,000 on a Quest is the deal breaker.

Here are some of the things I'm conserned with:

• Cost - The total cost of these cars really creeps up there, when you start adding options
• Quality - on these forums alone, there have been problems with the transmissions, windsheilds, alarm systems and buttens going into the dash
• Distance to dealer - I'm over 100 miles from the dealership. That make every problem or service appointment a major weekend project.
• Dealer fee - the LaVista dealership charges $279. Since I don't live in NE, I have to take vacation and go to my courthouse (45 miles of driving) to pay my use tax and register the car. What are they doing for the money?
• Weight limit - I'm a big guy. With the limit on weight the cabrio has, I can only take my youngest daughter for a ride, not my wife, or my other 2 kids
• Warrenty - 2yrs/24K miles is a joke. The 2005 Quest I bought with 27K miles on it, came with a powertrain warrenty up to 100K because it was 'certified'. I could buy an extension for the smart, but see my first concern.

[jefferios]

Ah, well glad you found something else that fits your needs. Thanks for the detailed post

[paecific]

There are two of us in Ames and we have been meeting at the end of each month at some place to eat.

I was thinking that the last Saturday in May at Chili's in Ankeny would be a great spot to get as many cars as possible together.

We need a logo and jackets. Need Ideas.

paecific@iastate.edu

Smart Owner Since: 3/18/2008
Current Millage 3,600
Color: Silver/Silver, Black leather
mpg: 38 70% town and no paddle shifting.
Added tach after purchasing
Add GG Bailey floormates

One of the following custom tags on order.
1. SMART42
2. SMRT 42
3. 42SMART
4. 42 SMRT

[smartah]

I've had absolutely no problems with mine. Last fill was 43.5mpg manual shifting only. I'm doing a little experiment and filling at half a tank and alternating between 89 and 91 octane. I haven't been able to see any difference in performance or mileage. The first fill seemed to take ECU about 100 miles to figure out that there wasn't 91 or 93 in the tank, but after that, operation got smooth. With the difference 30 -40 cents a gallon maybe I'm not saving a whole lot, but in the long run I will be. IMHO.