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Smart Buyers Concerned about Warranties
We are not aware of any other new car sold in the USA that has a 24 month warranty. Even the available "gray market" Smart cars came with a 4-year/50,000-mile third-party warranty.

Many believe a 2-year or 24,000-mile warranty is sending a message to American buyers that smart USA or smart, GmbH believes its cars will require a large amount of service.

It is imprudent for PAG/smart USA to send this message just to save a few bucks on service contracts for the very few cars that may perhaps require some major service work after only 24,000 miles of driving. smart_system_parts_copy.jpg

It just doesn't make sense to show this lack of confidence in their product. This is causing many prospective buyers to have second thoughts.

Penske did say in an interview several months back "A nationwide, around-the-clock SOS technical helpline will be established for the security of buyers traveling in areas without a dealer presence."

However, we can not find any information regarding this service on their site?

Smart USA's president, Mr. Schrembi states "To keep the cost down, Smart limited the standard warranty to two years or 24,000 miles, allowing buyers to option up to three years or 36,000 miles."

Which is understandable if it was not for the fact; that Canada Smarts come with a much better warranty? The warranty issue is especially troubling for many Americans.

All Canadian Smart cars come with the following warranty:

Smart car warranty: 48 months or 50,000 miles with an adjustment period 12 months or 12,000 mile? Smart Canada emission's warranty is 24 months or 25,000 miles and on certain parts, 96 months or 80,000 miles. Corrosion is 48 months or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs first and perforation is 60 months with unlimited miles.

Their "smartmove Assistance Program" provides 24-hour breakdown assistance within Canada, free of charge for 4 years after the vehicle's initial registration. Services include battery jumps, tire repair, winching, and towing. smartcar_rack_pin.jpg

Plus a $2,000 rebate with the ecoAUTO rebate program, through Transport Canada!

So it isn't about the cars maintenance issues or performance, it's about the money?

This too is particularly disturbing. The Chrysler group now offers a lifetime full-power train warranty on all 2008 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles.

Many Chrysler dealers had requested an expanded warranty, saying it would help them compete with offers such as General Motors' and their 5-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Hopefully the Smart Car dealers  will ask for the same!

New car warranty 101.

Each new car sold in the U.S. has two auto warranties, and many include roadside assistance coverage.

These are the 4 important categories of warranties and customer assistance made available to U.S. car buyers.

Your fundamental new car warranty should involve everything excluding issues of wear and tear. Like wiper blades, bulbs and such.

Often having their own warranty coverage are tires and batteries.

Drive-train service contracts take care of most of the engine, transmission, drive axles and driveshaft. Like the fundamental new car warranty, parts subject to wear and tear like belts, clamps and hoses are not covered.

Nonetheless, the internal elements of your motor, like pistons and bearings and crank shafts, are covered by the drive train warranty, even though they are subject to much wear and tear.

Most manufacturers provide a service (Roadside Assistance) that will save you if your vehicle breaks down and leaves you high and dry, even if it's your mistake. Some Roadside Assistance warranties will come and get you if you lock yourself out of the car. If you run out of gas or even come out and fix that flat tire.

As for rust or corrosion warranties, this protects you from rust-through problems with the cars sheet metal and surface rust doesn't count. The Smart has very little to worry about as far as rust or corrosion goes.

Emissions equipment is required to be covered for two years or 24,000 miles by the federal government.

In Europe the Smart came in at 27th with a score of 62.2% as far as new-car warranties - are you covered?

These are two examines of what is being offered:

Make              Basic    Drivetrain    Rust/Corrosion   Roadside/Assistance 

Kia                5/60,000   10/100,000      5/100,000         5/60,000
Mitsubishi   5/60,000   10/100,000      7/100,000       5/Unlimited 

 






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