[strelnik]

Years ago, when I started to work on Citroen cars and trucks, there were regional workshops over weekends at selected locations for working on Citroen cars. People who were expert at tune-ups, knew short cuts, made tools or had information just came to learn about things on their cars. Very few came to sell things, but sometimes they did and it was good home-made tools for sale to other amateurs.

Has anyone done this for smart?

I bring this up because in less than two years, I will be retired and working on my cars, including two or possibly three, smart fortwos. I'll be in Michigan west of Ann Arbor, on perhaps six acres with a large barn and a good workshop.

As the cars become more in need of maintenance and the parts achieve the dreaded status of NLA- no longer available, I'd like to sound people out on this.

With the weather bad, we need things to think about that can be positive.

We can start by figuring out where people are and determining if someone wants to act as a point of contact - no other commitment required- for various regions or groups in the US.

I'm thinking that a Midwest region comprising Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin might represent a goodly number of smart owners

 

[jimvw57]

Sounds like a great idea! Years ago when I was a member of a Corvair Club, we had monthly meetings that were often scheduled to include a Saturday work session on maint.

 

[Bob Denman]

With my mechanical aptitude: I'd be useless to the group...

But it DOES sound like a good idea!

 

[Bob Ricewasser]

Great idea but my experience over the years is that most smart owner's that I have encountered, we're not interested in the technical aspects of their smart cars or working on them. There was a huge interest in accessories & modified smart cars.

 

[gtdump]

I would have some interest in such, but I don't think there are enough smart cars around here (central WI, USA) to maintain a lively membership, but I suppose I could be wrong.
In the past few decades of driving, I tend to do all my own routine maintenance (fluids, greasing, wheel bearings, tie-rods, suspension bushings, etc) and only send out to the shop for tasks that require very special tools or inthe rare instances where I need repairs but I just cannot find time to get it done. Being cheap, that later is very, very rare.

 

[Rambo4]

Years ago, when I started to work on Citroen cars and trucks, there were regional workshops over weekends at selected locations for working on Citroen cars. People who were expert at tune-ups, knew short cuts, made tools or had information just came to learn about things on their cars. Very few came to sell things, but sometimes they did and it was good home-made tools for sale to other amateurs.

Has anyone done this for smart?

I bring this up because in less than two years, I will be retired and working on my cars, including two or possibly three, smart fortwos. I'll be in Michigan west of Ann Arbor, on perhaps six acres with a large barn and a good workshop.

As the cars become more in need of maintenance and the parts achieve the dreaded status of NLA- no longer available, I'd like to sound people out on this.

With the weather bad, we need things to think about that can be positive.

We can start by figuring out where people are and determining if someone wants to act as a point of contact - no other commitment required- for various regions or groups in the US.

I'm thinking that a Midwest region comprising Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin might represent a goodly number of smart owners

Years ago, when I started to work on Citroen cars and trucks, there were regional workshops over weekends at selected locations for working on Citroen cars. People who were expert at tune-ups, knew short cuts, made tools or had information just came to learn about things on their cars. Very few came to sell things, but sometimes they did and it was good home-made tools for sale to other amateurs.

Has anyone done this for smart?

I bring this up because in less than two years, I will be retired and working on my cars, including two or possibly three, smart fortwos. I'll be in Michigan west of Ann Arbor, on perhaps six acres with a large barn and a good workshop.

As the cars become more in need of maintenance and the parts achieve the dreaded status of NLA- no longer available, I'd like to sound people out on this.

With the weather bad, we need things to think about that can be positive.

We can start by figuring out where people are and determining if someone wants to act as a point of contact - no other commitment required- for various regions or groups in the US.

I'm thinking that a Midwest region comprising Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin might represent a goodly number of smart owners

I think this is a most wonderful idea. I live in Wisconsin, yet my dealer is in Minnesota. After finding out Smart was being dumped in the US I bought some tools to do my own work. There's nothing more satisfying than an Old Milwaukee on the tailgate and a 10mm wrench pulling coil packs.

 

[1983JZR3W]

I would like to see something like this get kicked off in the southeast, but down here we can't even keep smart clubs active.

 

[Paula&Charlie]

I would like to see something like this get kicked off in the southeast, but down here we can't even keep smart clubs active.

I feel your pain!
George, you and I come from a different time my friend. Back in the days to be a member of a group was the norm. Every girl and boy became a Girl Scout or a Boy Scout. Parents participated in the Sons of Italy, or Elks etc. Granted, these groups still exist, but have no where near the memberships they once held.
These days for the most part being social has become Facebook and the various groups that exist. I assume it’s a good resource for trading information, but to me there is no replacement for planing a meet and (actually) meeting others, shaking a hand, looking at their setup first hand, etc...etc.
I have tried through direct face to face contact with Smart owners up here to form a group, create a group get together, but too no avail.
For the most part my Husband and I take our leisurely drive in our little Stinky through the Hamptons on a Sunday and wave at every Smart Owner we happen upon, and usually receive a smile and a wave back. But that’s as far as it goes. It’s sad to say (speaking of my husband and I) we have become dinosaurs, Ole school, and as Jethro Tull song implies “ To old to rock and roll, too young to die” lol
So with that said, is there anyone from Long Island in here who wants to meet up and get the joint jumping?

 

[smark]

11 year ago, there was a lot of smart cars on the road here, in Kansas City. Large smart car community. That would have been the time to set up, a hands on group clinics. Too late for that now. Never see any smart cars on the road anymore. I really doubt there would be any interest anymore.

 

[strelnik]

11 year ago, there was a lot of smart cars on the road here, in Kansas City. Large smart car community. That would have been the time to set up, a hands on group clinics. Too late for that now. Never see any smart cars on the road anymore. I really doubt there would be any interest anymore.

Are you speaking of KC MO or KC KS?

 

[1983JZR3W]

Are you speaking of KC MO or KC KS?

Is there that much difference.....a couple of miles maybe?

 

[1983JZR3W]

Paula, I agree with you, things have certainly changed in the last several years. I have been active in car clubs for a bit over 50 years. Started with muscle cars, then sports cars, street rods for many years, and now I rarely go to any car events. They are just not the same as they once were. Now instead of big engines, we hear big radios. The older enthusiasts in my age group are either dying off, or too infirmed to attend the events. I have lost several friends in the local car community in the last few years and many were younger than me.
I will continue to enjoy my JZR and smart as long as I can crawl out to the garage and prop myself up to polish or turn a wrench. I really do miss the face to face contact with other car people that was so common years ago. Maybe one day I will wake up and the old days will have returned.

 

[jwight]

As the saying goes, "time marches on".... Right now the most enthusiastic and active car folks appear to be Tesla owners, and for good reason. The car culture days are drawing to a close and will eventually be replaced by some other interest shared by those who come after us. It's the way of the world.

 

[e350coupe]

I think this is an excellent idea. I last belonged to a Fiero group and took a pile of "junk" to a first in show daily driver. As for me I live in Chilliwack and although retired I have a full shop including lift and heated 440 square foot garage with all tools and most gauges, even just obtained a dedicated smart scan gauge. Count me in for any people in the BC area, fix, update or even monthly luncheons.

 

[strelnik]

With my mechanical aptitude: I'd be useless to the group...

But it DOES sound like a good idea!

I would have a really essential job for you-- refreshment monitor!
You could tell us when the liquid refreshments are running low, thereby preventing death by thirst!

 

[strelnik]

Years ago, when I started to work on Citroen cars and trucks, there were regional workshops over weekends at selected locations for working on Citroen cars. People who were expert at tune-ups, knew short cuts, made tools or had information just came to learn about things on their cars. Very few came to sell things, but sometimes they did and it was good home-made tools for sale to other amateurs.

Has anyone done this for smart?

I bring this up because in less than two years, I will be retired and working on my cars, including two or possibly three, smart fortwos. I'll be in Michigan west of Ann Arbor, on perhaps six acres with a large barn and a good workshop.

As the cars become more in need of maintenance and the parts achieve the dreaded status of NLA- no longer available, I'd like to sound people out on this.

With the weather bad, we need things to think about that can be positive.

We can start by figuring out where people are and determining if someone wants to act as a point of contact - no other commitment required- for various regions or groups in the US.

I'm thinking that a Midwest region comprising Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin might represent a goodly number of smart owners

I may be getting close to purchasing a small farm in southeastern Michigan not far from the freeways. It has a very large barn and I'd be building a workshop next to it. Maybe by August it would be a venue for the first annual Midwest smart car Academy awards!

 

[Paula&Charlie]

I would have a really essential job for you-- refreshment monitor!
You could tell us when the liquid refreshments are running low, thereby preventing death by thirst!

Hey that’s my job, well at least at Super Bowl parties lol. But I can be a wannabe hostess for the SCOA club if allowed the chance!
Paula

 

[DigitalLemon]

This sounds like a great idea, I’ve been wanting to find some kind of Smart groups around here (I’m in Chicago) since I got mine but I’ve yet to find anything. I haven’t had to do any work on mine besides a splitter valve and an air filter replacement, but I suspect these cars will be hard to get serviced as they get older and less common, so it’d be a great idea to have a lot of people who know how to work on them in one general area

 

[strelnik]

I am seriously looking at buying a farm very soon, as finances permit, then moving all my stuff and cars to that location.
Once this is done, I can systematically work on things and set up my retirement paradise.

 

[strelnik]

Years ago, when I started to work on Citroen cars and trucks, there were regional workshops over weekends at selected locations for working on Citroen cars. People who were expert at tune-ups, knew short cuts, made tools or had information just came to learn about things on their cars. Very few came to sell things, but sometimes they did and it was good home-made tools for sale to other amateurs.

Has anyone done this for smart?

I bring this up because in less than two years, I will be retired and working on my cars, including two or possibly three, smart fortwos. I'll be in Michigan west of Ann Arbor, on perhaps six acres with a large barn and a good workshop.

As the cars become more in need of maintenance and the parts achieve the dreaded status of NLA- no longer available, I'd like to sound people out on this.

With the weather bad, we need things to think about that can be positive.

We can start by figuring out where people are and determining if someone wants to act as a point of contact - no other commitment required- for various regions or groups in the US.

I'm thinking that a Midwest region comprising Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin might represent a goodly number of smart owners

This is an update on a possible Mid West meet. Not wanting to raise false hopes, the older owner is not very responsive, even in the sight of cash.

I am getting closer to purchasing a smaller farm (6 acres with 2000 sq ft house and 4000 sq ft barn. My intent is to build one more 30 x 40 x 12' building as an insulated climatized work shop with four post drive on lift, mostly for the other cars. Other tools include AC recuperation, MIG welder, steam cleaner and possible spray booth.

With respect to the smart cars, they should be about 5' wide and I think they will fit on the lift, otherwise, I shall make a smaller hydraulically operated lift or drive-up ramps that I life after the car is parked on them.

STILL waiting for the current owner to make up his mind, he may be a snow bird, which can impact purchase, moving etc.

More news as it happens.