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Just found out that my dealer, Smart Center of Buffalo will not be offering future Smart brand sales but will continue to offer service for their customers 
And another one bites the dust. 26 left and counting down...Just found out that my dealer, Smart Center of Buffalo will not be offering future Smart brand sales but will continue to offer service for their customers![]()
I agree fully !! It’s a shame that this little vehicle wasn’t given any applause for its rural prowess, it rocks on our country roads , twisty mountain inclines and interstate distances ... such a sad fact MB , missed that niche of many potential buyers .MB did not market the smart in the USA properly. They continued to try to sell it as a "city only" car, rather than show that it can actually be a great car in rural areas, such as where I live. It's perfect driving on the twisting back roads and handles the rural highways fine. They could have turned it around... heck they still could, but I doubt they will try or put any effort into it. The big know-it-all execs will just blame it on the American market, stating that all we want are big SUVs today... yet they never even tried to market the car outside of city driving.
I got Buffalo's remaining 2017 inventory delivered to my dealership to sell from here in Lynnfield, MA. I have helped some of Latham/Albany's former customers get their new electric smarts shipped to their homes and then they are able to get service at their old smart dealers when needed. I'd be happy to help any of Buffalo's clients as well and arrange transportation. A few of Buffalo's clients have already reached out to me about future business, so thank you for your support of the brand and I look forward to helping you.Just found out that my dealer, Smart Center of Buffalo will not be offering future Smart brand sales but will continue to offer service for their customers![]()
With the ICE version, I think MB/smart missed a HUGE opportunity by not marketing it more towards people who own RVs and could use the smart as tow-car. They didn't give towing instructions to dealers at all on the 451, and smartUSA waited too long to give us 453 tow instructions. Owner's manuals would said something like "contact smart dealer for towing information" but we had no information to provide for 451, and very little for 453.I agree fully !! It’s a shame that this little vehicle wasn’t given any applause for its rural prowess, it rocks on our country roads , twisty mountain inclines and interstate distances ... such a sad fact MB , missed that niche of many potential buyers .
My personal opinion is that, as long as RVers are willing to pull a small trailer for the smart EV to sit on... it's just as good of a choice as a tow vehicle as the gas smarts are. After a long road trip, I don't see too many trips that involve straying far away from the RV and the RV Park... the range of the smart EV should be more than sufficient. It's still a lighter car than most if not all...With the ICE version, I think MB/smart missed a HUGE opportunity by not marketing it more towards people who own RVs and could use the smart as tow-car. They didn't give towing instructions to dealers at all on the 451, and smartUSA waited too long to give us 453 tow instructions. Owner's manuals would said something like "contact smart dealer for towing information" but we had no information to provide for 451, and very little for 453.
453 EV is not tow-able (so we're told), though it could have had a much larger potential target market if it had been designed to be pulled behind an RV.
We sold just as many, if not more, ICE smart cars to the rural regions of New Hampshire and Maine than we did to city-dwellers. I had a great time delivering those cars to the owners and taking the cars on mountain roads, long stretches of highway, etc. I got to drive an electric smart to the top of Mt. Washington which was a lot of fun. They still have their 451 EV for trips up and down Mt Washington- the regen braking going down was ridiculous.
Sorry but even if they had the cars to sell..... it would be a disaster with the marketing team the mother ship has for smart. Take a look at Fiat. Same kind of thing with a expanded car line. Started with the 2 door 500 added a 4 door (didn't sell) added a suv (didn't sell) added a roadster (didn't sell). On top of that FCA actually had a small advertising budget. Plus imho a much better car to sell in the USA.I also think MB missed with not bringing the Forfour to the USA. They say it is a crowded market but it is - IMO - crowded since so many are interested in a four door four seat car. I read that they were working on a SUV version of the Forfour. I think it would compete with similar size vehicles and be popular in colder regions.
I would have loved to have a Smart roadster come to the US. I think it would make the Smart brand more appealing, just my opinion.
I think those concepts by Smart would be big sellers if they were produced. (just my opinion).
You hit the nail on the head.Sorry but even if they had the cars to sell..... it would be a disaster with the marketing team the mother ship has for smart. Take a look at Fiat. Same kind of thing with a expanded car line. Started with the 2 door 500 added a 4 door (didn't sell) added a suv (didn't sell) added a roadster (didn't sell). On top of that FCA actually had a small advertising budget. Plus imho a much better car to sell in the USA.