Everyone so worry, the smart is dead. The sky is falling. Since smart won't be offering the ICE model here anymore. Where will I get parts? We'll never see another smart again.
2016, Europe....
Smart Fortwo 69,169 units sold
Smart forfour 37,133 units sold
I've been trying to source European/non-US smart/Mercedes parts for a while now. I think the best place so far that I "think" is good is en.partacus.de. Seems like I'd get hit with a large shipping bill and import duties of 19%. Still too scared to try to pull the trigger on an order.
I'm lucky though, the smart is not my only car. Others may not be so lucky....
Not sure if they can just order it in for you, what I did see was a lot of European oil such as Total which I haven't seen up here but did when I lived in France. I think they must order in a container of merchandise and if that is the case then perhaps they can order in specific parts that they don't stock on the website. I can ask the next time I'm over there or perhaps send Tim an email.
To the OP's point, I think we're all aware smart isn't "dead" or anywhere near it. Killing just the ICE 453 in the US and Canada won't impact smart overall, anymore than them pulling out of Australia did.
1589 sales? Woah, if they went electric in all markets, annual sales would be like 5500 worldwide.
Considering the 453 was a last gasp, and required Renault to participate to make it happen, I suspect this will be the last fortwo. Renault's Twingo sales are symbolic too. Volumes are just too low to make anything like a profit.
although i was looking to keep my smart til the wheels fell off, it's running fine with new tires, the 8 year old battery may be replaced, i'm looking at a 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage, basically the same engine, a little larger, 1.2 vs 1.0 liters, but 4 doors, so i can drive for Uber or Lyft, i work at Amazon now and have 4 days off a week, it's a tough decision, 9 years with my smart, i usually sell my cars at 10 years and get a new one, just passed 9 with this one, 7 years past the warranty.
i'll probably get an infraction for mentioning selling my smart, if i do, i quit!
The '17 Corolla has some good/great features for the 50th Anniversary if that price range is in consideration for you.... (Maybe you could sell your mighty rare wheels to make up some of the difference.)
It might impact smart USA, in that they stop losing in a poor sales location. (Still remember signing the agreement to not export mine back in late 2012. They must be selling them to us at a lower price point to try to prevent them being sent elsewhere for a possible resale profit.)
Once parts availability dries up, my car might become a paperweight. I can't see ordering parts from the EU and paying hundreds of dollars in shipping and VAT.
Didn't even know FJ sold smarts in the first place. He owns Ontario and Newport Beach locations but I didn't see any signs they were ever a smart dealer. Not there often I must admit...
If a particulr Smart Center will there be a notice posted somewhere? My closest Center is Easton Smart Center up beside Columbus Ohio and that's 2 hours away from me. DCO
Not in Las Vegas
On Saturday I stopped by Fletcher Jones Imports / Mercedes. I took some pictures. Only thing left on the building is the tiny smart sign, two used smarts in the lot, No New smarts, they aren't getting any more and they opted out of selling the ED smart. I also have a picture of the showroom where they now have a full size Mercedes sitting where two or three smarts, usually a pure, passion and cabriolet were displayed.
As the GM told me, 'the experiment has ended.'
Not only are they not autorized to do work on the smarts, they don’t have trained techs and are not able to even order parts. My local Benz dealer, who has done service work on my E Class, can’t help me with even simple parts like air and oil filters.
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