[pvesmart]

I placed an order for a 2017 Smart ED in Sep-2016. We were told to expect the car by the beginning of 2017. My 2014 Smart EV lease expired in Nov-2016, so Mercedes-Benz is extending our lease month-to-month.

Today, Feb-21-2017, I called the sales rep at San Francisco Mercedes-Benz to find out what happened to our order. He said that MB has not even priced the cars yet and that they expect MB to start manufacturing in Aug-2017. So then we would get the car in Nov-Dec, over one year since our order. They haven't even deposited our check yet. The Salesman said they don't deposit the check until an order with pricing has been entered in the system.

Is this guy telling me the truth about the M-B manufacturing times? Has anyone ordered and received a 2017 Smart ED yet?

-mj lee

 

[10470]

If true, the extra time might give smart a chance to upgrade the EV tech, given that all their eggs are now in one basket.

There is probably a lot of fancy footwork going on behind-the-scenes at this moment.

 

[MB DNA]

Has anyone ordered and received a 2017 Smart ED yet?

No, none have been delivered into the wilds of N.A.

And until we see final EPA range numbers for the Monroney sticker there will be none sold in the U.S.

There is probably a lot of fancy footwork going on behind-the-scenes at this moment.

Steven, you are too kind based on your journey with smart!

Dunno about "fancy footwork" but probably pumping up the smoke and cleaning some mirrors?

 

[lebikerboy]

Manufacturing begins in March...

 

[smark]

Where is the outlet of this car going to be? Our smart dealer, not going offer, smarts anymore. The new Ed range going to have to be better, then the old 451 ones. The smart Ed is the final nail, in the coffin, for the smart brand here.

Sad.

 

[pvesmart]

...The smart Ed is the final nail, in the coffin, for the smart brand here.

I'm just a consumer, not a car enthusiast. What do you mean? What's going on? I thought MB was going to focus on selling ED instead of gas Smarts in the USA.

 

[jwight]

I'm just a consumer, not a car enthusiast. What do you mean? What's going on? I thought MB was going to focus on selling ED instead of gas Smarts in the USA.

They will, until they decide it's not worth the effort because other M-B EV and hybrid cars get them the CAFE credits they need.

Mercedes to add 10 new plug-ins by 2017 - Autoblog

 

[eloder]

I once had a smart ED on order. An initial 3-4 month wait time turned into a year-long wait time (I had canceled after yet another delay after about the 9 month mark).

Smarts are cool cars, but expect support to be next to zero outside of CARB states.

 

[ElementalDragon]

I'm just a consumer, not a car enthusiast. What do you mean? What's going on? I thought MB was going to focus on selling ED instead of gas Smarts in the USA.

That's correct. Supposedly later this year, no more gas powered ForTwo's will be brought into the country, focusing solely on the Electric Drive models instead. The reason many of us are saying that's pretty much it for Smart in the US is simply because they don't have the dealership network to cut out the only option that allowed a lot of people to even GET to their nearest Smart Center. There's only like 82 smart Centers in the entire United States. Some states don't even have one.

 

[pvesmart]

update on manufacturing date

Our M-B of San Francisco sales rep told us that he was slightly off, and that our 2017 Smart ED is going to be manufactured in April, which means we could get it around August. In the interim, M-B Financial extended our lease for 6 more months, instead of going month-to-month.

A downside of month-to-month was that we did not get a renewal notice for our car registration. I discovered that last week, when i got a $55 parking ticket for expired tags. We totally forgot about the car reg, since the California DMV did not send us a letter. That's actually what triggered my call to the dealer and then this posting.

We're pretty disappointed with M-B. As much as I love my 2014 Smart EV, I feel like this 2017 ED is a myth. And with just 60 miles of usable range, maybe it's time to move beyond the cuteness factor. We're going to go test drive EV alternatives.

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

Our M-B of San Francisco sales rep told us that he was slightly off, and that our 2017 Smart ED is going to be manufactured in April, which means we could get it around August. In the interim, M-B Financial extended our lease for 6 more months, instead of going month-to-month.

A downside of month-to-month was that we did not get a renewal notice for our car registration. I discovered that last week, when i got a $55 parking ticket for expired tags. We totally forgot about the car reg, since the California DMV did not send us a letter. That's actually what triggered my call to the dealer and then this posting.

We're pretty disappointed with M-B. As much as I love my 2014 Smart EV, I feel like this 2017 ED is a myth. And with just 60 miles of usable range, maybe it's time to move beyond the cuteness factor. We're going to go test drive EV alternatives.

There is technically not a release date yet, but May is a possibility, June is the target, but of course a little later is a possibility as delays do occur at times.

 

[lebikerboy]

We're pretty disappointed with M-B. As much as I love my 2014 Smart EV, I feel like this 2017 ED is a myth. And with just 60 miles of usable range, maybe it's time to move beyond the cuteness factor. We're going to go test drive EV alternatives.

More like 70 to 80 mile range...

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

We're pretty disappointed with M-B. As much as I love my 2014 Smart EV, I feel like this 2017 ED is a myth. And with just 60 miles of usable range, maybe it's time to move beyond the cuteness factor. We're going to go test drive EV alternatives.

More like 70 to 80 mile range...

You've gotta teach him to not over-rely on the instrument cluster, and reset it after a while so it gives him better range predictions.

 

[radar231]

You've gotta teach him to not over-rely on the instrument cluster, and reset it after a while so it gives him better range predictions.

Doesn't sound right. In mixed driving 70/30 City highway we can easily get 140 KM and that is with some reserve. That is about a weeks worth of driving for us not including the sunday drive. We charge up on sunday night for the week and then saturday night for the sunday drive. I would think the 2017 will be 10 to 15 percent better.

On edit, that is fair weather driving, top down, no heat or AC.

 

[radar231]

Our M-B of San Francisco sales rep told us that he was slightly off, and that our 2017 Smart ED is going to be manufactured in April, which means we could get it around August. In the interim, M-B Financial extended our lease for 6 more months, instead of going month-to-month.

A downside of month-to-month was that we did not get a renewal notice for our car registration. I discovered that last week, when i got a $55 parking ticket for expired tags. We totally forgot about the car reg, since the California DMV did not send us a letter. That's actually what triggered my call to the dealer and then this posting.

We're pretty disappointed with M-B. As much as I love my 2014 Smart EV, I feel like this 2017 ED is a myth. And with just 60 miles of usable range, maybe it's time to move beyond the cuteness factor. We're going to go test drive EV alternatives.

I feel your pain. We were thinking about a second smart ED to eventually replace my beloved little diesel 450 Grandstyle. Best car I have ever owned. But things changed and we needed four seats so we got a leaf. They are fairly inexpensive with lots of deals to be had, the 30 KW versions are good for 180 to 220 KM of mixed range driving (or at least where we are where the highest speed limit is 100 KMH...and that is the exception) and they have a nice refined drive. Not as fun as the smartie cabrio to drive though. Big advantage of the leaf is the CHADEMO high speed DC charging. If the need ever arrives for a longer trip to Vancouver or wherever we can always use the Chademo network for en route charging. I doubt that will happen much though.

Here is our EV stable. no more gas pumps for us.

 

[Incochief]

Chevy Bolt keeps on looking better and better.

 

[hurricanes]

Depends on your needs. If you do mostly city driving in a second car with just one or two passengers, tough to beat the ED. Right now you can buy a 2014 with low mileage for $4500 (2015 not much more). Even if you buy the battery outright and add in some fees, you're looking at under 10K. Take advantage of the SMART's bad publicity (on the gas side) and take advantage while gas prices are low. Of course, if you have to have the newest model, or only have one car to use and need to take long trips or hold lots of people, a 2014 ED won't work.

 

[halfcack]

First quarter of 2018

My take, which means nothing. MB sees something wrong in the biz.

The bean counters say no, the board says yes !

So, they drop a year like the Fit did.

What will be different is when the 2017/18 hits.

I really believe the choice between a gas and electric will narrow so much, it will be something to watch.

I ordered mine a week after I picked up the gas 2016 in January, 2017.

It is not going to be something small. I am seeing a battery that will outlast the normal short hour driver.

Not only that, I see a two way no re-charge trip lengthening. MB might have looked at the Chevy and said, enough.

Ze' Germans are coming. Short dialogue from the "Snatch" movie when Tommy bought a gun from "Boris the Blade."

It will be absolutely phenomenal, low priced or really bad. I opt for a high mileage Smart no one will touch. Hope eternal.

 

[halfcack]

Problem

There is technically not a release date yet, but May is a possibility, June is the target, but of course a little later is a possibility as delays do occur at times.

i heard two dealers complain about the website. MB takes no responsibility, makes statements I would never take for truth again, the dealer is blamed. Think of even how long it will take to switch any improvements in. Months. Since there is not one bit of difference between the 2016 and the 2017 I was going to get, I stuck with the 2016 and saved a lot.

No one knows. Not even the girl at corporate who was so kind to me. If there were just three 2017's I found in the country, they will just change 2016's into 2017's.

You'll see yellow trucks pull up close to MB dealerships with the title, "Vinnie and Son, the Vin Man." Poof, another four 2017's. Absolutely kidding. A joke. No truth. I just tried not to take the pain so much on myself.

I'm hoping for a 2018, first quarter, model that smokes.

 

[hurricanes]

I'm sure MB is in no hurry to get the next model ED out. Consider that the sales price of 2014 and 2015 ED is now down to 5K, which means MB only gets perhaps 2K at auction or sale to dealers for all the 2014 and 2015 models coming off lease in the coming months; just isn't enough demand to keep the price up. Not only does MB lose a lot of money but the cars reputation suffers for poor resale. It is in their best interest to not flood the market with new 2017/18 ED until resale prices recover some. Not only that, but it is hard to sell a 2017/18 for 20K if it is sitting next to a slightly used 2015 for 5K.