This article, from Car & Driver:
Huge Depreciation Could Lead to a Big Deal on a Used Car | News | Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog
Huge Depreciation Could Lead to a Big Deal on a Used Car | News | Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog
"Why the heck did I buy 20 smart cars?"
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Steve has been here earlier and suggested that he was going to write about his "experience."
Guess it goes like this, "I am now the terrified owner of a small army of Smart Fortwo city cars. These cars have less than 12,000 miles on their odometers, are equipped with heated leather seats and upgraded sound systems, and are still fully covered by Mercedes-Benz’s four-year/50,000-mile factory warranty. . . ."
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f2/greetings-northwest-georgia-134450/
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/fo...les-factory-warranty-fleet-maintained-134658/
Guess it goes like this, "I am now the terrified owner of a small army of Smart Fortwo city cars. These cars have less than 12,000 miles on their odometers, are equipped with heated leather seats and upgraded sound systems, and are still fully covered by Mercedes-Benz’s four-year/50,000-mile factory warranty. . . ."
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f2/greetings-northwest-georgia-134450/
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/fo...les-factory-warranty-fleet-maintained-134658/
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I was noticing this trend in the EDs prices. With many of them having the BAP in tow, it drive down sale prices. It seemed to me in my limited research that there were enough of them with the BAP driving the prices down that the ones without the BAP were going cheap too. Ad a few blemishes to a car like that and you get one heck of a sweet deal on a daily driver ED.
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There's a used car dealer near me that has about 10 ex-Car2Go smarts. All of them have less than 1,000 miles on them. I noticed the crazy spread of Car2Gos into the used smart market appears to be depressing the market. When you can get a functionally brand new smart for $5-$6k, why bother with getting a 2012 with almost 50k for a higher price?
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When Car2Go rolls over their fleet, that HAS to have an impact on the used market given that there are so few Smarts selling in some areas anyway. Those would make great cars for college kids and such.
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Oh, there are plenty of used smarts for sale in metro areas, which is where the bulk of these Car2Go cars are going to end up anyway. I'm more amazed that there are that many hilariously low mile Car2Gos in the first place. Certainly enough for individual dealers to scoop up tens at a time.
I don't really care about resale value (never have), so it's more of an observation than a complaint.
I don't really care about resale value (never have), so it's more of an observation than a complaint.
"Why the heck did I buy 20 smart cars?"
Maybe these ultra-low used smart prices is some of what's crippling 453 sales?
For what is generally light urban usage, paying $5000 for a near-new smart has more appeal than paying $20,000 for brand new.
Maybe these ultra-low used smart prices is some of what's crippling 453 sales?
For what is generally light urban usage, paying $5000 for a near-new smart has more appeal than paying $20,000 for brand new.
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I have believed for a couple years that there would be a "trickle down" effect with 451s coming off-lease and car-to-go vehicles flooding the market. Some folks can't afford a $15k+ vehicle and some don't want to spend that much on a niche car even if they can afford it. With such low mileage and such a low price on so many 451s it's a no brainer that sales would be lured away from the 453 for first time buyers. The smart was always destined to be a very low volume sale vehicle in this country. Some folks are willing to take the chance on a different kind of vehicle if they only have to spend a few thousand dollars and still have a bit of factory warranty left. I believe the low priced 451s would have lured more folks to the 453 over time but Daimler knocked the bottom out of that chance.
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If your glovebox doesn't have a door you're definitely one of the ex-Car2Gos!
"Why the heck did I buy 20 smart cars?"
Sounds like you're in a buying/leasing mood!?
Around here, they're still saying May, but June to be safe. Presumably they mean 2017.
Sounds like you're in a buying/leasing mood!?
Around here, they're still saying May, but June to be safe. Presumably they mean 2017.
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17[ Is a maybe with lots of ifs being eliminated! If I can see, if I can hear, if I can...the list is long and my patience is short. However the Drs all love me and thank me for the extra work! If I win, they lose so I need to come up with some form of income replacement plan for the seven I see on a regular basis! Yes I do love our Medicare system.
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