Smart Car news brief

Started by Byteme, March 25, 2009, 08:08:07 AM

Byteme

I heard on the news this morning that sales of the Smart Car have dropped significantly since gasoline prices are lower now.  Also that many who had laid down deposits are forfeiting them and walking away. 

I suspect that in about 12 months they will regret that decision.

ifcar

Quote from: Byteme on March 25, 2009, 08:08:07 AM
I heard on the news this morning that sales of the Smart Car have dropped significantly since gasoline prices are lower now.  Also that many who had laid down deposits are forfeiting them and walking away. 

I suspect that in about 12 months they will regret that decision.

I was talking recently to a Smart salesman who said that most people who had been interested in the car would be using it as a spare, and that fewer people can afford $15,000 spare car now. He didn't think it was about the gas prices.

Byteme

Quote from: ifcar on March 25, 2009, 08:15:29 AM
I was talking recently to a Smart salesman who said that most people who had been interested in the car would be using it as a spare, and that fewer people can afford $15,000 spare car now. He didn't think it was about the gas prices.

You might be right.  The news spot mentioned gas prices as the reason.  Probably a combination.

SVT666

Quote from: ifcar on March 25, 2009, 08:15:29 AM
I was talking recently to a Smart salesman who said that most people who had been interested in the car would be using it as a spare, and that fewer people can afford $15,000 spare car now. He didn't think it was about the gas prices.
That's a stupid reason to buy one in the first place.

Byteme

Quote from: HEMI666 on March 25, 2009, 09:02:41 AM
That's a stupid reason to buy one in the first place.

Unless you were thinking of a new car anyway and wanting to move into something more economical since gas was high and apparently going higher.

the Teuton

Gas prices always go up in summer.  I hope to never have to pay $4.299 a gallon ever again, but I don't doubt we will see that price again in less than 10 years.
2. 1995 Saturn SL2 5-speed, 126,500 miles. 5,000 miles in two and a half months. That works out to 24,000 miles per year if I can keep up the pace.

Quote from: CJ on April 06, 2010, 10:48:54 PM
I don't care about all that shit.  I'll be going to college to get an education at a cost to my parents.  I'm not going to fool around.
Quote from: MrH on January 14, 2011, 01:13:53 PM
She'll hate diesel passenger cars, all things Ford, and fiat currency.  They will masturbate to old interviews of Ayn Rand an youtube together.
You can take the troll out of the Subaru, but you can't take the Subaru out of the troll!

dazzleman

I suspect the issue is what the salesman said.  For most people, the Smart car would ve a sumpplemental car, not their only car, and they might have rethought their need for a $15,000 supplemental car given the economy.  Lower gas prices are another part of the cost-benefit calculation, but I wouldn't see that as a reason to abandon a deposit.  I'd abandon a deposit if I were queasy about my ability to make the payments from the car.
A good friend will come bail you out of jail...BUT, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, DAMN...that was fun!

the Teuton

Smarts are all over around here.  I just saw one parked down the street last night.  I don't think that upscale urban areas will hurt the sales numbers quite as badly as mainstream America.

I would like to hope they brought the 70 mpg diesel version here, but they won't.  Sales would take off like a jet if they did, though.
2. 1995 Saturn SL2 5-speed, 126,500 miles. 5,000 miles in two and a half months. That works out to 24,000 miles per year if I can keep up the pace.

Quote from: CJ on April 06, 2010, 10:48:54 PM
I don't care about all that shit.  I'll be going to college to get an education at a cost to my parents.  I'm not going to fool around.
Quote from: MrH on January 14, 2011, 01:13:53 PM
She'll hate diesel passenger cars, all things Ford, and fiat currency.  They will masturbate to old interviews of Ayn Rand an youtube together.
You can take the troll out of the Subaru, but you can't take the Subaru out of the troll!

Madman

I've been seeing quite a few Smarts around town lately, which is interesting because the nearest dealer is 180 miles away!

The thing to remember is primary advantage to a Smart Car isn't really the fuel economy.  It's the manoeuvreability and the ease of parking in big cities.  A Smart can squeeze into places where other cars simply can't.  For urban dwellers, a Smart actually makes perfect sense.  However, the decision not to bring the diesel version to America reeks of pure stupidity!

Also, these "deposits" were only $99.00.  That's the promotion Smart was running prior to it's US launch and, according to the SmartUSA website, is still running.  Most people wont care about being out $99.00.  Maybe Smart should have asked for bigger deposits?


Cheers,
Madman of the People
Current cars: 2015 Ford Escape SE, 2011 MINI Cooper

Formerly owned cars: 2010 Mazda 5 Sport, 2008 Audi A4 2.0T S-Line Sedan, 2003 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T wagon, 1998 Ford Escort SE sedan, 2001 Cadillac Catera, 2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0 5-Door, 1997 Honda Odyssey LX, 1991 Volvo 240 sedan, 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo sedan, 1987 Volvo 240 DL sedan, 1990 Peugeot 405 DL Sportswagon, 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo sedan, 1985 Merkur XR4Ti, 1983 Renault R9 Alliance DL sedan, 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon, 1975 Volkswagen Transporter, 1980 Fiat X-1/9 Bertone, 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit C 3-Door hatch, 1976 Ford Pinto V6 coupe, 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe sedan

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." ~ Isaac Asimov

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"One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts." - C.S. Lewis

giant_mtb

Quote from: HEMI666 on March 25, 2009, 09:02:41 AM
That's a stupid reason to buy one in the first place.

+1

They're horribly inefficient for what they are/offer. :facepalm:

Byteme

Quote from: giant_mtb on March 25, 2009, 11:15:27 AM
+1

They're horribly inefficient for what they are/offer. :facepalm:

I think their chief attraction has little to do with mileage, effenciency or price and everything to do with driving an "in" car. 

giant_mtb


ChrisV

Quote from: Byteme on March 25, 2009, 11:30:13 AM
I think their chief attraction has little to do with mileage, effenciency or price and everything to do with driving an "in" car. 

Well, that was kind of the point. Make smaller cars boutique and hip, instead of ever larger SUVs. You spend more for smaller, much like people did with cell phones and computers for quite a while, and make it a trend that also drives down the price, increasing the number of buyers.
Like a fine Detroit wine, this vehicle has aged to budgetary perfection...

giant_mtb

Well, I certainly wouldn't buy one.  If I can get equivalent gas mileage in a vehicle that I can actually carry my stuff in, I'm going to buy that instead of that puny, slow, dangerous, souped-up golf cart.

:huh:

hotrodalex

I would be all for a diesel one, especially if it got 70 mpg.

giant_mtb


S204STi

Quote from: dazzleman on March 25, 2009, 09:33:12 AM
I suspect the issue is what the salesman said.  For most people, the Smart car would ve a sumpplemental car, not their only car, and they might have rethought their need for a $15,000 supplemental car given the economy.  Lower gas prices are another part of the cost-benefit calculation, but I wouldn't see that as a reason to abandon a deposit.  I'd abandon a deposit if I were queasy about my ability to make the payments from the car.

Well yeah, and even if it's more economical than the car they drive 15k will buy a shitload of gas and probably pay off the vehicle to boot.

In any case, the Smart would probably sell better if it were priced closer to 10k or less.

Raza

Quote from: hotrodalex on March 25, 2009, 02:12:30 PM
I would be all for a diesel one, especially if it got 70 mpg.

Richard Hammond got like 80mpg in the Polo BlueMotion.   :lol:
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Quote from: the Teuton on October 05, 2009, 03:53:18 PMIt's impossible to argue with Raza. He wins. Period. End of discussion.

2o6

Quote from: Raza  link=topic=18160.msg1027588#msg1027588 date=1238020265
Richard Hammond got like 80mpg in the Polo BlueMotion.   :lol:


Imperial. US, it's around 67 MPG, but that's still very impressive for a non-hybrid car.

ChrisV

Quote from: giant_mtb on March 25, 2009, 01:56:40 PM
Well, I certainly wouldn't buy one.  If I can get equivalent gas mileage in a vehicle that I can actually carry my stuff in, I'm going to buy that instead of that puny, slow, dangerous, souped-up golf cart.

:huh:

They aren't any more dangerous than any other car, really, and much more safe than a lot of older cars we may already love and drive (ike, say, my old Fiat). One of these would work for probably 80% of the driving I do.

I've been seeing a lot more of them here at work and around town.
Like a fine Detroit wine, this vehicle has aged to budgetary perfection...