Today is the Day

[wwhopper]

They opened up the USA registration to put your order in.

The newsletter came out today and with the refundable $99 option you can put in your order for delivery of a USA SMART in early 2008

I got to say, I did it, crazy as it sounds, I ponied up and put in an order for a cabrio!

[Mike T]

Why is that crazy? I've been enjoying my smart cabriolet for over two years now!

[Don350SDL]

Well, they have my $99 now, for a yellow on black Passion. If the Pure had heated mirrors (really useful here) I'd have gone for that instead, but with A/C.

Don't tell my wife

Don

[wwhopper]

Why is that crazy? I've been enjoying my smart cabriolet for over two years now!

I did the same thing when the Segway came out. In 2005 I ran a SegwayfesT then last year I was their international enthusiast group president, then they asked me to set up their new product photo shoot (I got to see the newest product 6 months before anyone else and could not tell a soul) and now I work for a dealer... Oh yeah my photo is on the Segway website too... Now that was CRAZY!

It should be fun, we will be invited to things due to our name and $$ being on the table. So I think of the 99 bucks as an investment in a good time!

[AJ1861]

How much are they and where do you order one?

[wwhopper]

How much are they and where do you order one?

Go on to the SMARTUSA Website and put your order in that way. This is how they can figure out what models will be popular in the USA.

Prices that are posted run in the mid teens. Of course the more accessories the more the cost.

[Don350SDL]

www.smartusa.com.

Then register - takes a few minutes - and once you log in there's a link for a "$99 fully-refundable deposit". Two minor catches: Until a dealer calls you, the refund must be requested in writing. Once a dealer calls "late in 2007", you have 30 days to sign a sales contract "for delivery in early 2008" and the dealer will apply the $99 to your purchase but "may require an additional deposit".

I'm willing to let them hold maybe $1000 of my money for a few months. I just want the car...

Don

[AJ1861]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[AJ1861]

Well I did it. Just what I need...another car!!!

Does anyone know what the interior looks like or are they going to keep us waiting with baited breath.

[Don350SDL]

I just love the smell of anchovies (baited breath...;-)

ahem.

They do not have any shots of the interior - I bet it won't be long though - but I have seen (pictures of) one. It looks a bit more classical than the older ForTwo - dash is straighter, more conventional, but not excessively so. Square-ish a/c vents instead of round, not as many circles as before. Hard to describe, but not unpleasant.

Don

[AJ1861]

I think I found a picture of the interior.

http://www.smartcar101.com/images/pages/sc_019_jpg.htm

[Mike T]

Anyone else? There are over 34,000 orders now.....

[Rob Ziobro]

Anyone else? There are over 34,000 orders now.....

I too mailed in an apllication on 10/17 after receiving an email from Smart that there are no plans to introduce the diesel models to the US. Figure a gas is better than nothing?
I live over 100 miles from a standard dealer now, wonder where I will go to pick it up?


1976 240d
1980 300cd
1970 250c
1975 280c

[Don350SDL]

Well, today i got an e-mail and a phome call from smart USA, sending me to a web site and allowing me to select my exact car. Passion, with heated seats & power steering as options, about $14.5k

So, they'll be calling me when it's closer to arriving, and I'll go and up my deposit.

Don

[wwhopper]

To see how many people cancel their registration order after driving the vehicle.

Several of us put our 100 down, and now that we have driven it, are going to request refunds, as the SMART is not the car for us.

Cute yes, but not much more than that.

I hate to say it, I would almost look at a FIT or a Yaris.

Or better yet, just buy a new C Class.

[Don350SDL]

Hmmm, maybe I shoulda driven it?

What, exactly, didn't you like?

[johnmci]

Don't forget in Canada they thought they might sell 1800 in three years,
but actually sold 10,000.

Really people forget you climb out of your 90's mercedes which had a MSRP of $75K or more.. then sit in a $14K car, yes it's a $14K car, hello...

On the other hand I have a number of friends who own them and they are quite pleased because they are safe, comfortable, and a very very cheap to run vehicle.

[dolebludger]

For what it is worth, I drove one and liked it. But the Smart is definitely a "special purpose vehicle." In this case, the "special purpose" is that of "city car" to cope (and very well) with urban congestion. It is also a bit of a "fun car" due to its very small size, despite the fact that is is scarcely a high performance car. So it is much like the decision of whether to buy a truck or not. The purpose of a truck is to haul stuff. If you have no stuff to haul, don't buy a truck. It's that simple with the Smart, too. If you want or need a car that can really cut through congestion and look cute doing it, buy a Smart. If you don't want or need such a car, don't.

[Mike T]

It's an acquired taste for sure, this car is no Mercedes, but it is fun to drive, especially with the soft top all the way down. It's massively economical (the cdi diesel anyway) and the gas version will not be far off due to its much longer service intervals.

PAG will have no trouble at all selling all the cars it can lay its hands on. Right now there is almost a two year pre-order backlog, and that is after estimating that 20% of all depositors will bail.

Perhaps they will prevail upon the factory to allocate more to the USA.

I would expect the 84 and 98 HP turbo engines to become available in the next couple of years, which should spur even more interest. The 98 HP version goes rather well.

[ttommy]

Well fellows, I can tell you FIRST HAND how GREAT the 2008 Smart fortwo is. First of all I have had my 2002 fortwo for 2 years now(came from Zap) and I love it. That was until I drove the new bigger more powerful and nicer version. I too have 'reserved' one. Incidentally we are in line to be a Smart dealer. I work at a Mercedes Porsche dealership in Mississippi. I drove the new one in Detroit last month and then wes in San Jose 2 weeks ago for the dealer launch.
The WAIT will be WORTH IT!
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and look forward to a blessed Christmas and a healthy New Year!

[Don350SDL]

Considering there is only one MB dealership in MS....

[ttommy]

:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:pF Y I there are TWO dealerships in Mississippi the other is on the Gulf Coast
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