Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Future Vehicles SmartCar smart cars?
72 messages, Last post on Aug 07, 2008 at 8:30 AM
You are in the Future Vehicles Forum. Your Host is kirstie_h
|
I love the idea of the Smart ForTwo coming to the USA, infact I'm already planning for purchasing one. I've done some "Build-Your-Own" experiments on some of the european Smart Websites and the pricing appears to vary a great deal depending upon which country you are in. Basically, I was able to configure a Smart ForTwo convertible Gas fueled car for 11835.00 euro's which translated today to be about 15134.00 in us dollars. I'd pay that for the car I configured! In the USA I think the success or failure will hinge on packaging and price, we here in the US of A won't pay much more than $15,000.00 for a car this small, no matter who designed or built it. IMO Daimler/Chrysler needs to be sure that a nicely equipped hard top (great stereo, cruise control, special roof, alloy wheels, front, side, and head airbags, ESP and AntiLock Brakes, durable high quality interior fog lights, and a good warranty 5/50 or more) Smart sells for no more than about 14500 and the convertible version of the same car needs to hit right around 15000. They need to keep the packaging simple and easy to understand and they need to make sure thay don't do silly combinations of equipment. for instance on the new Jetta you have to get all kinds of extra equipment in order to get the sunroof that's the kind of thing that infuriates a shopper especially if the packages don't make any sense. Finally, IMO, DCX needs to keep replacement parts and accessories priced low, not like typical prices charged for european brands in the US. Here's a picture of the 2007 Smart ForTwo (the model they will likely bring to the USA) 
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: stshepard (Jul 03, 2006 10:44 am)
|
|
|
Replying to: snakeweasel (Jul 03, 2006 11:08 am)
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: stshepard (Jul 03, 2006 12:01 pm) That is unless gas doubles in price between now and then. Edited to add: I just peaked at the german website and they start at about 9450 euros which is a little over 12K USD. So there is hope. |
|
|
Replying to: stshepard (Jul 03, 2006 10:44 am) M |
|
|
Well I'm still looking to see whether it's feasible to get one in the great land of Texas, but I've managed to see a total of one parked under the interchange at I-10 and Loop 1604 in San Antonio. Short of staking out the car to determine who the owner is and how they got the car here, mods, etc, etc ... well that's a story for another website. |
|
| I'm sure this has been determined but DCX = Daimler/Chrysler's ticker symbol on NYSE | |
| First Drive: 2001 ZAP Smart Fortwo | |
The Smart is a poor excuse for a car. Actually its a complete and utter piece of crap. Aside from its very snappy design, its not much better than a golf kart. As for fuel economy that's another none starter it has the same EPA highway milage that a civic has while seating 2 people less, taking twice as long to get to 60 mph plus making almost twicw as much pollution. If you are wondering, yes I drove it and immediately hated it more than the evil godmother in cinderella. The reason its never made a penny is that anyone that has ever driven any other micro car before, such as the polo, knows that this is probably one of the worst cars ever built, even a yugo 25 years ago was a better car than a brand new smart, it is trully that bad  Also check consumer reports first drive of the smart which will echo my impressions in an less eloquent manner.
|
|
|
"Not sure which site you were at but I configured one on the UK site and the convertible started at 8,930 Pounds which comes out to just under 16,448 USD. In Canada the coupes start at just over 15,000 USD." Actually, 8,930 Pounds is only 11,302.29 USD. I have no clue where you got your information from, but I used this: link title
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Future Vehicles SmartCar smart cars?
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
