REPORT: Smart ForTwos orphaned as depositers drop out
Click above for a high-res gallery of the smart fortwo
Add the smart fortwo to the growing list of products impacted by the economic downturn here in the United States. Last year, the diminutive urban runabout was one of the U.S. market's few bright spots, with its small dealer network moving nearly 25,000 units and busting through sales expectations along the way.
For much of the summer months in 2008, the fortwo was actually selling for a premium on the open market, as dealerships only stocked vehicles that had actually been ordered and for which deposits had been collected. According to Sean Sarraff, brand manager of Smart Center Germantown in Maryland, "Since November, it seems people are backing out of purchasing a Smart." These unwanted vehicles end up as orphan cars and are made available to purchase through the automaker's Smart Express shopping system.
What happened? Apparently, a large number of the micro machines were ordered up by families as second cars or as toys for the wealthy. In these tough financial times, toys and playthings are expendable, and that's what seems to be happening with a certain number of smart orders. The good news, though, is that there are finally enough orphan units available that long lead times can generally be avoided for those ready to make a purchase.
Gallery: smart fortwo
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd']
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
HotRodzNKustoms 1:39PM (3/16/2009)
Being one who ordered a smart car and canceled my reason for cenceling was that they would not let me buy a Brabus. I am just not willing to buy a car that is more of a toy than anything, pay $20k (once all is said and done) just to have someone they would sell a brabus to pull up next to me.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:42PM (3/16/2009)
Does the Brabus have the same transmission awfulness?
Alex 2:13PM (3/16/2009)
2nd the transmission, that was why i got my money back.
2004m3driver 2:21PM (3/16/2009)
WTF? A car fanatic would actually buy this POS? If you want a cart get a Lotus. If you want to be fuel efficient get a civic. Why on earth would you buy this if you weren't a chick or if you're just ignorant to the fact that it is an ugly in efficient attention mobile for dorks. I can't think of another reason for someone to buy this car. Its definitely not good at anything other than looking quirky. Too expensive just for that odd factor imo.
Luis 2:32PM (3/16/2009)
hey M-driver...get off your horse. If you live in NYC, Boston or SF one of these makes sense as parking can be very hard to find. It's small size is it's strength. Any of those other cars would not offer the same flexibility as a Smart.
Other than that, a Civic/Corolla/Elantra/Fit/whatever is a good alternative.
2004m3driver 2:39PM (3/16/2009)
True, I take back the bad immature broad generalizations I made. I have a chip on my shoulders because of all the "smart" drivers here in Cali who think its gonna save the trees.
Dave 2:50PM (3/16/2009)
@2004M3Driver:
How often do you see those cars running around with just 1 or 2 people in them? Fact of the matter, this isn't going to work out for everyone as their only car (my other car is a small SUV) - but for many people these make a lot of sense. Mine gets driven 6 out of 7 days of the week.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not some off the wall greenie - I appreciate intelligent design and engineering (which does not include the Prius and other associated hybrids); and fuel economy was not a motivating factor in the purchase.
2004m3driver 3:35PM (3/16/2009)
@Dave
What is wrong with Hybrids? I don't get how you don't consider hybrids intelligent design. Are you saying the "Smart" is actually smarter? How?! Its just a small car. How is that intelligent design? Is it because it has good safety features such as a crash box and elevated seat design? Which also happens to be common for most new small cars being developed. I appreciate good engineering and design too, but I just don't see anything exceptional here besides a small car with common technology. So basically you're saying this car is good engineering because its small enough for you to use smaller parking spaces. Anything else I am missing out on?
Bloke 4:02PM (3/16/2009)
"WTF? A car fanatic would actually buy this POS? If you want a cart get a Lotus."
Talk about pig ignorance. The Smart comes into its own in crowded European city streets where parking is very much a premium. That's what it's designed for - not fuel economy.
MBS 5:37PM (3/16/2009)
Bloke, talk about ignorant ignorance: this article is about potential buyers in the US not crowded European cities. Obviously people here would not buy a smart so they can park easily in a crowded European city.
Bloke 8:17PM (3/16/2009)
MBS, as someone who's driven Smarts in a number of larger US cities and found it to be perfectly at home, I'd suggest you get your head out of the sand.
harlanx6 1:44PM (3/16/2009)
It's a golf cart with lights! 20K? What, are we nuts! You can get a real car for 20K that is even more fuel efficient.
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Dave 2:19PM (3/16/2009)
Okay, post a link to a non-hybrid, gasoline powered vehicle that matches the fuel economy.
2004m3driver 2:36PM (3/16/2009)
@ Dave, nothing competes with it because it only has seats for 2. But a focus or Fit gets 25-35mpg and seats 4. As stated on the website this gets 33/41 (EPA 2008). Not that much better than other cars for 20grand with less utility.
Luis 2:45PM (3/16/2009)
I think the Jetta TDI would be a good MPG alternative. It costs $5-10K more though.
IOMTT 4:13PM (3/16/2009)
@ Dave, I have no link, but I get between 35 and 41 mpg in my 1996 daily driver 4 door Civic. And it has 210K on it to boot. Parking not an issue where I live, but I can see where you could put 2 of these in a standard size space. Every time I see one, I expect Bozo the clown to step out.
Iwa 7:19PM (3/16/2009)
2004m3driver wrote: @ Dave, nothing competes with it because it only has seats for 2. But a focus or Fit gets 25-35mpg and seats 4. As stated on the website this gets 33/41 (EPA 2008). Not that much better than other cars for 20grand with less utility.
Not to mention that the Fit & Focus both run on regular gasoline. The For2 requires premium.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:49PM (3/16/2009)
I have to imagine their main problem is that the novelty wore off.
City cars are a minor market in the US. Relatively expensive ones even more so.
If they'd just fix the transmission and make it more economical (lower price, or better mpg and make it run on regular gas), I think sales would pick up with people who are really interested in saving money while racking up the miles.
But right now, it seems like you would get off cheaper buying a Cobalt or an Accent, both of which get within 10% of the fuel economy (a bit less in the city) and use regular gas, which is almost 10% cheaper. And that's before you talk about used cars.
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madgamer 2:04PM (3/16/2009)
Not to mention the fact that the aforementioned cars are infinitely more usable than one of these, seat more people, etc. Unless you are dying to park facing the curb instead of next to it, I really wouldn't see any reason to buy one of these.
jv2k 3:11PM (3/16/2009)
Exactly. The car would fly off shelves if it was really cheap, or if it got ridiculously high fuel economy, but as is it is just a novelty.
Another thing that I'm surprised hasn't been brought up yet is the fact that gas was around $4/gallon last year. Americans went into panic mode and started buying small cars.