Sunday morning I took a tour of Long Beach, Calif., dealerships in the 2008 Smart Fortwo to see what was up with the Cash for Clunkers program.
I circled dealerships shooting pictures, pulled U-turns and parked on the sidewalk. It was great to have a highly maneuverable car for this mission. The only thing the Smart didn't afford me was a good cover. While the Smart is old news with car guys, out on the street it's still turning heads.
In other Smart news the car has been up for sale for a week at an asking price of $10,900. I've gotten a few calls but no buyers so far.
Philip Reed, Edmunds Senior Consumer Advice Editor @ 18,758 miles
nealibob says:
08:56 AM, 08/ 3/09
I saw a modded smart driving down my street the other day. I chuckled.
If you can get it down to 6k (that's about what it's worth - market value be damned) and will take amex, I'll fly out there and pick it up. :)
Mad_Science says:
09:15 AM, 08/ 3/09
Wranglers work great for this as well.
If you get a white one and put orange caution stripes (or even lights), people assume you work for the water company or something.
throwback says:
09:20 AM, 08/ 3/09
I have to agree with nealibob about the price. $10,900 is too high. I suggest 9K, assuming the buyer does not drive it before hand. If they have driven a Smart, you will have to drop the price to $7,500.
firstwagon says:
10:06 AM, 08/ 3/09
I just checked our local market (Vancouver) and the cheapest Smart you can find is a 2005 for $9,900. Most of the 05's are in the $13K to $15K range.
2008 Smarts run from $15K to $18K so $10,900 sound like a great price.
These things really hold their value.
epbrown says:
04:45 PM, 08/ 3/09
Smarts are known for holding their v alue, but I think we'll see a bit of a drop - the Cash for Clunkers program seems to be helping move the "orphans" that have been piling up at dealers, but I'd think the fact you can get a new Pure for under 10 grand should push down used prices.
In your shoes, I'd post it for $9999 firm - curiously, a lot of people have some sort of psychological fixation with the Smart being over $10,000. Lower it $901 and it'll be gone within a week, I bet.
stephen987 says:
06:25 PM, 08/ 3/09
The thing is--how is this car better than a used Civic/Corolla/Sentra/Focus/Cobalt/Elantra/Accent/Aveo/anyotherPOS for the same money?
firstwagon says:
08:18 PM, 08/ 3/09
Not sure if it is better but it sure is more interesting.
epbrown says:
09:47 PM, 08/ 5/09
stephen987: "The thing is--how is this car better than a used Civic/Corolla/Sentra/Focus/Cobalt/Elantra/Accent/Aveo/anyotherPOS for the same money?"
Why not mention Crown Vics, Cadillacs, Porsches, or a Checker Marathon? The Smart Fortwo is a city car - none of the cars mentioned are suitable replacements for one, and it's silly how almost everyone posting here assumes any somewhat small car will do. If that were a case, why not replace the Lotus Elise with a Fortwo - they're both small, light, popular in the UK...
When we get the Fiat 500 and/or Toyota iQ here, then we'll have something with which to compare it.