CDN smart sales, 2007....

[MikeT]

The weak sales performance continued in the first month of 2007. I would dearly love to see how many of those 84 were sold at TPM. I suspect more than a third....

2007 / 2006 / 2005 sales

84 / 202 / 254 January

-- / 172 / 221 February

-- / 251 / 391 March

-- / 443 / 399 April

-- / 456 / 369 May

-- / 385 / 337 June

-- / 278 / 419 July

-- / 288 / 288 August

-- / 192 / 330 September

-- / 206 / 371 October

-- / 78 / 370 November

-- / 72 / 331 December

[ProgFrog]

Perhaps now that gas is at the 'new' cheap (~84cents) people stopped thinking of economy as a primary factor in their car purchase. I remember when gas was at 1.14+ a litre you'd hear the media and people talk about fuel economy every day.A bet if fuel would shoot back to 1.20 a litre smart sales would go up

[smart142]

It's too bad that people don't realize that the smart offers way more than just saving fuel..Oh well...their loss

[Diesel Dave]

I agree. It's the gas price. When gas was $1.36 a liter, everybody wanted the smart or something similar. At the current price, I could afford to drive anything but, I continue with the smart because I really like the car. Hopefully the gas prices next summer will be much higher making the smart look.....smarter. I check the prices daily. They are starting to rise again now . I sit here drooling and rubbing my hands with glee waiting for the big day!

[ValgardForkbeard]

In the Edmonton area, diesel is 10 to 12 cents per litre more expensive than gas. So there are probably some people that forget that in the summer, when gas hit 1.24 per litre, diesel hit 99 to 100 cents per litre. I was talking to a guy in line at the passport office this morning. He says he knows about all the safety ratings, and believes them, but still feels that he would be safer in his big pickup truck. (he is a contractor, and uses the truck for work) Still a bit of unfounded fear, but pickup trucks and suvs are still king in the west.MG

[frankd53]

I agree. It's the gas price. When gas was $1.36 a liter, everybody wanted the smart or something similar. At the current price, I could afford to drive anything but, I continue with the smart because I really like the car. Hopefully the gas prices next summer will be much higher making the smart look.....smarter. I check the prices daily. They are starting to rise again now . I sit here drooling and rubbing my hands with glee waiting for the big day!

Very strange logic. Hoping that gas prices go up, to make other car owners feel Dumb (as opposed to Smart). I will say that I like to save money as much as anyone, and drive a very fuel efficient car (but not in the league of a Smart). and I like to do my part for the environment. But I will suggest that fuel cost specfically is only one small factor in most people's car buying decision. I consider cars that will suit need my needs and wants and lifestyle as far as features, passenger and cargo carrying capacity, styling, warranty, reliability data, dealer service, etc. etc. Those are the important considerations for me. And I will not feel bad about my car in the least if gas prices went back up to over $1.25 / L, nor would that have affected my car purchasing decision last November. Over the course of an entire year that would make a difference of maybe $250 to me. Very little compared to the overall costs of car ownership. And it would cost you Smart drivers more too if that happens (they do use SOME fuel, right?). You guys pay that much for your oil changes, from what I can tell. My first service will end up being at around 8,000-10,000 KM for my car, the cost of which is normally about $40 at my dealership. (but first 2 services are free) ... so drool away....

[Diesel Dave]

I do my own servicing at $40.00 per occasion. Total cost, $240.00 last year. It's a licence to drool.

[ProgFrog]

If the smart hadn't come to Canada I would of kept the ford escort I had been driving for the past 9 years and continued to drive it to the ground. I knew that my next car would probably be the last car I buy. One of my criterias was that my next car would be a car that I know I would still love 15+ years from now. The problem with all cars I see on the roads is that they all have the same generic look and after a few years they all age badly. When I saw the smart's unique design and driving feel I knew it would be the perfect car for me. I hope this will be the last car I ever need to buy!

[frankd53]

If the smart hadn't come to Canada I would of kept the ford escort I had been driving for the past 9 years and continued to drive it to the ground. I knew that my next car would probably be the last car I buy. One of my criterias was that my next car would be a car that I know I would still love 15+ years from now. The problem with all cars I see on the roads is that they all have the same generic look and after a few years they all age badly. When I saw the smart's unique design and driving feel I knew it would be the perfect car for me. I hope this will be the last car I ever need to buy!

That is certainly a worthy objective. I never made it quite to 15 years with a car (I think that might be optimistic, particularly in Ontario), but the last 2 cars I ownend, I had for 10 and 9 years. 2 cars in 19 years is not bad.

[smart142]

When I saw the smart's unique design and driving feel I knew it would be the perfect car for me. I hope this will be the last car I ever need to buy!

Good for you!!! My sentiments exactly!You can make vehicles last if they are looked after the right way. Even in Ontario!I currently have a 1986 Toyota in the garage that has over 465,000 kms that I have owned for 17years and it's good to go. I was even able to coax 19 years out of a 1984 Mazda B2200. I guess I'm an optimist and a realist I am positive that the smart will be able to outlast the Mazda and the Toyota.Ignore frankd53, he comes out of the woodwork whenever there is mention of slow sales and negativity...troll?

[frankd53]

Ignore frankd53, he comes out of the woodwork whenever there is mention of slow sales and negativity...troll?

Hey, it's a topic about Smart Car sales, just thought I'd provide some views from someone outside the Smart owner community. Is there something wrong with that, or is there something I stated that was not factual, or not logical? Did I ever say a Smart could not last 15 years? Read my post again before you label me. And try to have a more open mind

[FlyingTigerDevelopment]

Where do you get 84 cents gas? I paid $1.02 at the diesel pump this morning.So how would you convince someone to buy a smart?

[MikeT]

For me the fuel economy was a bonus. I wanted the car, and would have bought it even if it only got 6 or 7 L/100 km. But IF a significant portion of the smart's appeal is the stunning fuel economy, well yeah the fuel prices mitigate against smart sales.I think it is because all remaining 450 model smarts, that will be sold up to the end of 2007 and maybe into early 2008, are 2006 models. That would put me totally off, if I was the type that trades a car in every three years. The model year issue would hold back the resale value on the smart, especialy if its in-service date was over two years after its build date. Which is entirely possible.Frank, we would appreciate you commenting in other threads too you know! I'm sure your opinions are more diverse than the dreary topic of car marketing

[deezle]

frankd53---I think that smart142 must have just had a bad day---he's usually much more congenial.The rest of us appreciated reading your views which are entirely valid and well-considered (they just happen to be utterly misguided (kidding) )

[frankd53]

frankd53---I think that smart142 must have just had a bad day---he's usually much more congenial.

The rest of us appreciated reading your views which are entirely valid and well-considered (they just happen to be utterly misguided (kidding) )

No worries. Misguided as I may be, I am an example of the vast majority of the population who does not own a Smart. If one wants to sell something, whether it's cars or new houses or anything....they need to be listening to the potential buyers....you folks already have bought in and are happy.....

[frankd53]

Frank, we would appreciate you commenting in other threads too you know! I'm sure your opinions are more diverse than the dreary topic of car marketing

I know you are joking, but I would not do that....I'm not about to hijack threads about service costs or reliability to say 'my car's better than your car' But this is a more general thread, and I would suggest that receovery in Smart sales will depend on convincing many people like me to buy one. I'm in that target market that was mentioned somewhere, all grown up (I won't say mature) with no kids at home, living in a traffic-clogged city.

[smartzuuk]

Diesel at cardlocks has been as low as $0.65 as of recent in MB and elsewhere, although is near $0.75 now. Gasoline has been down to $0.70 as of recent out east, as they have competition.That said, yeah, lower gas prices relax the demand for efficient vehicles.None-the-less, I'm still saving about $2000 a year compared to what I have driven on average over the years (at today's retail pump price in BC)I still think that the smart will save me close to $14,000 in fuel over it's anticipated life of 7 years. (approx 300,000 km) At 300 k, it's likely going to be a $2500 car (in today's price), thoroughly used and enjoyed.

[spinner]

Related post/topic

[smart142]

Ignore frankd53, he comes out of the woodwork whenever there is mention of slow sales and negativity...troll?

Hey, it's a topic about Smart Car sales, just thought I'd provide some views from someone outside the Smart owner community. Is there something wrong with that, or is there something I stated that was not factual, or not logical? Did I ever say a Smart could not last 15 years? Read my post again before you label me. And try to have a more open mind

Hey! I just read your post from Dec7. Have you changed since you said this:

''it would appear the Forbes article was correct, and the Smart brand has a limited future in North America. ''

and this one : '' wonder whether you should be classified officially as a cult.......''

''And if they were to orphan or sell off the brand, who knows where that leaves owners in term of service, parts, etc.... ''

and this little interchange from Dec8:

frankd53 wrote:

Let's not compare my cars with any truck. Most of you nice folks here seem to think at both ends of the spectrum only. i.e. if one is not driving a Smart, they must be an idiot with some gas-guzzling monster SUV they just haul groceries with.

Sorry, Frank, but I never said you were driving a truck: I said I was driving a truck, 95% of the time by myself. And I never said you were an idiot, in fact I didn't use the word "idiot" anywhere, even in reference to myself. I was merely responding to your dismissive response to the statistic about the average car containing 1.3 people (and by the way, your own estimate of vehicle use would seem to validate the very statistic you're dismissing). Your "silly" analogy about needing winter clothes because sometimes the temperature drops below the average of 10 degrees was, perhaps inadvertently, a perfect illustration of how a large portion of the population seem to buy their vehicles: figure out the absolute maximum they might ever conceivably need, and then use it for absolutely everything all the time. Like wearing your winter clothes all year 'round. I was merely pointing out a different way of approaching the same decision: figure out what you can get away with for 95% of your uses, and worry about the other 5% if and when the need arises; there are plenty of options out there for short-term vehicle needs besides ownership. I don't see how that indicates that I'm only capable of thinking at the "ends of the spectrum."

You have found a vehicle that suits your needs pretty well - good for you. I have found a vehicle that suits my needs equally well - good for me. Just because we chose different vehicles for different reasons doesn't mean either of us is an idiot, or incapable of considering a range of options, or that anyone's been indoctrinated into a "cult."

IMO frankd53 is a little negative when it comes to the ''smart''

[frankd53]

Ignore frankd53, he comes out of the woodwork whenever there is mention of slow sales and negativity...troll?

Hey, it's a topic about Smart Car sales, just thought I'd provide some views from someone outside the Smart owner community. Is there something wrong with that, or is there something I stated that was not factual, or not logical? Did I ever say a Smart could not last 15 years? Read my post again before you label me. And try to have a more open mind

Hey! I just read your post from Dec7. Have you changed since you said this:

''it would appear the Forbes article was correct, and the Smart brand has a limited future in North America. ''

and this one : '' wonder whether you should be classified officially as a cult.......''

''And if they were to orphan or sell off the brand, who knows where that leaves owners in term of service, parts, etc.... ''

Not at all. My feelings immediatley above have not changed in the least. But the recent dicussion was about how long one can keep a specific car on the road and cost effective etc., , as someone mentioned that their goal is to have a car for 15 years. I am sure a Smart can physically last 15 years if meticulously cared for, like almost any car today can. That is very different from what will happen if sales do not recover and the entire Smart brand is no longer sold in Canada. Anyone who says this cannot happen , at the the current sales volumes, needs a reality check.

[smart142]

You should contact Roger Penske right away with your opinions!!!I'm sure he will put a STOP to his smart project immediately

[Guest kwaldron]

If the smart hadn't come to Canada I would of kept the ford escort I had been driving for the past 9 years and continued to drive it to the ground.

I know the feeling. My Escort had reached end of life after about 11 years and I knew was likely to start costing excessive amounts to maintain. The day I had decided to buy a smart I saw for sale here the Escort brakes went. Estimated cost to correct? $2200. Oh, and the exhaust manifold was cracked, and, and, andtalk about great timing. I was without care for 2 days only.

[frankd53]

You should contact Roger Penske right away with your opinions!!!I'm sure he will put a STOP to his smart project immediately

Now you're being silly. Think about the topic of this thread. What does the typical Canadian car buyer know about any association between Roger Penske and Smart Car? Absolutely nothing (I sure don't). Now, if there were some media advertising about such a project, that might help a bit.FrankD

[smart142]

People who love smart cars know who Roger is.He will be introducing the smart car to the USA in 2008.

[al goldfinch]

Frank the way you talk about cars it seems you know just about everything that is going on you sound like you should be at the car show to tell everybody about the new Smart Have a nice day AL