Get smart: first U.S. incentive to buy a fortwo now available
2008 smart fortwo - Click above image for high-res gallery
Penske Automotive Group, distributors of the smart fortwo here in the United States, recorded an impressive 24,622 total sales of the diminutive city car in 2008, and dealers widely reported that they could have sold even more had they been available. With that in mind, the nascent company set what seemed at the time like a realistic sales target for 25,000 units in 2009. That may have been a bit optimistic.
So far this year, Smart USA has sold 7,451 fortwos, which is down nearly 16-percent from the first five months of 2008. May sales, though, were down an alarming 56.6 percent to 1,169. To stem the rushing tide of order cancellations and slow sales, Penske has decided to offer its first-ever incentives on the fortwo. From now until the end of July, buyers may qualify for 4.2-percent financing through Daimler Financial Services for the purchase of a new 2009 smart fortwo.
If this incentive has a positive impact on sales, expect it to be extended a bit longer. Further, Penske is considering making it possible for dealerships to order new cars without accepting the refundable $99 reservation from a customer that's currently required, which could have the desirable effect of placing more new vehicles on dealer lots for buyers to choose from.
Gallery: smart fortwo
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sasparilla 1:41PM (6/15/2009)
Smart really needs a gasoline engine that gets close to what should be its expected efficiency for its size (MPG), what they offer here is the US has worse MPG than much larger vehicles - totally unlike their little diesel which isn't offered in the US.
If they don't change this, the vehicle won't have a main lever to pull sales on (high MPG) instead of it just being a cute oddity from which sales will gradually die off.
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ChrisL 1:58PM (6/15/2009)
Blame whatever you want for sluggish sales, but the truth is probably because of these two huge problems that the Smart have
1) like Sasparilla said - gas mileage is way less that the previous Mark I model sold in Canada and is way less than it should be for a car and engine of this size.
2) that CRAPTACULAR transmission. The heave forward/backward pause while.....the.... transmission.... decides.... to shift......into the next gear is the reason we backed out.
IF the smart had a CVT and the high-MPG diesel it has in Europe sales would rebound in a heartbeat.
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Throwback 2:06PM (6/15/2009)
The transmission is why I cancelled my order. I can not imagine driving that thing every day to work. In over 30 years of driving that is the worse shifting transmission I have ever driven. Even one of my old Mopars with a slipping torque converter shifted smoother.
Chris 4:21PM (6/15/2009)
Not everyone likes diesel like you do. Just because you slap in a CVT and diesel doesn't mean every person is going to buy one. A CVT is too big and a diesel engine big enough to be able to merge onto the highway is not feasible in a car this small.
ronEbear 1:58PM (6/15/2009)
We have the diesel in Canada.
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ChrisL 2:03PM (6/15/2009)
Sorry ronEbear, once-upon-a-time we had the diesel, that stopped with the Mark II version and we have the same engine/trans as the US now. 70hp gas, 5speed herky-jerky (and yes, I've driving the upgraded transmission and it still herks and jerks)
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BrandonIT 2:10PM (6/15/2009)
With Penske purchasing Saturn now it'll have a nice dealership network to sell from.
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markf 2:22PM (6/15/2009)
I got a 10% rebate on a 2008 leftover / zero miles Smart Cabriolet at the Germantown MD dealer in March 09. At the time they had 9-10 cars of different models with rebates. I'll be going back there soon for the tranmission reflash which in thoery makes shifting smoother, but I'm not holding my breath. markf
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Carlos 2:46PM (6/15/2009)
It´s my best buy ever, cheap, small...i can park everywhere (fuelsaving) now it got 10 years and only need the visit to the garage when i´ve got to change the oil...im loving it.
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Jay 2:56PM (6/15/2009)
I wonder if current Smart owners can refinance to take advantage of this?
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Nick 4:00PM (6/15/2009)
VW has announced a 4-door Polo (compact) that gets 75mpg total.
Compared to that, the Smart is a gas guzzler.
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contact 4:59PM (6/15/2009)
not according to VW's website....it's not coming to the states at least.
I'm buying one. I'll finance it for 2-3 years and by the time the BlueSport, Aptera, etc come out it'll be paid for and I can buy something new.