smart and Nissan to Team Up???

[navy48]

Daimler-smart-Renault-Nissan merger: Rumors or Truth?

Beyond the announcement that Daimler and Renault are discussing co-development of a 4 door smart, shared platforms and electric cars is the rumor that the agreement will result in the closing of US smart dealerships with Nissan dealers assuming sales, warranty and service responsibilities.


Anyone in the EU hear of this? Since I'm currently an owner of a smart four-two, I'm very interested in this deal to close smart centers and have Nissan dealers service my car.

What do you guys think?

[VilleV]

This is news to mee!:eek: Not heard of this before!

[wreckmaster]

I had heard about the Daimler / Renault thing for a cooparation for a platform for a new Smart / electric vehicle but I had not heard about the Nissan rumor... But maybe not so strange since Renault and Nissan are pretty close from before....

[navy48]

I've now heard this from a couple very reliable sources on our smart car forum.

Honestly, if they DO follow through with this, then I'm all for it. The way things are now, we have to pay Mercedes tech rates to have a $14K car repaired....REDICULOUS.

Having to take my smart in for any service/warranty issues to a Nissan dealer can only be less expensive and from my past experience with our local smart center, it sure as heck can't be any worse when it comes to customer satisfaction!

From the way they treat some of us, I think they resent having to take the time out of their day to deal with a 'buyer of our caliber' when they could be spending that time with a potential $40-60K MB customer.

[smurfette]

I hadn't heard about this but tend to agree that joining up with Nissan can only be an improvement on current sales/servicing for the smart. I have owned 3 smarts in the past and dealing with the Merc garages they are currently attached to was always a nightmare. Luckily there was an independent garage near me for servicing and the difference in price as well as attitude was phenomenal.

[navy48]

I hadn't heard about this but tend to agree that joining up with Nissan can only be an improvement on current sales/servicing for the smart. I have owned 3 smarts in the past and dealing with the Merc garages they are currently attached to was always a nightmare. Luckily there was an independent garage near me for servicing and the difference in price as well as attitude was phenomenal.

WHEW!!! At least I know it's not just me! Don't get me wrong, some of the people at our smart center are great......ok, a couple. But the "Management" leaves something to be desired. They just don't 'get it'.

They scheduled a 'tech talk' about once every 3 months for smart owners to be briefed by a certified tech about their cars. Great concept in the beginning. Now it's turned into one big 'info-mercial', trying to sell everything from barbeques to "smart" homes??? The 'tech talk' that used to last about 45min to an hour is now a TWO HOUR PRODUCTION with most attendees STANDING the entire 2 hours. Rediculous.

I can't wait for the '500' to come to the U.S. I'll be unloading my smart as soon as they hit U.S. soil!

[smurfette]

The stories I could tell you about my visits to our local Merc/Smart centres would leave you :eek:
It's funny how you can only every find 1 person in each place who seems in the slightest bit interested. I'm starting to find the same trouble with Fiat though, although not to the same degree..... I fear it may be time for another change....:rolleyes: