Comments for SOCSF™ http://socsf.com the Smart Owners Club of San Francisco - aka the smart owners group of northern california :P Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:29:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on A message from Tracey Matura, General Manager, smart: by starlord http://socsf.com/2011/07/a-message-from-tracey-matura-general-manager-smart/comment-page-1/#comment-240 starlord Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:29:06 +0000 http://socsf.com/?p=543#comment-240 It's great to see that Mercedes-Benz USA is taking an interest in the smart car, plans to do some marketing, and will do their best to get the brand going -- I look forward to what comes next! We survived Penske's rather lackluster effort since initial launch. As a journalist I always felt a bit of a disconnect here in the states, while Daimler AG has always been great covering international events and seems downright enthused about the brand, surely I look forward to some great campaigns and the forthcoming new models (electric, 4 door, and who knows maybe a new roadster?) that may be exciting. It's true I paid $18,000 cash for the smart passion 'base' model which I later sunk another $10,000 in modifications and custom bits to make it mine. Sure I won't get anywhere near that on trade-in today, but I guess that's the price we pay for early adoption? The 2008 smart has a high bluebook of around 13k, yikes.. but I digress! Being the founder of the local smart club, I've always had a good rapport with the local dealers, so it was sad to see 3 of them go, now we're down to two - one in Sacramento and one in San Francisco. The city people are already sold on the smart car, it's the mainstream "everywhere else" that may not see the benefits, and in 4x4 mud/snow country (even though they went to the Arctic Circle and back) people don't generally "get" that the smart does extremely well in adverse weather, especially considering its a RWD and not FWD or AWD. So, the brand faces the same challenges they did back when the car first launched, and historically it's been a bumpy ride so far for the smart.. we just have a new set of eyes on it. I hope it does well. I really, really, hope it does well. Time will tell. It’s great to see that Mercedes-Benz USA is taking an interest in the smart car, plans to do some marketing, and will do their best to get the brand going — I look forward to what comes next!

We survived Penske’s rather lackluster effort since initial launch.

As a journalist I always felt a bit of a disconnect here in the states, while Daimler AG has always been great covering international events and seems downright enthused about the brand, surely I look forward to some great campaigns and the forthcoming new models (electric, 4 door, and who knows maybe a new roadster?) that may be exciting.

It’s true I paid $18,000 cash for the smart passion ‘base’ model which I later sunk another $10,000 in modifications and custom bits to make it mine. Sure I won’t get anywhere near that on trade-in today, but I guess that’s the price we pay for early adoption? The 2008 smart has a high bluebook of around 13k, yikes.. but I digress!

Being the founder of the local smart club, I’ve always had a good rapport with the local dealers, so it was sad to see 3 of them go, now we’re down to two – one in Sacramento and one in San Francisco. The city people are already sold on the smart car, it’s the mainstream “everywhere else” that may not see the benefits, and in 4×4 mud/snow country (even though they went to the Arctic Circle and back) people don’t generally “get” that the smart does extremely well in adverse weather, especially considering its a RWD and not FWD or AWD.

So, the brand faces the same challenges they did back when the car first launched, and historically it’s been a bumpy ride so far for the smart.. we just have a new set of eyes on it. I hope it does well. I really, really, hope it does well. Time will tell.

]]> Comment on About by starlord http://socsf.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-231 starlord Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:01:17 +0000 #comment-231 Feel free to subscribe to our RSS feed, so you can get all the latest press releases from the club and beyond.. :) for more up-to-date info and interaction with club members, head over to our forum! :) Feel free to subscribe to our RSS feed, so you can get all the latest press releases from the club and beyond.. :) for more up-to-date info and interaction with club members, head over to our forum! :)

]]> Comment on About by Sharon http://socsf.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-220 Sharon Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:36:35 +0000 #comment-220 Hi, please add me to your mailing list, thx :D Hi, please add me to your mailing list, thx :D

]]> Comment on April 9 2009 meeting notes by David Salazar http://socsf.com/2009/04/april-9-2009-meeting-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-219 David Salazar Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:10:52 +0000 http://socsf.com/?p=208#comment-219 How do get in on the fun with the SF car club, live in SJ, and just got my smartie in early April. Looking forward to meetings, drives and such!. How do get in on the fun with the SF car club, live in SJ, and just got my smartie in early April. Looking forward to meetings, drives and such!.

]]> Comment on April 9 2009 meeting notes by Connie http://socsf.com/2009/04/april-9-2009-meeting-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Connie Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:08:45 +0000 http://socsf.com/?p=208#comment-217 How do I get into email loop of upcoming bay area events. I'm bay area and have red convertible Smart. Connie learn@ranchoarroyo.org How do I get into email loop of upcoming bay area events. I’m bay area and have red convertible Smart.
Connie
learn@ranchoarroyo.org

]]> Comment on SOCSF begins monthly meetings by Larry Enoksen smartxs http://socsf.com/2009/03/socsf-begins-monthly-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Larry Enoksen smartxs Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:20:50 +0000 http://socsf.com/?p=206#comment-215 Meeting 2nd thursday, but neglected to mention the time! If it is posted, I'll try to make the next one. Meeting 2nd thursday, but neglected to mention the time!

If it is posted, I’ll try to make the next one.

]]> Comment on SOCSF begins monthly meetings by Arlene and John Carpenter http://socsf.com/2009/03/socsf-begins-monthly-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-211 Arlene and John Carpenter Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:04:00 +0000 http://socsf.com/?p=206#comment-211 What do we need to do to join your Club. We live in Alamo and recently bought our TwoFor in Walnut Creek. What do we need to do to join your Club. We live in Alamo and recently bought our TwoFor in Walnut Creek.

]]> Comment on About by Robert Lewis http://socsf.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-209 Robert Lewis Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:53:38 +0000 #comment-209 UK Smart Owner High interested in how the smart car is going over in the US. Both my wife and I visit the US twice a year,visiting Northern California, flying into SFO and then driving up to friends in Redding.I have attempted to buy the SOCSF rectangle sticker howerer the link doesn't seem to work ? Can any body help please? UK Smart Owner
High interested in how the smart car is going over in the US.
Both my wife and I visit the US twice a year,visiting Northern California, flying into SFO and then driving up to friends in Redding.I have attempted to buy the SOCSF rectangle sticker howerer the link doesn’t seem to work ? Can any body help please?

]]> Comment on About by Megan Hopkins http://socsf.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Megan Hopkins Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:19:41 +0000 #comment-200 Hi there, I'm a student writing an article about the smart car for my school magazine the San Francisco State Xpress and I wanted to talk to smart owners about their love of the smart car and why. If you could help put me in contact with owners who wouldn't mind be interviewed I would really appreciate it. Thanks again, Megan Hopkins Hi there,

I’m a student writing an article about the smart car for my school magazine the San Francisco State Xpress and I wanted to talk to smart owners about their love of the smart car and why. If you could help put me in contact with owners who wouldn’t mind be interviewed I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again,

Megan Hopkins

]]> Comment on About by Tom http://socsf.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-199 Tom Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:57:58 +0000 #comment-199 I have a fab business in Auburn and we've begun producing parts for Smart Cars. How do I get the word out to your members ? I have a fab business in Auburn and we’ve begun producing parts for Smart Cars. How do I get the word out to your members ?

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