Is Routine Maintenance Less Expensive for Smart Cars?
Do you want something small and nimble to scoot around town in? Is ease of parking important to you? Are you looking to lower fuel expenditures and reduce your carbon footprint? While these are important factors when deciding if a Smart car is the right choice for you, another is the cost of maintenance. Since 2018, the Smart EQ For Two has only been available in the U.S. and Canada as an electric—vehicles that are known for costing less to maintain. But used fossil-fueled models of Smart cars are still available and maintenance for these models is considered to be lower cost, though not necessarily cheap.
What Is A Smart Car?
The origin story of the Smart Car is as long and winding as the narrow streets it was designed to navigate. Begun by the maker of Swatch watches, the “Swatchmobile” went years before finding a partner until 1998, when Mercedes launched the first Swatch Mercedes Art, or Smart car. Immediately a hit in Europe, the diminutive, boxy car had trouble making traction in North America and now finds itself at the end of its run.
Mercedes, after stopping sales of gas models in 2017, and only selling less than 1,300 cars in 2018, will make 2019 its last production run.
Alright, So How Much?
So, how much does it cost to maintain a Smart car? Electric Smart cars are much cheaper to maintain since they don’t need oil, fan belts, air filters, timing belts, head gaskets, cylinder heads, and spark plugs, making them less expensive compared to conventional automobiles. Still, there is the need for windshield wipers, suspension, tires, and tire rotation, but routine maintenance will occur less frequently, meaning you will save time and money. It’s not all good news, though. Buying and installing a home charger is expensive—a level 1 charger costs at least $500 from Amazon or Walmart and labor might cost you another $1000-$1700 depending upon where your panel is located and the type of installation. The price goes up from there for a level 2 charger. Of course, replacing the battery is the biggest concern for electric car customers—and fortunately for you, if you already own a Smart car, Mercedes will continue to provide service and replacement parts despite ending sales.
Used-gas powered Smart cars require all the maintenance that a normal car does—Your Mechanic has estimated the annual cost of maintaining your Smart car at $470 though another site, Repair Pal, has maintenance pegged at $717 per year. One thing that makes estimating difficult is that there just aren’t that many Smart cars out there to compare to. At both sites, the slightly larger and more popular Toyota Yaris is estimated to cost roughly half that amount for yearly maintenance.
Get High-Quality, Affordable Care
Another reason that it is difficult to estimate the cost of upkeep for a Smart car is that going to a Mercedes dealership for repairs and maintenance can be quite expensive. One way to keep that amount lower is to go to the professionals at EuroCar Service who provide an affordable, but equally high-quality, alternative to dealerships—they can even stamp your service manual so that your warranty remains valid. Dedicated to making your maintenance or repair appointment as stress-free as possible, EuroCar Service offers free shuttle service and free loaner cars to all their Seattle clients. Their up-to-date specialty tools, equipment, technology, and ASE master mechanics will get you back on the road quickly and efficiently. If your Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes, MINI, SAAB, Volkswagen, Volvo, Smart car, or Fiat needs repair or maintenance, schedule an appointment online or call today!
