Not Smart

In South Africa Mercedes Benz/Daimler Crysler holds the franchise for SMART. These little cars are as cute as a button but they have one tragic flaw. Mercedes Benz despite being their representative does not carry parts. They are difficult to maintain as you cant just pop up to the auto-spares shop. Everything on a Smart is smaller than any other vehicles and it is really difficult to find spares. Mercedes Benz has a six week lead time on Smart parts and even then the customer despite being assured that they will contact you has to haunt the dealership until the parts arrive. I had somebody ***** some of my wheel nuts and even though I stressed the urgency I was left to make do on two nuts per wheel nearly ****ing my son and I in the process. Before lockdown, I went in for bushes for my front axle. The usual six-week cycle that is exacerbated by the lockdown. As our only vehicle we were forced to rattle everywhere we went and the constant friction has now sheared a steering bolt. I phoned the manager of the spare dept and was told they are not back at work. There is a strong possibility that I will have to reorder. I love my car but don't want to get ****ed in it. Mercedes you need to step up and take care of your franchise