I've had people take pictures of me in the car, near the car, pictures of the car while going to extensive lengths to get the picture. I have a coworker whose husband works in a cell phone shop. A customer came in for some kind of phone service, and showed him pictures of this amazing little black car he found and where he found it. Husband relays the story to my coworker, who tells him it's my car. The guy was driving by at 30mph, spotted it 100 feet from the street, turned into the lot, parked behind my car and started taking pictures. Creepy and fascinating at the same time.
Another time recently, I saw my first wreck in years... I was coming out of a McD's parking lot, just after some rain, and a car stalled at a light while traffic approached. I was visible for at least 300 feet of oncoming traffic, and someone slowed down for the stalled car... but car #3 didn't slow down until the last second, and by then, too late - crunch, minor fender bender. Would have been ok if not for the wet road. I have to wonder if they were staring at me or one of the kids yelled, "Mommy, look!"
The fascination of others will wear off in a year or two, and it will be treated like a VW Bug: not completely freakish, but rare enough you can punch a sister when you see one.
Yesterday, an older (like me) gentleman was walking behind my car while I was parking it in front of the local supermarket. He asked if it was electric. By the time I gave the appropriate answer, still looking in disbelief at the smart, he crashed into a pole. Since he was walking, and was naturally padded: no harm. I'm still smiling just to the thought of it.
It reminded a scene from Jacques Tati's classic movie "Mon Oncle"...
I was waiting to make a right hand turn at a stop sign, a car directly across the intersection from me was waiting at the stop sign to make a left hand turn. The driver was staring at my Smart and pulled out in front of a car on the thu street (No stop sign). Luckly, somehow, the driver on the thru street missed the guy by inches. I am just sitting there thinking they are going to get tangled up and one of them will spin over and hit me. I wonder how the insurance company would replace a totalled Smart when the waiting list is a year plus?
I was driving to the window tint place this AM and got there a little early. Was waiting in the parking lot for a ride to work when a big black buick pulled in along side ... I figured another tint customer..
no, A very large gentleman and his equally large wife got out and came over. I had my door open as it was a nice morning.
He said "We saw you on the road and had to follow you to see what this was ...." I gave him the spiel and offered to let him sit in Marta (he politely declined) I gave him my handout and they left talking about how they could use one to run around town!
Then all the tint employees started arriving and Marta and I were checked out by about a dozen guys from 20 something to 70 something. She appeals to every one!
Up Date,
I was parked in first space in front of Home Depot's Garden Shop loading 4 40# bags top soil into my cabrio. Large van stops beside me right in the driving lane. Guy jumps out and never even closes his door so both driving lanes are blocked! Guy had dozen questions and traffic backed up. He would not move his van until one driver laid on his horn for a long blast!!! Van shot into a parking spot and guy came running back to ask more questions!
YOU JUST HAVE TO LOVE THIS CAR
Last edited by smartysmitten; 06-04-2008 at 08:23 AM.
I'm getting to the point where I always look at drivers to see their reactions. I'm a bit disappointed when they don't seem to notice. That's not often, however. Mine is the 27th smart in South Carolina so most people are still seeing a smart for the first time when they encounter mine. I had a lady ask me in the parking lot of a bank yesterday, "Is that a car?" So far that's the best question I've collected. Nobody has ever caused a problem, although one guy veered out of his lane while he was gawking. I also get a lot of people assuming its an electric car, probably the #1 misconception. Someone made the point that nobody's ever ooohed and aaaahed over a Prius or Honda hybrid. Also, any of the comparable mpg cars out there cost twice as much. People are amazed how cheap they are (I am too). There's nothing that feels cheap about this car. Compare that to any car below $20k and there is no comparison of plushness.
I live in a very small town but I have the second smart in town so many people here have seen one before. Still, I was told someone took a picture of the car while I was at DMV, and I still get a lot of stares and smiles when I drive through town.
The first week I could hear people say "Look at the smart car!" when driving past them. Yesterday I was stopped at a red light in front of a local tavern with an outdoor patio. I could hear "why not just get a motorcycle?" I wanted to say "well, its cheaper and I can still drive in the cold or rain" but I let it go.
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