Hello from Southern ME. - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

kloudking · 06-16-2008, 02:55 PM

Hi: just bought and I am waiting for my new, used smart passion. I have been bidding on e-bay for weeks and could never get one for what I wanted to spend. This car is replacing a 1969 Mini and a 67 VW both lost in a fire on Mothers day AM. Both of the collector cars were 9-10"s, I'm hoping the smart will be as much fun, seeing I have never even driven one yet..I hope there will be a bunch of us in the sea coast area that can form a club.. Thanks, Jack Groves

DowneasTTer · 06-16-2008, 03:07 PM

Hi kloudking,

Welcome to smart ownership. Purchased mine in May after configuring around last Thanksgiving. Picked up at the local smartcenter (250 miles away in Lynnfield, Ma). Sorry to here about the fire and loss of a couple of great autos. Lost my 67 1880-s to a fire a few years ago so I can understand the pain. Took Max, my 08 silver/black/red cab to Owls Head last month. Got more ??? and comments than any of the antiques I've taken over the past 15 years or so. Pics are my gallery if interested. Currently waiting for new plates from DMV (FORTWO) and the hitch package from Smart Car Universe. Enjoy your new ride and maybe we can get a meeting of most eastern smart owners in the future.

Bruce Sawyer
Orrington, Me

kloudking · 06-23-2008, 04:43 PM

Hi Bruce: are you planning on towing the smart on all four???? If so how expensive is the tow package??? We want to tow ours down to the casa in Dunedin FL in Oct for the winter.. I drove a demo in Lynfield this PM and loved it..But I have bought quite a few cars without ever driving them. The 1969 Mini that I lost only had 23,000 mi. on it and was an automatic, one of the first off the line in 69..Only had 13,000 on it when I bought it 7 years ago. Jack Groves

DowneasTTer · 06-23-2008, 05:36 PM

Hi Jack,

Glad enjoyed the demo today. I found the people at Lynfield to be great to deal with. Took the bus from Bangor to Boston and they picked me up for delivery. Have purchased/sold a number of autos on ebay. What company did you use to move your smartie? I have used Intercity Lines out of Ma many times in the past. Not cheap but own their trucks and used enclosed trailers.

Don't plan on towing Max behind our motorhome. Have a Winnebago Rialta, sort of the smart motorhome... small, great mileage, etc. Instead I'm going to use Max to tow my small toy trailer, a rack and roll. That way I can use the smart to take both my kayaks and bikes. A number of members have posted how they tow smarts with their mhs. Looks like Blue Ox has a great solution. Another option is to use a small trailer like the smarttrailer.

Enjoy your new smart and post pics when you can.

Bruce

angel · 06-23-2008, 08:15 PM

Hello and welcome.

Amethyste · 06-23-2008, 09:15 PM

Hey!!! Nice to meet you, I am in portsmouth NH - when you get your car - we should try to meet - There is another member here that lives 5 miles from my home too

WELCOME!!

kloudking · 06-24-2008, 06:55 PM

Hi Bruce I will surely try to get in touch as soon as I get the car and get it registered.. I am here in York, but we are FL residents due to ME taxes.. I am on a MA state pension and the state of MA doesn't tax me but the good old state of ME is VERY greedy and doesn't give anyone a break.. If you want to give me a call 207-363-4083 anytime seeing we a retired were home most of the time.. We should try to organize a group of smart owners?????? What do you think???? Jack

gailgold · 06-25-2008, 10:39 AM

I picked up my Smart car in Lynnfield, MA on Sunday and drove it home to our mountain hideaway in Wentworth, NH...... and couldn't be happier with it! Sorry to hear about the loss of your other two vehicles..... hopefully your new Smart will bring lots of great memories....as those did!
Awaiting a "get together" with other Smart drivers soon!

kloudking · 07-06-2008, 07:48 PM

Finally got my smart on thurs. 7-3 Now I'm waiting for the plate and registration to come back from FL. We are here on the seacoast for the 5 good months, but beat feet in the winter to FL. So we a residents down there and that means I don't have to pay the ME state excise tax every year. Hope to one the road by wed. Jack

DowneasTTer · 07-07-2008, 05:55 AM

Great news Jack! Post a pic or two when you can. Yes the cost of car ownership in Maine rates right up there with all the other ways state/local government get to spend YOUR $$. My old 90 Jag runs over $250/year for excise tax... more than the smart! However, insurance rates are cheap here. ? for you when you reg a car in FL are you paying Maine or FL rates for insurance?

Hope to get down your way later this month.

Bruce