New here from Southern California

[smarties]

Merry Christmas from So. California. I saw a Smart in San Francisco while visiting a couple months ago and had to have one! Unfortunately I only found them used on ebay. I had no idea that they were going to be released to the US until a few days ago when I started to research them a little. I currently commute about 40 miles each way to work so I plan to get a Smart to cut down on fuel consumption. Just the savings on fuel will pay the payment on it! I currently commute in a Toyota Tacoma 4dr V6 so...Our family mobile is a Honda Pilot which is also a V6. I was thinking that a Smart may not be the safest on the freeway however more safe than a motorcycle that I was considering commuting on.

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by smarties

Merry Christmas from So. California. I saw a Smart in San Francisco while visiting a couple months ago and had to have one! Unfortunately I only found them used on ebay. I had no idea that they were going to be released to the US until a few days ago when I started to research them a little. I currently commute about 40 miles each way to work so I plan to get a Smart to cut down on fuel consumption. Just the savings on fuel will pay the payment on it! I currently commute in a Toyota Tacoma 4dr V6 so...Our family mobile is a Honda Pilot which is also a V6. I was thinking that a Smart may not be the safest on the freeway however more safe than a motorcycle that I was considering commuting on.

Welcome. The smart will be vastly safer than a bike, its four star crash rated in Europe (out of 5), and they expect the same results here. Look around for crash videos posted here. Think 21st Century crash protection, not a VW Bug from the '60s.

Double check your math on the fuel savings, though.

Plop down that $99 as soon as you can, you may get a chance to buy one before Christmas 2008.

[smarties]

Originally Posted by spdickey

Welcome. The smart will be vastly safer than a bike, its four star crash rated in Europe (out of 5), and they expect the same results here. Look around for crash videos posted here. Think 21st Century crash protection, not a VW Bug from the '60s.

Double check your math on the fuel savings, though.

Plop down that $99 as soon as you can, you may get a chance to buy one before Christmas 2008.

Thank you!

Yeah the $99. as been plopped, I hope to get it sooner than Chrismas 2008 though.

I have studied them a lot and probably seen every video I can on them. I know they are not the "ideal" auto in every situation but I want one! Between my wife and I we will probably use it for 75% of our running around as well as my drive to work. We will save on the amount (over $400) we spend a month on gas no question.

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by smarties

Thank you!

Yeah the $99. as been plopped, I hope to get it sooner than Chrismas 2008 though.

I have studied them a lot and probably seen every video I can on them. I know they are not the "ideal" auto in every situation but I want one! Between my wife and I we will probably use it for 75% of our running around as well as my drive to work. We will save on the amount (over $400) we spend a month on gas no question.

Make sure you get out to see the smart right now in Venice, CA at the smart house. Its on Abbot Kinny Blvd. It closes in January, but by then you should be able to view one at a local dealer. Test drive Wed-Sun afternoons.

In So Cal they are:

Beverly Hills, Universal City, West Covina, Riverside, Laguna Niguel, San Diego and Santa Barbara.

[Gortok]

It's CRAZY that you guys get so many dealers...and so close to each other...

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by Gortok

It's CRAZY that you guys get so many dealers...and so close to each other...

I noticed a big white space on the smartusa.com centering on Georgia. My condolences.

In California each one will deliver up to 600 cars next year. California has 20% of the nationwide reservations and most of those in LA.

Its embarrassment of riches. First the smart house for the past few months, and now my dealer about 12 miles away. A little far from work for easy service appointments, but hopefully it will only need one every 12 months.

[smarties]

Originally Posted by Gortok

It's CRAZY that you guys get so many dealers...and so close to each other...

Thats a good thing for us in California.