Just logged my 1000th mile today in my Smart here in Tucson, AZ. I swear, I have to plan an extra 5 minutes per trip still, it's been 5 weeks, because invariably I get caught up in a conversation with someone or other. Couple of weeks ago, a man and his wife asked me if I'd pull over to chat. Turns out they know someone locally who was writing an article on Smart cars and wanted to know if I'd be interviewed. I was late getting my son to the movies.
Still learning how best to drive the car around town, all-auto, "manual" shifting or a mix. At first, I did mostly manual but this tank of gas I'm trying to stay in auto as much as possible just to see what happens.
Tucson seems like a perfect place for the Smart as there is little highway driving. I do wish they had put a little more insulation in the roof panel as it can heat up quite a bit with the noon-day sun beating down on the roof. It's only a problem if the car is parked in the sun, and then for about the first 10 minutes of driving after that, so I try to park in shade and walk a little further.
Got 57 mpg the first day when I drove it down from Chandler, caught a draft about halfway down and kept it around 65 mph in the 75 mph zone. The winds were 45 mph across I-10 that day and it was tense. But around town or out of bad wind, the car has been great.
A lot of people ask me if it's electric. Kind of wish it were. Guess there are plans for that in 2010.
Hope to see enough interest in Tucson that they open a dealership here because I don't want to have to drive to Chandler when it comes time to service the vehicle. Doing my part to spread the word.
Happy Motoring,
Dan K.
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