VA Smarties?!?!

[hmm_i_see]

which the title alone makes me want some candy! I digress, Who here is a VA Smartie? I am currently on the orphan list, have an online reservation, and am planning to check out another more immediate option.. I am jealous of you all who already lay claim to a quirky, super rad Smart. I am certainly chomping at the bit in anticipation for taking ownership of one I can call my own. So I guess I ask to live vicariously through those who can tell their 'smart stories'.. especially like waiting time frames, and those who might have been surprised by an early arrival of their bundle of joy.

Please let me live through your Smart tales!
I say again, pleeease.

Post Script.
I am curious of those of you who may have purchased your Smart in the area (VA) and how your experiences with the dealership went?

THANKS SMARTIES!!!

[angel]

So far the campus security at the Dallas V.A. say mine is the only one they've seen.

[astuto]

I've been wanting a smart for YEARS. Tried in 2004 to buy one at a dealership in Italy to import to the USA, but couldn't. I made my reservation in June 2007. My latest ETA is 6/9 to 9/7. A few months ago I found out about the orphan list. Though I live in Va. Beach I got my name on every list from Atlanta to Maryland. Cary,NC dealership wanted to stick to the territory rules, but I have property in SC. I was contacted by Tyson's a little over a month ago, but their's didn't have air. It's very expensive to have air installed. Thursday, 5/29, the Va. Beach dealer contacted me about an orphan. To make a long story short, I bought it the next day. I LOVE IT!!!!

Stories:

Little kids recognize it from the Pink Panther movie. I let one little boy sit in it and he couldn't wait to go home and tell his big brother.

Two young guys drove next to me for about 5 miles on I264 giving me thumbs up. They just kept looking and smiling. We're lucky we didn't have an accident.

Jenroe Diner on Independence has a car meet every Saturday for anyone who wants to show. I took my smart. After 2 hours I was horse talking about it. I took off the front hood and opened the car just like the big boys!!!!

Parking has been WONDERFUL. I can park where no other car can. I've scoped out lots of places at the oceanfront. Sunday I did the perpendicular thing between a truck and a car. A favorite restaurant has a little space near the door that my car fits in great. My local wal-mart has a space near one of the doors that's marked with yellow as too small for cars, but my car fits there.

I'm a H.S. teacher and my students think the car is the coolest! I'm glad I'm at a small school. I remember in the 60's teahcers' VWs were picked up by students and put on the sidewalks. They can't get away with that at my school.

The dealership here in Va. Beach is great. See my post under Va. Dealerships.

Now I want to get a local club together, or at least a meet.

Astuto

[wrumbarger]

Howdy all
I got my Blue/black cabrio on Feb 22(08) from Tyson's smart center.
Nice group of guys to deal with.

I kept going back to look at accessories/options/mods and just to BS with them.

Last month the manager offered me a part time position as an "information specialist" since I like talking about the car so much.

I work 2-3 nights a week (5-7PM) and alt sat's.
Paycheck is a little more than my payment, so I am spending time talking about the car (which I would be doing anyway) and get to drive it for free?

First week I had it, I was driving on I-495 (capitol beltway) and there was very light traffic (rarely happens) so I tried to see just how fast it would go. . .
The nice man on the motorcycle with the patriotic red/white/blue flashing lights said I was doing 87. He asked me a bunch of questions about the car, then pulled his bike alongside.

The bike was 3" longer.
He laughed and told me to stay at the speed limit and drove away.

[hmm_i_see]

Originally Posted by wrumbarger

Howdy all
I got my Blue/black cabrio on Feb 22(08) from Tyson's smart center.
Nice group of guys to deal with.

I kept going back to look at accessories/options/mods and just to BS with them.

Last month the manager offered me a part time position as an "information specialist" since I like talking about the car so much.

I work 2-3 nights a week (5-7PM) and alt sat's.
Paycheck is a little more than my payment, so I am spending time talking about the car (which I would be doing anyway) and get to drive it for free?

First week I had it, I was driving on I-495 (capitol beltway) and there was very light traffic (rarely happens) so I tried to see just how fast it would go. . .
The nice man on the motorcycle with the patriotic red/white/blue flashing lights said I was doing 87. He asked me a bunch of questions about the car, then pulled his bike alongside.

The bike was 3" longer.
He laughed and told me to stay at the speed limit and drove away.

That's pretty cool, I am envious!
Totally worth a chuckle.
I wish I could have seen the cop bike sitting along side the Smart.

[hmm_i_see]

Originally Posted by astuto

I've been wanting a smart for YEARS. Tried in 2004 to buy one at a dealership in Italy to import to the USA, but couldn't. I made my reservation in June 2007. My latest ETA is 6/9 to 9/7. A few months ago I found out about the orphan list. Though I live in Va. Beach I got my name on every list from Atlanta to Maryland. Cary,NC dealership wanted to stick to the territory rules, but I have property in SC. I was contacted by Tyson's a little over a month ago, but their's didn't have air. It's very expensive to have air installed. Thursday, 5/29, the Va. Beach dealer contacted me about an orphan. To make a long story short, I bought it the next day. I LOVE IT!!!!

Stories:

Little kids recognize it from the Pink Panther movie. I let one little boy sit in it and he couldn't wait to go home and tell his big brother.

Two young guys drove next to me for about 5 miles on I264 giving me thumbs up. They just kept looking and smiling. We're lucky we didn't have an accident.

Jenroe Diner on Independence has a car meet every Saturday for anyone who wants to show. I took my smart. After 2 hours I was horse talking about it. I took off the front hood and opened the car just like the big boys!!!!

Parking has been WONDERFUL. I can park where no other car can. I've scoped out lots of places at the oceanfront. Sunday I did the perpendicular thing between a truck and a car. A favorite restaurant has a little space near the door that my car fits in great. My local wal-mart has a space near one of the doors that's marked with yellow as too small for cars, but my car fits there.

I'm a H.S. teacher and my students think the car is the coolest! I'm glad I'm at a small school. I remember in the 60's teahcers' VWs were picked up by students and put on the sidewalks. They can't get away with that at my school.

The dealership here in Va. Beach is great. See my post under Va. Dealerships.

Now I want to get a local club together, or at least a meet.

Astuto

EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO READ!!
This gave me the chuckle I needed at the end of my day!
Awesome... I can't wait until I too am hoarse from talking to people about it, I'm already hoarse from talking about the car I don't own yet.. STOKED!

[RVGRINGO]

Horse? Hoarse!

[astuto]

You're right. I sit corrected! Typo.

[hmm_i_see]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Horse? Hoarse!

another viable option with the way fuel costs are going.