Park it in your pocket - Chicago Tribune

[MicroNut]

Some more positive editorial on the smart:

You bet we'll drive it. The Fortwo starts at $11,590 and gets 33 miles per gallon in the city. The cars will start arriving in the U.S. in January, and they're already sold out through mid-2009. As for safety, the Fortwo got four out of five stars in European crash tests, thanks to a steel "safety cell" that displaces the force of a collision. You wouldn't want to try to shoulder a semi off the expressway, but you'll be fine on Lincoln Avenue at 5 p.m. on a weekday. And when you get where you're going, you can pop right into the first spot you see. Be sure to smile and wave at the Hummers circling the block.

Full_article_here

[Carnut]

"The cars will start arriving in the U.S. in January, and they're already sold out through mid-2009."

<sigh> from a #1369 rezo.

[SnakeFarm]

Originally Posted by Carnut

"The cars will start arriving in the U.S. in January, and they're already sold out through mid-2009."

<sigh> from a #1369 rezo.

I bet we see a confirm invite by March and a smart in the driveway by August or September at the latest. Things will speed up once some smarts are on the ground. Just watch.

Of course, nine months is an eternity when you are waiting on a car.

[Iceberg]

Well, aren't your two full of happy thoughts......lol. I think we will need to wait and see since they have not let us know the regional distribution of the cars. I pretty sure that I have a better chance of getting my car in Portland/Vancouver metro with a higher number than the folks in large (mega) metro areas with lower numbers. As a former distribution manager I find it hard to believe that they will only use the date we get in line. They will most certainly use a combination of reservation number and regional distribution quotas. In this way, smart will get thier cars out to consumers accross the entire country and not just in mega metro sump holes. Yea, I escaped from SoCal a few years ago and don't miss it one bit. Holiday Cheers to you all!

[spdickey]

Just talked to the smart director at my dealership (Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills). Earlier they said about 600 cars per year. Today they said they will be receiving 65 cars about January 15 and about 60+ per month for the rest of the year. Thats nearly 750 cars. I think "sell out" is a bit of an overkill.

[SmartCard]

and I bet "sold out through mid 2009" didn't come from any PAG/SmartUSA official! (could be the author expressing a little journalistic license!)