Smart Car catches eye, then envious looks

[imcquade]

Originally Posted by RussBarnes

Typical reporters, never research the facts. I liked the story, but this was by no means the first in Murfreesboro and here is what I sent the reporter:


Just a point of fact: I live in the Christiana area. I picked up my smart on January 26 of this year at the only dealer in TN and it was the first one of the new 451 series registered in Tennessee. Now true, mine is not the first one technically in Murfreesboro, nor is hers, but I have been driving it in the ’Boro since January on weekends. Also true, I am not nearly as attractive as Miss. Kim, my being a 63 year old male. And I was also not an impulse buyer like she was since I ordered mine on March 19, 2007 by the on-line $99 deposit method. I did like the facts that you added to the story and I hope it stops so many of the questions I get every time I come to Murfreesboro on weekends to grocery shop at Wal-Mart or dine out, but I doubt it. I have answered more questions, had more photos taken and been pointed at more times than all of the 75 cars I have owned since I was 16 – and that includes customs, Corvette’s and Porsche 911”s

Also the gas mileage sounds great at 50 mpg, but if she did that she has a very unusual one, the EPA tests, Edmunds Tests and most of us that frequent the “Smart Car Of America” site seldom see 50 mpg, especially during the first 2000 miles until break-in. I have been getting mid-40’s and that is great considering I have to drive a diesel powered Excursion at 17.8 mpg to work in Nashville. In the spring and fall without AC and diving say Hwy 231 I might be in the 50’s but interstate driving will not do it – and I have an added fuel flow meter to back that up.

No retraction needed – just wanted you to know the facts and why I seldom believe what I read in the papers since a simple check of DMV records would have blown holes in your story.

Not to be rude; but your note reads to me like your a 63 year old man p***ed that someone else got in to a newspaper and you didn't....

I've read it several times over and it truly is the sort of rant I'd expect from my son if his friend had a toy he didn't have.....sorry in advance

[RussBarnes]

One thing about living 63 years is that I've learned that sometimes to make a point to an unexperienced rookie is that there are times you have to "get in their face" to make them understand that their brief time on this planet hasn't taught them how to really do quality work. I say this after managing and running production and engineering teams in excess of 300 employees, many of who also went off half-cocked rather than doing their homework.

This was a copy of the letter to the greenhorn "reporter" that appears to have a friend that bought a smart. I liked the context of the article, I just wish they would have checked their stories because mine is just one of three other smarts in Murfreesboro that were here before this one. And no I don't need to be in this local rag as I have been published and written about many, many times in much more prestigious publications.