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This one tops all others I have encountered so far.
A grown lady almost ran across the parking lot at the local Home Depot, put both her hands on the passenger door (cabrio with roof and windows down), leaned half her body inside and barked in my face "WHAT IS THIS??".
First, I politely asked her to remove her hands from the door and give me a little breathing room. Still keeping my cool, I then replied - with a straight face, mind you - "What do you think it is?" to which then came a surprisingly prompt reply "A small car".
"Well", said I, "turns out you knew the answer all along and didn't need to ask me after all, doesn't it?", got out of the car and left her standing with a stunned look on her face.
Although I bristle with anger when someone puts their hands on my car, I would have been less flippant with someone who had enough curiosity to run across the parking lot to have a sincere conversation. The "What is it" question seems pretty legit and genuine. Undoubtedly, she wanted to know the manufacturer and some details. If you would have answered me the way you spoke to her, I'd probably have a stunned look on my face, too.
When people used to ask me about any of the 427 Cobras I drove, I'd answer them. When they touched the car, I'd wipe off the prints. When they leaned over to look inside, I'd invite them to sit in it. If they seemed earnest, I'd take them for a spin around the block.
Unlike the Smart, my last Cobra got 5 mpg. On 100 octane $5.00 a gallon fuel. It cost a buck a mile to drive that car. And they were ALL fun miles.
Being rude to someone, then leaving them with my car while I walked away seems like a not particularly good idea.
You're lucky you didn't come to a car that was keyed or worse. Would it have killed you to be nice? An ounce of prevention might save a lot of trouble.
When people are rude or obnoxious to me in their quest to learn more about my smart, I am usually a little short with them. While talking to a customer the other day a lady got out of her escalade and in a shrill voice asked "Do you drive that on the street?" I replied "No, I have a special permit to drive on the sidewalk." Without missing a beat she sez " How fast will it go?" "85" sez I. "Can I hear it run?" " Sure, come back at 6pm when I head for home."
We could hear her laughing into her cell phone as she drove away. I can relate to helidrvr, some people just push the wrong buttons.
I guess I forgot to mention having to wipe her spit off my face. Her whole posture and tone was actually very belligerent, not one of friendly curiosity at all.
Should have clarified that, I guess.
You are all absolutely right. A friendly enquiry deserves a friendly response.
I was on a cell phone call with a client last week when, stopped at a light, a lady in the SUV next to me honked and honked and indicated she wanted me to roll down my window. I did, thinking something must be wrong, but she just wanted to gab about the car. I had to say, "Sorry, I am on a business call" and put the window up.
Even my nephew (11) commented that all the attention can get annoying when you are trying to get somewhere. It's hard to get away from the gas station sometimes.
But generally people are very enthusiastic and I reply in kind.
I don't think I would of answered that way (sorry, wrote this before the latest reply), I hope you continued and said...."Ah JUST KIDDING! it's a Smart!" Remember you're an ambassador for the Smart community now - of course there's no law saying you have to play nice.
Just like mmmeat, I've had a ton of cars that attract attention. I lost my temper once because a woman had her rear parked on my car, she had jeans on - the type with buttons on the back that could scratch the paint. I did lose it that time.
I pick up my Passion Saturday and have a feeling most of the questions will be the same as I used to get with my Insight. Of course there's the remarks like "but what if you get hit by an 18 wheeler", the appropriate reply, "Is that before or after I get hit by the meteor shower?"
Some of the time people get VERY excited when they see a special car, hopefully in time you'll get used to it. MOST people are genuinely nice.
Last edited by Bum-bling-B; 04-23-2008 at 07:48 AM..
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