Feel like I'm being stalked.

[fpage77]

I've had the car for two days and everytime i go out people are staring. I've had one mechanic come out of garage while I was filling up to look at car and multiple coments from fast food workers. I'm not saying I'm mad but I got this car for me for fun and now I feel like I'm being railroaded with gawkers like I'm in some freak show. I know it's not the end of the world but it was sometihng I wasn't expecting.

[JPaul]

Just grant autographs! And wear shades! Welcome to the club.

It'll calm down, or you'll get used to it. Hey, you're smart and special...
Welcome, and many smiling miles.

[Godfather]

It's very simple. You need to alot extra time whenever you go anywhere. It's high profile........ you could be driving a Chevy.........

[Krootie]

Originally Posted by fpage77

I've had the car for two days and everytime i go out people are staring.

Could it be that you're a hottie, too? And they are using the Smart as an excuse?

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by Krootie

Could it be that you're a hottie, too? And they are using the Smart as an excuse?

I'm not even going to go there. I'm not real comfortable with myself.

[NCC1701]

When I first got my car there was a period when I felt pretty overwhelmed, as you seem to feel now. After 231 days of ownership ... it has gotten down to only a few questions a week, along with obvious stares and some finger pointing while stopped at traffic lights. I've gotten used to it and don't notice it much any more. Everybody in my community has seen my car and the shock value isn't what it was, LOL

On MY second day of ownership, someone offered me $20 to pull over and let them look at my car.

[gbryers]

fpage77, if you read enough posts on this site (and in fact, on pretty much any of the smart sites), you will notice a common thread - smarts, and by extension, smart owners, gain a sort of instant celebrity when out in public. For all the numbers of smart that have been distributed here in the states, it is still a rare-enough site in most areas, and distinctive enough in looks, that it draws stares, crowds, questions and comments.
If you are uncomfortable with this, I am indeed sorry - it is one of the standard features of the car at this time. It will taper off as time goes by, though it hasn't gone away completely yet where I am.
Relax, and keep in mind that you (and all the rest of us) are the only advertising campaign that smart has in the states, and most folks are just harmlessly curious. If you are uncomfortable talking with strangers, smart makes a brochure that you should be able to get from the dealership to hand out, so that you can lessen the contact.
Enjoy!

[forestacademy]

To cold up here for question. I expect it will pick up in the spring

[Kermit]

Just think if you would of gotten it a year ago. WoW! would be it. At least a large percentage now know what it is. I'm down to maybe 3 or so people per day questioning. When I first got it, 10 was average and on a weekend.....20 wasn't completely unbelievable. Honestly, back then I'd factor in an extra hour on the weekend just to talk with people (I didn't mind most of the time). I do drive A LOT and have lots of miles on my cars which is why the numbers of people with questions are high.

Still get a lot of "pointers" too. Even today I saw a college aged girl point then jump up and down in her seat giggling and screaming all while she was driving past. This all happened at a whole 10mph.

[The Rigger]

Originally Posted by fpage77

I've had the car for two days and everytime i go out people are staring.

Welcome to the world of Smart Celebrityhood. You're one of a very small number, and we all know the feeling.

While the Smart has been on the market across the Atlantic for around a decade, remember it's only been available in the US for about a year, maybe a little more. In time as the marque gets more well-established in the US, the attention will taper off, but for the time being there are a relatively miniscule number of us on the road, so a certain amount of attention is unavoidable.

I live in a city of 400,000 and I own one of *three* ForTwos in town. I found out during the week and a half I was driving it that I have to allow an extra half-hour or so for pretty much every trip around town I make, 'cuz I'll wind up talking to half a dozen people about the car. Even the trip through the car wash before putting it in storage took two hours; the guys at the detail shop and the other customers had a list of questions that wouldn't quit.

Don't let it get to you. You get used to it after a while.