I didn't really have much convincing to do. I'm single, 25, no kids and no debt. I've wanted one of these since I first saw the concepts back in the mid 1990s (I was a gearhead back then as well). I had been cross shopping the e46 BMW 325i sedan, '05-'07 Mercedes C230/C240 Sedan, or going for broke and a new 325i as a replacement for my VUE. I put an ad up on craigslist for my VUE, and after a few responses, taking it to Carmax and getting railed on what they would give me for it, I realized that I wasn't ready to let it go. It makes no sense whatsoever for me to have 2 cars, so that threw a stick in the works.
Right about this time, the Baltimore road show was coming up last summer. I have driven the 450 smart in Canada a few years back, but I had not given it much thought or even looked at a 451. Considering how I had drooled over one for years prior, and it would likely be half as much money as the others I was looking at, I decided to go to the road show. That day (Sept 11, IIRC) came, and it was hot as hell, and I didn't really feel like going. I forced myself to, and ended up falling in love on the very short test drive. I decided that 2 cars was silly, but 1.5 could work
I came home, himmhawwed about it, and decided to put down my $99 and wait. I called my parents, and my Mom laughed at me, and my Dad kept saying "You really aren't going to get that thing are you", "You'll get killed in that thing", and my favorite "The boy didn't come from me...". I kept sending articles vie email and snail mail to them, and they came around (not like they had a choice...). Now, my mom is the one cutting out articles and sending them to me. I can't wait to drive back home, hopefully this summer, and show off my "shoe with wheels" as it is affectionately named.
Today
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