Heard it through the grape vine

[theguywiththelongestname]

I've been keeping an eye on the smart car since they were released in the late 1990's.

I thought it was cool when the Museum of Modern Art included the smart car into it's automotive exhibit: MoMA.org | Exhibitions | 2002 | AutoBodies - Smartcar

When Steve Martin drove a smart around Paris in that lousy 2006 remake of "The Pink Panther", I decided "I've got to get on the waiting list for this awesome vehicle!"

YouTube - The Pink Panther ---The Poor Cyclist

YouTube - The Pink Panther ---The Poor Cyclist

...by then, the smart car was making it's debut at www.smartusa.com , so I made my deposit and waited...

[Smartvillian]

I actually found out about them on a wii commercial and thought it was a cool car so I asked what it was... and now 3 years later I reserved one

[theguywiththelongestname]

Originally Posted by Smartvillian

I actually found out about them on a wii commercial and thought it was a cool car so I asked what it was... and now 3 years later I reserved one

i got totally stoked by that Wii commercial, too!

You Tube

You Tube

[Neonspinnazz]

1. My mom had an idea to get my dad one because it was good on gas. But he was discouraged by the wait time. And he did not understand the Orphan Program.
2. I saw a couple going down a road.
3. I noticed that in the Pink Panther a half a year ago, Steve Martin drives a 450.
4. In Driver's Ed., the teacher said something about buying a car.
In that evening, it popped into my brain like a bullet. And like an alcoholic would say, I'm addicted to Smart cars!

Fortunately, that day we went to the dealer for my dad was probably my main inspiration.

[angel]

Man person {we ain't married} came home and pulled it up on the internet. We looked at it and made deposit. He changed his mind. I didn't. I now have a smart that was an orphan. And the one we made the deposit on and configured is still due in and his brother will get it. Keepin it all in da family. And the man person still doesn't have one. ;) But he can drive mine.

[John_H]

A few years ago I was looking for the memory module manufacturer called Smart Technologies so I logged on to smart.com and found these amazing little cars with no US presence. I'd check back every few months and was jazzed when a local dealer was bringing them the the Portland area; before I could sign up, however, they stopped taking $500 deposits because there were problems. The problems eventually sank the effort at that time and they were later passed over by SmartUSA. Sour grapes. I was so happy to return to the Smart.com site to find news about SmartUSA and read about the hunt for dealerships. I was disappointed to be less close to the front of the line when I finally found the $99 reservation program a week or two before it went more public.

I love my Smart!

[Andiamo]

I saw a Smart in Rome in October 1999 parked on a neighborhood street. It was beautiful, so futuristic-looking - but I didn't think they would ever come to the U.S... Then I saw a sign this summer advertising the car at a local Mercedes dealership and found the smart USA website and this forum.

[Pasde2]

Started looking for a more fuel efficient car. Test drove what I thought was a tiny car (Kia Rio) Din't think it was worth the money. That lead me to the Mazda3 and the Mini. Still didn't like them, decided the back seats were useless to me commuting. Somehow ran across the Smart on the internet. Reserved and spent the next 8 months researching as much as possible about other cars remotely comparable, to solidify my decision. Although it was meant to be my primary car in summer, I have ordered winter tires and plan on driving it all year round( maybe not in frost heave season! that may be just too bumpy).

[doenut]

Originally Posted by MaybeWereCrazyBaby

So i was curious to read how everyone found out about smart cars?
I know theres been no media commercials of them, from what ive heard.
did you see one on the road, and google it when you get home?
does a friend or co worker have one?
tell us how!

Went to Europe in June, 2007 and saw them first in Germany then in Italy. I fell in LOVE! There is a picture in my gallery of a smart in Italy parked on the street with a bicycle parked on the sidewalk next to it. That just did it for me! Of course, the smart in that photo is a Model 450.

DOENUT

[Dave Van]

Followed the development of the car since day one. I knew we would not get them at the time with $1.35 or so gas....but I did want one. Then when I saw the Smarts in the TV show 'Dark Angel' I thought we were going to get them...it was still many years before I could get one. I did not put my $99 down at first because I did not know if they were coming for sure....when I saw how serious Penske was I jumped on....now we have two!