Smart Obsession (aka I've been on a waiting list for years).

[KeyserSoze]

I don't know how many of you have been in the same boat as me but being on the reservation list for the 451 Smart since last March is the tip of the iceberg in how long I've been interested in having a Smart stateside.

Cut to the first time I saw on US roads in 2002 on my commute to work in Marin, CA. The car was here on a foreign resident visa so it could only be operated on the road for 1 year. He was interested in bringing them over here but nothing ever came out of it.

Fast forward to ZAP when they announced they would start certifying and selling the 450 Smart. I called and placed a deposit on one the first day, #8 on the list if I recall. After waiting 1.5 years I got tired of their BS and cancelled my order since sales were no where in sight.

So here we are, 5 years later and the Smarts are on their way. I applaud Mercedes in taking the plunge to bring over this niche car and I'm anxious to finally have one!

[SmartCard]

ya got me beat by a few years. I think the first Smart car I had seen in person was in Banff during a trip to Alberta in the summer of '05. Kind of forgot about them for a year or so, until becoming an "insider".

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

I don't know how many of you have been in the same boat as me but being on the reservation list for the 451 Smart since last March is the tip of the iceberg in how long I've been interested in having a Smart stateside.

Cut to the first time I saw on US roads in 2002 on my commute to work in Marin, CA. The car was here on a foreign resident visa so it could only be operated on the road for 1 year. He was interested in bringing them over here but nothing ever came out of it.

Fast forward to ZAP when they announced they would start certifying and selling the 450 Smart. I called and placed a deposit on one the first day, #8 on the list if I recall. After waiting 1.5 years I got tired of their BS and cancelled my order since sales were no where in sight.

So here we are, 5 years later and the Smarts are on their way. I applaud Mercedes in taking the plunge to bring over this niche car and I'm anxious to finally have one!

Mercdes Benz USA never did take a chance
that credit goes to Penskie Auto Group, Wanted one of these puppies now since about 1998 when I saw the my first one in Germany. My wait should end in about a week. Will let you know if the wait was worth it.
karl

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

I don't know how many of you have been in the same boat as me

I almost have you beat. Saw my first smart in Europe 1999. Visited a dealership in Vienna to check on the price. I would have put it in the overhead compartment back home with me right there if i could have gotten it serviced back home.

Drove one in Italy in 2003 through the Alps. All our bags fit, no problem on the Autostrada climbing the mountains. Fell in love with the car!

Got on the ZAP $1000 list in 2005, and waited like you until late 2006. Got that back thankfully after being offered cars at $28,000 plus that couldn't be titled new in California. Zap did let me drive one from No. Cal to NYC for the NY Auto Show in 2006. Glad i didn't get that jerryrigged conversion.

Visited smart centers in Holland in 2005 after watching the smarts on my annual Euro trips. Figured out i could get a nice used one for less than $9000. But it would cost almost that much again to bring it home and make it legal.

Got on the smart USA insiders list in January 2007 and reserved on March 19. Visited my dealership today, my yellow and black with leather smart is due next week. Its been almost nine years since i first fell in love with the car. Its been a long love affair!

[BeSmart]

Met on a car rental lot in Germany spring 2001.

Drove together for a week.

Heavenly bliss.

Still have his photo on my desk...

[Karl Roth]

The only problem I see involves getting the keys from my better half
karl

[smart4ever]

We have a Subway sub shop owner here in Aurora Il that has been driving a Smart all summer. It is a blue Cabrio. How did he get it?

[Ared08]

I have been reading about them since the original Swatch cars came out. Finally got to see them in the flesh on a trip to Italy a few years ago. The dealership in Rome is a store front type building you might expect was selling ladies shoes, they had 2 in the showroom one a Brabus. Yeah, I've been on the waiting list for a while too.

[Fredvon4]

My first time seeing the Smart car in person was Late Oct 1996 on the A-3 Autobahn.... The Lil Bugger actually blipped his lights at me to get over so he could pass (not a legal practice in Germany but still used a lot)

I got over as fast as I could (the law) and the Lil guy struggled to pass in time to not drive me up the arse of a slow mover truck... I grinned and waved, he nodded a worried apology, and I lifted enough for him to complete the pass.... I stuck to him like glue for about 30 clicks until he took a different path at a drieck... I though it was a cute and practical vehicle but admittedly was not really considering getting one

I travel to Germany about twice a year

Early 07 I met a Reserve Army COL who let me use his 05 Smart for a day...I was hooked... most of you know the rest of the story

[SmartShanna]

Paris, 1998