I've gotten so used to it now that it doesn't really phase me. Just did a cool 160 miles today and didn't see one other Smart even though I normally see at least 2 others per day on average. Over time....they seem to look like any other car.
That being said....last Friday evening before dark I was going on a rural highway and saw a speck coming down the road and didn't look like it was even half a lane wide so I flashed my lights even though it was almost 1/2 mile away. They flashed back....once they got to me they were waving like crazy people. Pretty sure this was the first time they had a Smart sighting in the wild. I think what makes me stand out and why a lot of people seem to point is I ride the right side of the lane (ridge running) - makes it VERY obvious how narrow the car really is.
Three comments:
- I'll second someone's comment on another thread -- the fortwo is a smaller target to collide with, so in addition to the ESP and the crash survivability, the size itself is another safety feature!
- A co-worker has remarked that he sometimes gets annoyed coming into our parking lot, seeing what appears to be an open space, and then -- dang smartcar! Heh.
- Compared to pretty much anything on four wheels, see below:
I usually see one or two on the road a day besides me... I still giggle though. From the front coming down the road behind you, this car has a strange profile.
We all experience the "huh?" factor of the roominess inside compared with the smallness outside. Just think of the Smart like Mary Poppins' handbag.
We've had ours since just after Thanksgiving '08, and my wife still makes me call her when I'm on the way home so she can watch me drive past the windows to park. The Smart is definitely one car that you have to buy if you have a significant other, because half of the enjoyment is watching someone else driving it. And if I had a nickel for each time either of us have looked at him and said, "He's so #$^%ing cute!", I would literally be a rich man, LOL. Just yesterday I suggested we call him the Snortmobile, because every time we look at him we snort in a half-chuckle because he's so cute.
Three comments:
- I'll second someone's comment on another thread -- the fortwo is a smaller target to collide with, so in addition to the ESP and the crash survivability, the size itself is another safety feature! - A co-worker has remarked that he sometimes gets annoyed coming into our parking lot, seeing what appears to be an open space, and then -- dang smartcar! Heh.
- Compared to pretty much anything on four wheels, see below:
-Rusty
(Mine's smaller -- I win!)
One of the first things my smart center was "Park in the back of the parking spot" The most common repairs they do if rear end damage because some inatentive driver Thought a parking spot was empty.
You will also find that if you line the back of your car with the trucks and SUV's their front doors will clear the front of your car and you won't have to worry about the door dings. (not that the plasic dings like metal anyway)
We have two fortwos. We decided to hold on to our 10 year old Mercedes SUV since it's only worth something like $3,000 and we travel with three dogs. We just returned from a week-long road trip in the SUV and I'm even more determined to equip one of the smarts as a "road car". The smart feels big on the inside to us too!
The SUV is great for trips, and is very comfortable. The smart's not as forgiving on rough roads, but after I upgraded to bigger wheels and tires, the difference isn't nearly as noticeable. I really can't believe the improvement in the ride and handling - 80 MPH cruising on the interstate feels very smooth and stable. (Genius 15" wheels, OEM rear tires on the front, P195/50R-15 Goodyear Eagle GT-HR on the rear).
I'm fabricating a shelf for the dogs and we'll have to pack a bit more compactly. I'm also fabricating a rear-mounted cargo carrier for bulky items. All that's missing is a cruise control for long distance runs, and we're off.
I've had my smart for four whole days now and when I'm at work, I park her facing my drive-thru window so I can (a) keep an eye on her and (b) have her smiling at us all day. I've watched people in the shopping center stop and walk around her (and all of them smiling) and had a customer come through yesterday in a blue/silver coupe and while she was waiting for her coffee, asked if it belonged to one of our partners. I was pleased to tell her yes, it was mine. When she drove off, I was still smiling, thinking, yes, that's what I look like driving down the street.
I have been taking the dealer's advice (and other people here) to park even with other, larger cars in parking places. Avoid the local bubbas thinking that there's no one parked there.
I've told several people who have commented on the small size of Tiny Red that she's a Tardis - larger on the inside than on the outside. And yes, for now she's Tiny Red. I'll wait for her to tell me her name.
Still trying to get used to where to park in the garage. Always end up with three feet behind her and at least eight feet in front! I'm looking forward to getting four bicycles out of my living room and into the garage, and I might even set up a table and chairs in there next winter since yes, my garage is heated...
Last edited by psychobeth; 03-30-2009 at 10:45 AM.
Or, you pull into a spot thinking it's tight and find you've got like 5 feet in front and behind you.
That definitely I'll agree with! It took me a few days to learn to park again!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B
...last Friday evening before dark I was going on a rural highway and saw a speck coming down the road and didn't look like it was even half a lane wide so I flashed my lights even though it was almost 1/2 mile away. They flashed back....once they got to me they were waving like crazy people. Pretty sure this was the first time they had a Smart sighting in the wild.
I love seeing other smarts! Here in Sacramento, we all wave to each other, especially on the surface streets! It's like we're family in a way! There's a mutual-ness between us, and even if we didn't know each others' names, if we stopped at a Sonic or along the street and got out, we'd talk like old friends!
I get that feeling too. After I get out of my little car, I look back and realize that I just got out of it. As time goes by, it does not look so small as before.
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