Why I bought my smart

[Karl Roth]

Way back in the early 60s my uncle drove up from Florida in an Issetta to visit us in Middle Village in NY. He did things like sail across the Atlantic by hiself, knew he was cool, my introduction to alternatives.
Spent good chunks of my life living overseas according to my kids (downtown is where people talk funny) folks drive something much smaller than my first street driver a 64 Chevy Biscayne wagon three speed on the column cable operated overdrive. It did have heat. Small bore machines still always peaked my interest. Saw my first smart in 1998 in Germany and it got a spot in the garage in my heart that would probably look like Leno's "if" I had the bucks.
Retired now children grown having children of there own. The whole posse consists of my wife and I 99% of the time. (military retirement means you are free to seek employment to support yourself) both commuting to work a short distance from home. Lots of time spent alone at the wheel not hauling much more than a grocery bag. My spouse a Rowan Atkinson fan always loved the Minis that played a role in his Mr. Bean character.
Fast forward to: put a deposit on on a new smart car oh yes. New shiny don't have to shift yourself heated leather AC that was enough for her. I thought well should be fun for me as well with the paddles and such. Why not. Then the waiting started. again this time with a fuzzy end date...
My biggest worry at this point was that the dealer would charge some ridiculous (the local Honda store calls it market adjustment) surcharge that would force me abandon my choice and wait longer. That didn't happen and the little buggy has joined the fleet. So far exceeding expectations for me.
karl
no not a rational choice but one from the heart

[Smartdavis]

I had seen the Smart in Europe (and in some movies), and I thought it looked like fun. In December there was an article in the paper about the car and it described how it was going to be available in January. That was news to me. It gave the measurements of the car and said it was the shortest car to ever come to America. I took my tape measure out to my garage (which is only really a half a garage) and discovered to my delight that the car would fit within an inch. I made my reservation that day at first thinking a cabrio would remind my of my college days when I drove a rag top. I still had never test driven any of them. I thought I would have to wait until summer and resolved to patiently wait, but I found this forum and discovered the word "orphan". That really got me excited. I spent the next several weeks camped out at my dealer until a car became available. It was a passion not a cabrio, and I took it for a test drive, and decided then and there I had to have a car now. To heck with the cabrio! The dealer treated me great. Buying the car was not a rational choice for sure. It just puts a smile on my face every time I drive it!

[4-2NV]

No rational reason. "Because I can" I guess is the best answer to why adding to the fleet. First on the street with something really new and different has a real appeal to me and usually those things aren't affordable. Provides new things to learn and plenty to talk about and play with.

The MINI was one of those few that was affordable and I got one right away. It fulfilled all those desires and 5 1/2 years later it is still in the fleet.

Life is too short to drive boring cars.

[prm1177]

Bought mine because for most of the time, it's just me in the car. I started to feel a little guilty driving a 2 1/2 ton SUV around by myself. So the Smart is for general use and the SUV for when I really need to haul goods or people.

[MPrice2984]

I've been driving for 40 years and have always owned the odd ball cars or the cars that are not recommended. I bought a Renault R15 in 1972 and put 100k miles on it in 2 years before trading it. I commute to Chicago 58mi each way everyday and fuel prices are a factor. I rented a 450 for a few days and drove it back and forth and it worked out fine. The smart will replace a 02 Accent that has had an almost trouble free 200k run. Mercedes is to be commended for having the courage to sell a micro car here, there are other manufacturers that have them with no plans to sell here (like the Toyota iQ or Mitisubishi i). Even in Chicago I don't expect to see one around every corner and that's a plus!

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by MPrice2984

I've been driving for 40 years and have always owned the odd ball cars or the cars that are not recommended. I bought a Renault R15 in 1972 and put 100k miles on it in 2 years before trading it. I commute to Chicago 58mi each way everyday and fuel prices are a factor. I rented a 450 for a few days and drove it back and forth and it worked out fine. The smart will replace a 02 Accent that has had an almost trouble free 200k run. Mercedes is to be commended for having the courage to sell a micro car here, there are other manufacturers that have them with no plans to sell here (like the Toyota iQ or Mitisubishi i). Even in Chicago I don't expect to see one around every corner and that's a plus!

Give credit where credit is due, Thank you Penski

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

Give credit where credit is due, Thank you Penski

Karl, understand what you are saying but without the MB engineered US spec 451s there would be nothing for Penske to import. Shouldn't they get a little of the credit?

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by jwight

Karl, understand what you are saying but without the MB engineered US spec 451s there would be nothing for Penske to import. Shouldn't they get a little of the credit?

Don't want to take a thing away from smart and all the Daimler resources behind them. MB USA the company here in the USA that exists to import and distribute MB vehicles in the US deserves a raspberry and nothing more "if" I have my facts right.
karl

[mefam4]

an inconvient truth, european vacation and excess cash are the reasons my wife and i both ordered. just bought my son a h3 for graduation and felt a bit guilty. as empty nesters, we are alone or together most of the time and i plan on keeping one of our big cars as a backup. spent more on my sons high school graduation present than both of these will cost. i also plan to waive to him every time i pass him at the gas station!

[skyzdlimit59]

Saw the smart in Rome in 2006 and fell in love. I have never been much of a "car" person. As long as it got me to work without worry, it was fine. My husband has bought my last 3 vehicles because he just cared more than I did.
When I found out the smart was coming to the US I reserved the first day - 3/19 (my birthday is 3/20) and called the $99 reservation fee my birthday present to myself. After approximately 32 years of driving I have finally found a car that speaks to me. It was never the promise of gas mileage, never the promise of finding a parking spot; it's because I love it and it suits me. Sold the Yukon XL (much to my husband's dismay) and plan on taking a picture of it, sitting next to his GMC 3500 crew cab diesel truck (a dooley). I pick it up Thursday.