An open letter to impatient reservation holders and Willy

[gatchaman]

Friends, neighbors, smart car enthusiasts...lend me your FOBs. I have been here since before the beginning, of the open reservations that is. I joined Smartusa a few months before word came out that we Americans would actually get smart. I waited with you for the day when the reservation list would open. I waited with you while we wondered how magical it would be to own such an amazing and special auto. (also saving up many shiny pennies for the down payment;)) I waited for that moment, oh when will it be, to configure my very own smart. (October 17th) I waited for the day when word would drop that my car was being built, on a boat, on a truck, and then finally oh yes unbelievable as it is, ready for delivery. (delivery by the way was finally achieved yesterday 4/08/08) Oh and that 30 day period that was in the original email...make that 69 days. Bygones.

I have to be honest with you. I was scared. Scared that the car could never live up to all the hype that I had created in my mind. I mean really what was I expecting? In my mind it was a super car. Then came the day that I went for my first test drive. WHOA! WTF! I hated the tranny. I was so crushed. I was going to cancel my reso and...oh say it with me I know so many of you have thought the same thing...buy a Yaris!!! (they are so cute though) I vented to a few close friends my complaints. I fretted. Read this forum compulsively. Then decided that I am not giving away a kidney I am buying a $15,000 car. If I hate it, I told myself, I will just trade it in for something more (retching sound applies) practical. blech

Well I picked up my super car, actually I think of him as the Stormtrooper, crystal white with a silver cell, the chrome addition is super sweet! What was I saying? Oh yes I picked him up yesterday and am in love. The tranny? Now I call it personality. This little guy performed so great on the freeway. Over 70 miles of I94 raining and windy and speeds around 75mph. I had just traded in my '01 Passat and know what stable and heavy drive time feels like. My smart felt similar. Tough. Can't wait for next winter to tackle snow.

I am so happy I stuck with my joy and got the car. Regret would have been life with the Yaris.

I was going to write how I wish everyone could stop *****ing and moaning about waiting, but go ahead. *****. I'll just be sitting in my stormtrooper smiling like the fool I am.

[Fredvon4]

Ha! another neener neener neener post.... good on ya, enjoy your new car...!

please stop in to the DDE threads (all of them) and add to the din by posting how the DDE now sez yours is DELIVERED... this is a grin...:>)

[CliffK]

Gatchaman, I picked mine up from MKE on Monday evening. I've discovered that if you are patient and accelerate slowly (which would be good for all of our driving), the tranny isn't so bad.

Interesting that yours is a stormtrooper. Mine (Blue/Black) appears to be a female, as I discovered when I was referring to "her" and "she."

Fun to drive, fun to show off; one of my co-workers saw the car driving into the parking lot yesterday and asked, "Who drove a golf cart to work?" and then saw me get out of it.

Give me a beep if you see me driving around town!

For the others: be patient; although none of us receiving the car now are truly the first to get it, it is still going to be a rarity on the streets for many months and you're still in the vanguard.

[Smartdavis]

Originally Posted by gatchaman

I am so happy I stuck with my joy and got the car. Regret would have been life with the Yaris.

I was going to write how I wish everyone could stop *****ing and moaning about waiting, but go ahead. *****. I'll just be sitting in my stormtrooper smiling like the fool I am.

Congratulations. I was driving next to a Yaris yesterday. A kid was hanging on the window pointing at me and trying to get the driver to take a look. The driver, probably his Dad, just kept a death grip on his steering wheel with a grim expression and refusing to look over at my shinny new Smart. The kid was yelling and pointing and smiling at me. A former reservation holder I suspect, and he was not loving his Yaris.

[curtis]

Although I love the Smart I also really think the Yaris in red with titnted windows looks pretty sharp. When I was over in Thailand before the Yaris was released in the US I saw so many Yaris' driving around and have kind of liked them ever since..

[Smartdavis]

The interior is a bit weird with the center console. They aren't bad cars. They're just boring. I wouldn't turn one down if someone gave it to me.

[Carnut]

"I had just traded in my '01 Passat and know what stable and heavy drive time feels like. My smart felt similar."

I guess each smart has its own highway stability characteristics. My smart was nowhere close to my Jetta. I'm happy for you. ;)

[Smart_ABQ]

The excitement builds. Congratulations gatchaman! I have the same configuration white/silver in the pipeline somewhere. DDE says Feb 09. Our dealer asked if I was flexible in the rare event someone cancels. Apparently there haven't been very many cancelations. Our dealership is so busy they are 10 days out just for test drives!

Saw one in my neighborhood so I'm getting excited all over again.

[Big Panda]

hey "gatchaman".....great story.

love the 'stormtrooper' reference too! i'm sooooooo jealous!!!!


....maybe a personalized plate that reads "Imperial"?

[stevenvillatoro]

Loved the story, especially since we have twins (white/silver/leather). Would you pleeeeeeeease post a pic with your chrome bling???

Funny you mentioned the test drive experience... I am a microcar fanatic and first-day reserver, too. HOWEVER, I nearly cancelled my order after my disappointing road show test drive. Concerns... MANY doubts... and now (seriosly) those concerns and doubts seem silly. I doubt if I'd ever want to own any other kind of car.