I actually drove a Smart last weekend. It's a very clever little car, but I thought it was priced about $5000 too high. The only thing that struck me as somewhat 'cheap' was the service port in the front being tethered on as opposed to hinged. The upholstered dashboard was pretty cool.

The transmission is a bit quirky...you learn really quick to 1) use the manual mode, as the automatic mode is really rude and jerky and 2) to lift throttle right before you upshift.

It handles well around town, and on the highway feels like a larger car (for better or worse).

I can definately see the appeal, and it's definately a niche car. My HCH is way more practical for my lifestyle, however if I lived in a highly congested city with no parking, the smart would be a dream come true.

Unfortunately I was told the waiting list is 2 years out right now...but you can reserve one for $99