Here in NYC, they'll figure out a way to make them cost $40,000. They'll be hip, exclusive cars, that you custom design from a desk in the corner of the MB showroom. I can see it now, 20in rims, brembo brakes, liquid metal paint..etc.

I've had two BMW Isetta 300s (smaller than a Smart) that I used as my primary cars for years. I hope to be one of the first to own the new version Smart when they arrive in the USA, even though they're a little larger than what I was used to. Hehe.

BMW Isetta

There is no pleasure greater than pulling head-on into the curb to park between two parallel-parked cars.

Steve Villatoro
www.stevenvillatoro.com
“An enlightened guide to small business mastery.”

One of the Boulder Import Dealers has a couple of Smarts on the lot, and I seen one occasionally around town.

When I was in Germany last fall I saw lots of Smarts, and yes they do park them perpendicular to the road and can literally park three in the space of one typical German sedan. There may be parking meter issues if Smarties get creative.

I first saw one of these in Germany several years ago- and now, after all this time, they're finally arriving in the US. When it comes to cars, the US certainly can't be termed cutting edge, can we? Just another reminder of that, if we needed one.

I think they're really cute- I even toyed a bit with the idea of getting one. But there's no way I would need two cars... I'm just being mentally self-indulgent. Sigh. Maybe I'll talk a friend into getting one and then see if they'll let me drive it a little. hee hee.

The smart car definitely has its merits, and as a niche vehicle it will satisfy various people for different reasons. All you have to do is look up smart.com to see the benefits of a micro fuel-sipping vehicle. However, I suggest that it should not be considered too lightly for an impulsive or inexperienced buying decision. Don't get swept up by the hype; you might disregard those things you value most in a car that simply cannot be met by the diminutive smart.

I'll illustrate, by way of something different, how a fashionable thing can appear revolutionary and better than it is: Hatchbacks are gaining popularity and seem to be the thing to get. Why not? Lots of storage by volume and a big, wide opening that you can access. But have you taken stock of the benefits of a traditional sedan's trunk? Indeed, I suspect that a lot of new car shoppers have forgotten... It has a longer floor space, so you're not stacking items up. It has privacy and security because of its solid cover. It is insulated from the cabin, so you don't need to heat or cool the cargo volume. The rear windscreen is simplified, without added wipers that can fail, nor cost you a bundle to replace an entire assembly for merely a single broken sub-component. And finally, trunks are less likely to develop leaks.