The Insiders MPG Information Center found some great news about the Smart cars from the Kentucky Post.
Driving, Buying Smart
| Last Update: 6/09 5:49 pm |
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Are you smart? It’s a question that begs for a test drive. The tiny car that hit the roads nearly 10 years ago in Europe is now hitting the streets of the U.S. with force. The smart center Louisville is the closest dealer for Northern Kentuckians to purchase, rather, reserve their very own smart fortwo European-made gem. With a tagline like “open your mind,” it’s no wonder drivers who are fed up with rising gas prices are opening their minds and tightening the purse strings on fuel costs at the same time. What’s so smart about a car? First of all, $4 per gallon gets you a lot farther in this coupe. The 3-cylinder “smart fortwo,” as the vehicle is named, gets 33 mpg in the city and 40-highway mpg. There are, however, other reasons other than fuel economy to be smart. “Urban congestion, parking, environmentally-friendly, inexpensive – it is the latest and greatest thing out there right now,” said Will Swope, brand manager, smart center Louisville, where nearly 100 smart cars have been sold so far. Getting on the ever-intimidating smart car waiting list is easier than you might think. Basically, you pick the model and colors of your smart fortwo, pluck down $99, fill out a form giving your name, address, etc., and then…wait. Once your name is the on the list, expect to wait about 12 to 15 months. But don’t fear the list. You also can get on the “orphan list.” At the Louisville smart center, this is the list for unwanted smart cars. The ones that, when they come in for their owner to pick up, are no longer needed said Heather Fries, smart brand specialist. Currently, there are about 150 people on the list to be adoptive car owners. But these new car parents should know that their new baby won’t hold their babies – it’s not a family-oriented car. Called smart fortwo, it only makes sense that the car only holds two people. But it seats two people comfortably and comes in three models: pure coupe (the basic), passion coupe (with a panoramic roof) and passion cabriloet (the convertible). The cars may be little but they are mighty, when it comes to their interior room. “[The best thing] is the roominess on the inside,” said Fries. “I’m kinda short, and its frustrating in drive-thrus – but [the smart car] sits up high, elevated.” The cars start out at under $11,600 and come in automatic-manual transmissions. Instead of having a clutch like the 5-speed manual transmission you may be used to, the smart fortwo has no clutch, but rather two paddles located on the steering wheel to shift with. Or you can choose to drive your smart fortwo as an automatic transmission – no shifting required. For more information on the smart fortwo and how to reserve your little gas-saver, visit SmartUSA.com. -Jessica Noll test drove the smart fortwo at the Louisville smart center. |
