In search of SMART Part 1

Ok so I have been driving Marie nuts talking about the new smart cars. As gas prices here on Vashon Island soar out of control $4.09 per gallon today its time to get serious about reducing our fuel consumption. In this business of real estate we do a fair amount of driving both with clients while showing houses and alone running around contracts and driving to look at peoples homes. Even though a Smart car is a two seater its a great option for us as an island car and it looks cool in a nerdy sorta way.

Right after we test-drove the Smart car at the Green Car Co. Marie and I set off in search of the Smart car dealer.We pulled into a number of other car dealers thinking maybe they might have a used one on the lot. Not a bad idea but no luck…..well duh its brand new it just hit the streets a short time ago. We really had a lot to learn about Smart cars. We had little luck that day and decided to head back to Vashon and our home office to do some research online. My first stop online was http://www.smartusa.com/ this is the official website and from there I learned that these were really like brand spanking new….nobody has em yet. You have to sign up for a reservation program and pay $100 to be on the reservation list just to get a test drive.
Ok so this was all seeming very crazy to me I just test drove a 2004 at the GCC and I didn’t have to pay $100 bucks I could have bought that one and drove it home and now online it says the wait is 18 months…..all very confusing.

Here seems to be the deal:

This is my take on it anyway its what I am piecing together. Once upon a time This company Zap (maker of the Zebra) had a dream and a deal to import the Smart car to the U.S. Unfortunately for Zap, that plan didn't work out and Smart's parent Daimler ultimately did a different deal with Roger Penske to be the U.S. distributor for Smart. Zap decided not to take this lying down and ultimately filed a lawsuit in 2005 against Daimler (then DaimlerChrysler) alleging the German company interfered with their business (need more background? click here). So that’s why there are a few older models apparently with a different engine then the 2008 model that is coming out right now.
You can also find Smart cars up in Canada. Oh yeah they have had a diesel version since 2005 it get 90 mpg and runs bio diesel with out doing any type of conversion. There are of these little beauties for sale on craigslist and I was stoked thinking I would just go buy one from our neighbor to the north. Not so its my understanding that its impossible to bring it in….no strike that you can bring it here drive it here but you can’t own it or register it here. I can’t help but think how sad it is that we have to struggle and fight to bring the cleanest burning, most economical vehicle in the world to the US and be able to own/register it here. It should really be the other way around… anyone who wants to drive a vehicle that averages under 15 mpg should have to justify why they need to waste all that fuel. Well its late and I have a big real estate day tomorrow. Things really are heating up here on Vashon we signed around 2 deals today and have another offer to present tomorrow. If we can get a few deals closed maybe Marie will let me do more then test drive a Smart car……one can hope!