Smart Car in Northfield

SmartCarNorthfield.jpgI noticed this Smart car parked outside the Grand Event Center a few weeks ago and didn’t have my camera ready. Today, I caught it on film…or in pixels.

I saw my first Smart Car a little over five years ago. My family and I were traveling in Italy and we saw one pull up in front of the sidewalk cafe where we were dining in Siena. At first I thought it was some kind of experimental vehicle.

Later, when we were in Rome, I saw at least a dozen of them. I was really impressed that they were about the same length as a motorcycle and so could park perpendicular to the curbs, basically taking up half the space of a typical car.

If you haven’t seen one up close yet, keep your eyes open for this one. Apparently, it’s in Northfield, at least now and then.

Do me a favor, if you see the driver, ask about the mileage.

3 Comments

  1. Patrick Enders said:

    I can’t help but suspect that the main appeal of the Smart is the visual/personal statement that it makes. According to the company, the little thing is only supposed to get 34 mpg city / 41 highway.
    http://www.smartusa.com/smart-car-faq.aspx

    We already get 36-37 on the highway in our 1999 Toyota Corolla, and it’s a four door sedan.

    If you’re looking for fuel economy, a hybrid, a diesel, or an electric golf cart would seem to make more sense than the Smart.

    November 3, 2008
  2. Gilly Wigley said:

    I have seen a few smart cars around St Cloud.
    bUt I remember when Sean O’leary first told me about them. The crash tests that they’ve done are pretty crazy.

    November 3, 2008
  3. Peter Millin said:

    Smart cars originated in Europe where they make a lot of sense. Cities tend to be more densely populated, roads are narrower and parking is a real hassle.

    Smart cars will make sense in larger cities here. Beyond that I am not sure if I want to sit in them in a windstorm or winter storm on 35W in MN.

    November 3, 2008

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