Smart ForTwo - 2008 Review

I first fell in love with the Smart Car when I saw them all over Europe about ten or twelve years ago.  About 2/3 the size of a Mini Cooper, it is the ideal city car.  You can park it just about anywhere, even the tightest of spots (and semi-legal spots).  So when I heard that they were coming to North America, I jumped on the waiting list.  Two years later, they were under production and we got our Smart Car.  We purchased the convertable, since we planned on using it pretty much just around the city (Chicago).  It has been a really fun car to drive.  It does not drive as smooth as, say, a luxury car. And it certainly doesn't take bumps as well.  But the fact that it is quite peppy and gets us about 45 mpg makes up for all of that and more.

 A couple of neat little features:

1) If you get tired of the color of your car, you can take it back to the dealer and have them replace the panels for about $1000.

2) There is actually trunk space.  I have had a passenger, two dogs, and a couple of bags in it with no problems.

3) There is a little compartment on the trunk door that stores the frames that go above the windows.  That way, you can take them off and have the true convertable experience

4) Five star safety rating!

I have it in red and black, but if I go and change the panels, I'm going with yellow.  I have  friend who is going to buy one and paint the panels with his son for that ultimate customization :)

Good by for between $15k-$21k.