I saw one yesterday driving down the road (not a fleet, just one). It sounded funny, lacking all the weight and road noise we are used to with regular sized car. I look forward to seeing more. Something fresh, finally...

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-Zack K.

http://www.maj.com/gallery/Boardmong...-Drive/si2.jpg


1983 300d Turbo (Daily Drive) -- 243,000 miles
1979 280ce AMG (Beginning extreme restoration) -- 141,410 miles
1979 Yamaha Chappy LB50 (Awating new points) -- 1411.6 miles

1981 300d Euro 4 speed -- 188,421 km -- SOLD
1979 300d Euro 4 speed (Sold to Brother) -- 257,000 miles

A Collection of w123 AMG Cars and Parts

I'm still waiting for my test drive appoitment. I read into it and the Orlando dealership was approved for a temp location at Orlando Chrysler and they are just getting situated.. Their own dealership is getting built

I just pray that Smart doesn't pull a delorean... no offense to delorean owners.... But.. Penske is already being an idiot about how he is running the show... with outrageous "doc" fees, the highest being in FL (800$ in orlando and something like 290$ in tally).. cruddy customer service and a dealer network system that is behind...

Not Penskes style..

Over in Europe, on parallel parked streets, they simply pull a Smart perpendicular to the sidewalk. They park them anywhere they want.

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Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

I have yet to get my confirmation for a test drive.. soooooo

I contacted a member on the smart car of america forum that is located in Winter Haven( next town over from me) that has a US Spec smart. Not a grey market. He said sure come on over and take a spin in it. If I like it I'll plop down the 99$ refundable fee to reserve one for me.

Current outlook is that If I reserve one today I wont get it until march '09.. I'm cool with that.. I'll just save up a lot of money so I can put a hefty downpayment on a loan from my bank for a new car.

Please don't let them con you into spending more than $15,000 on one of those pieces of junk.

That's good logic right there...and if you keep doing well in the parts biz...you'll be in good shape.

Give me a ring when you're going to do the drive and swing by the house...maybe I'll have the D running...As soon as ebay ends Sunday...and the 190D is gone, I'll have green for my fuel system parts.

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-James

'85 280GE...sold
'96 Impala SS ~ 6-speed 396
'14 Cadillac Vagon. . . . . . . . . . "Life without knowledge is death in disguise." - Hans-Peter Geerdes

Like a tuna can on wheels.....

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

This was taken outside the AMG facility in Affalterbach, Germany. The E-Class puts it in perspective.

Attached Thumbnails

 

I saw my first smart in Cincinnati yesterday, older dude w/ white beard looked like he was on a mission.

I used to ride a motorcycle, one of things I liked was the fact that when on a motorcycle, I wasn't using up an 'extra real- estate' - the motorcycle held one person - I am one person. When I take my anti-hattie Jetta to work, it **could** hold 3 more people and crap in the trunk - thats wasted resources to me (not a big waste, but one I notice).
I'd rock a smart if they were in my price range (about $300 right now =)

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

heh.. yea lets roll up in a Delorean.. that would be swig...

I might go by next tuesday.. I offered to buy the guy lunch or something since he is going to let me scope out the car longer than what the dealership would.

Do you need help on saturday with the 190D? I don't go into work until.. 4

You should see the 405 Freeway here in LA on any given day. 4 or 5 lanes turned into a parking lot. If you happen to cruise by in the carpool lane, because you are 2 or more persons in the vehicle, you'll be amazed over the fact that in all the other cars is really only one person ... usually the driver

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That doesn't amaze me at all as I see it all the time. While I'm guilty as well because my cars have a backseat and I'm usually the only one in the car, the worst offenders are the big SUV and pickup truck single commuters. Talk about waste of fuel and space.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I have a question: How can it be if "along the way the smart fortwo’s 45-horsepower, three-cylinder diesel engine emits less carbon dioxide per mile than any current production car", it still doesn't meet US emission standards??? [http://www.greencar.com/features/smart_fortwo/] I think our f*ckin' government is screwing us big time (again).

Here's the European lineup: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/12/smart_shows_die.html

Sorry, I just had to vent. I will find a way to get a cdi or an electric over here and registered, somehow. This situation is just not acceptable for me.

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'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

The govt doesn't measure CO2 emissions and doesn't really care. It just cares about CO, HC, NOx and particulates.

Not all is lost though. Clean, 50-state-compliant diesels are on the way. Later this year look for the new Jetta diesel and perhaps a BMW diesel as well. More will come next year. As far as getting a diesel now in a state like yours, you can register a used one with over 7500 miles, can't you?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

They keep saying that for years now, and every time the foreign diesel car manufacturers come close to or even exceed current standards, ooops, they put out new emission laws, just strict enough that they can't be met for another few years.

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'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k