Smart Car Hits Birmingham

Some of you may have seen a little itty-bitty car riding around town. 

It’s called the smart car. 

With high gas prices, it’s taking the US by storm. 

The Smart Car has a 3 cylinder, 70 horsepower engine and has room for two. 

Could the Smart Car be the next car you?  Decide for yourself in this fact finder report.

At 41 miles to the gallon on the highway, many people are saying yes to the Smart Car.  That’s what the Wilbanks of Hoover did.
Smart Car owner Bruce Wilbanks said, “Every time, I come out to get in it, it looks smaller than the time it did before. But it’s so much fun to drive.“
Mercedes distributed Smart Cars, part of the Penske group, now are among the top three cars that get more than forty miles a gallon.
Toyota’s Prius and Honda’s Civic Hybrid are the other two.
After spotting this car in London, Bruce knew he had to have one, but it took a while for the smart cars to come to the U.S.  As gas prices continued their climb, the Wilbanks first reserved their car online for 99 dollars.  Then Bruce’s wife Debbie, called the Smart Car dealership in Atlanta.  They were put on what’s called an orphan list for cars previously reserved but weren’t wanted anymore.
Bruce said, “So we were on the orphan list for two weeks, and then we got a call from Atlanta last week, saying we got a black convertible, if you want it, come get it.“
The Wilbanks traded in their mini-van with 120 thousand miles on it for the Smart Cabriolet, a convertible.
The Smart Car gets up to 41 miles to the gallon.  With gas prices the way that they are, this car is in hot demand, but it may take up to a year for you to get one.  That’s one of the negatives. Here are a few more. The two-seater has limited cargo space.   
Bruce said, “You could get a couple of bags of golf clubs, you could get a couple of fair size suitcases, or you could get, six bags of groceries.
Also, Smart Car’s maker recommends premium gas and Consumer Reports indicates the car has bad suspension.  On the plus side, it did just get a five star safety rating.  Knowing the pluses and minuses, Bruce loves the way it handles on the road.
Bruce said, “You don’t get blown around like you might think.  When the 18 wheelers come by, it doesn’t feel much different to me then when I was in the mini-van.“
Besides…
Debbie Wilbanks said, “We get a lot of attention and we look really cute in it. This will be edited right?“
Right.
Although they had to go to Atlanta to get theirs, Crown Automotive in Hoover is building a Smart Car showroom addition on its Mercedes dealership.  It should open in August.  The dealership says it already has a 300 plus waiting list.  As for the other car the Wilbanks reserved, it’ll be here in august 2009.  They have yet to cancel it.  By this time next year, the Wilbanks may want another Smart Car or they just might try to sell it, and make a little profit.