Test Drive a Ridiculous Car - Check!

When Lauren suggested that I add test driving a ridiculous car to the list, I am pretty sure she meant a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, or the like. I immediately thought of this:


While they make perfect sense in Europe, in the southeast U.S. they have always seemed to me to be a little...well...ridiculous. I have to be honest, I had already started writing the blogpost in my mind, and it did not look good for the SmartCar. But then I walked on the lot and fell in love. I know, I know, but hear me out. The sales rep Kevin was amazing, and I learned a few things about the car that changed my mind.


For one, it's a Mercedes. Who knew?? That just screams German engineering and good quality (to me, anyway). And for $14k to $18k, it's the most affordable new Mercedes you can buy and the only Mercedes A-class sold in America.


Another thing: they are quite safe. The 2011 models have 8 airbags, and all years are almost impossible to roll. They have a unibody design, similar to stock cars, complete with a roll bar (just in case you are part of that 1%). Imagine a giant walnut. The front and back are designed to crumple without impacting the cabin space, and if you get t-boned by an Expedition, it will just push you along.


The paint is customizable, with a great number of different "wraps" available. I would be tempted to get a new one every few months, I am certain, to match the seasons or something.


They are pretty roomy; even Matt didn't feel cramped. The only complaint he had about the space was that the passenger side didn't really go back enough to be comfortable for him, but the driver's side was just fine. It's actually pretty neat - the seat goes down as it goes back, and goes up as it moves forward.


People that own them are automatically part of a club of sorts. They are kind of...well, not an obsession, but more than a hobby. I like that. I think of the drivers as Euro-cool, if that makes sense, and that makes it even more appealing.

One thing we were a little iffy on was when it shifted gears. The car has three modes - automatic, paddle shifting, and stick shifting. It wasn't the smoothest of shifting when it was automatic, but maybe it's better once you get the feel of it or are shifting yourself.

The mileage is also not great, averaging 31 to 40 mpg. The European ones are diesel and have been purported to get up to 80 mpg, but those models are not in the U.S. yet. Something about E.P.A. standards, but I don't think anybody buys that as the real reason.

I asked a lot of questions about the car, especially about features, and I can tell you - every square inch of the vehicle was carefully designed. It's like the car version of Ikea.

This car wouldn't make sense for us to buy now, if we decide to start a family in the next few years, unless we got it as a third vehicle (along with a motorcycle, Matt would like to add). But if this were five years ago - and if five years ago they had been sold here and I wasn't in love with trucks - I totally would have gotten one. But for singles, couples without kids (there is room for dogs), retirees, etc. I think it makes perfect sense. Test drive one for yourself and let me know what you think!