Driving the smartcar way
Since Sept. 22, when Marilyn Egans brought home her smart car, she's become accustomed to such reactions. The tiny cars are common in Europe, but hers is the only one in Washington County
Smart" is the brand name of this line of ultra-efficient passenger cars manufactured in France for the German firm DaimlerChrysler. Egans' model is unambiguously called "fortwo."
Egans christened hers "Viola," for the paint she chose for its pop-out fiberglass panels. The color accents the car's silver structural frame, one of its primary safety features. This spherical, steel-reinforced shell protects passengers as a roll cage does in professional race cars.
The car also has anti-lock brakes and widely spaced wheels for stability, but its stand-out feature is fuel economy: Egans said so far she has recorded 35 to 40 miles-per-gallon in local driving and, on a recent 208-mile road trip, averaged 57 mpg.
The car's efficiency may vary depending on driving technique: It has a clutch-less standard transmission with six gears for those who prefer to shift manually. A single button-push switches to automatic.
Saving gasoline - and the environment - appealed to Egans. She first saw smart cars in 2002 during a trip to Paris with her husband, Michael. "They were very popular," she said and recalled how the eight-foot-long cars were often parked on sidewalks.
Egans didn't start actively looking for her own smart car until about a year ago. Finding a reasonably close dealer was difficult.
DaimlerChrysler does not market them in the United States. Zap, a company based in Santa Rosa, Calif., is the only licensed importer and they specially modify the cars to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards.
Tags: smartcar
Smart" is the brand name of this line of ultra-efficient passenger cars manufactured in France for the German firm DaimlerChrysler. Egans' model is unambiguously called "fortwo."
Egans christened hers "Viola," for the paint she chose for its pop-out fiberglass panels. The color accents the car's silver structural frame, one of its primary safety features. This spherical, steel-reinforced shell protects passengers as a roll cage does in professional race cars.
The car also has anti-lock brakes and widely spaced wheels for stability, but its stand-out feature is fuel economy: Egans said so far she has recorded 35 to 40 miles-per-gallon in local driving and, on a recent 208-mile road trip, averaged 57 mpg.
The car's efficiency may vary depending on driving technique: It has a clutch-less standard transmission with six gears for those who prefer to shift manually. A single button-push switches to automatic.
Saving gasoline - and the environment - appealed to Egans. She first saw smart cars in 2002 during a trip to Paris with her husband, Michael. "They were very popular," she said and recalled how the eight-foot-long cars were often parked on sidewalks.
Egans didn't start actively looking for her own smart car until about a year ago. Finding a reasonably close dealer was difficult.
DaimlerChrysler does not market them in the United States. Zap, a company based in Santa Rosa, Calif., is the only licensed importer and they specially modify the cars to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards.
Tags: smartcar
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