Smart Ass Cars

This is a Smart car.  Do any of you have one of these cars?  Do you know someone who has one or have you ever been inside one?

I saw this one in Lahaina, and I've seen a few others zipping around Maui.  So far, I've only seen women driving them.  My Italian roommate back in college once stated that Smart cars are perfect for women in Europe to use as vehicles for shopping.  For example, a lady can squeeze in and out of tight Parisian avenues and roundabouts while parking in all but the tiniest spots - like above.  Beware - chauvinism alert!  I'm not sure what I would think if I saw a fully grown straight man driving around in one of these.  Gianluca would rather put around in a Fiat Uno than subject himself to the endless ridicule of his peers, let alone random strangers in Milan.  Then again, he's Italian...  :)

These tyke mobiles are gas powered, get 40 mpg, go a maximum of 90 mph, and possess a laundry list of safety features.  Is this the perfect Maui mobile?

Fuel economy is very important for us here in Hawaii, with regular unleaded hovering currently around $4.00/gallon - among the highest in the States.  The high fuel prices are nothing compared to Europe of course, where Smart cars were born, but come on, this is the USA - home of giant SUV's like the Hummer and Excursion, and giant jacked-up Toyota trucks are found all over Maui.  Some of those trucks must get around 6 mpg at best, but they're fu*&ing cool!  God Bless America!  Ha!

You know, perhaps if you jacked up a Smart car with some Mickey Thompson knobby tires, painted on some yellow racing stripes, and added a couple of NOS canisters, then maybe, just maybe will Smart cars become more popular in Hawaii.  Kind of like the Toyota Scion, which in the its stock form is quite lame, as the Scion's appeal for the Hawaiian market lies in the virtually endless mods and customizations that can transform it from ho-hum to Oh Snap!

In the meantime, I'll just keep my dumb ass pick up truck.