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About two and a half  years ago I was driving home from work on I-40 when I saw a car like I had never seen before.  I called Rick and told him “I’m behind the smallest car in the world!” Naturally I had to catch up to it to see what it was. The only word I could see on the car was smart. That night I came home and did some research and thus began the journey that lead up to today. Through my online research I discovered that smart cars were not yet available for distribution in the United States but that they were HUGE in Europe. I also learned that there were plans in the making for smart to come to the U.S.

Fast forward about a little over a year ago and I was driving home from Bernalillo in what has got to be the worst traffic jam I’ve ever seen. This is no exaggeration, it took me 3 hours to drive the 27 miles from Bernalillo to my house. I-25 was closed and all traffic was being diverted at the Montano exit. So while fuming mad and driving 3 miles an hour I got off at Montano with everyone else and then I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was a big neon sign that said smart. “Hmmm?” I thought.  A couple days later I went back to see what appeared to be a car dealership that wasn’t open yet.

Fast forward to February 2008 – The smart dealership is open! Rick and I went in and instantly fell in love. Well, in all honesty, I fell in love – hardcore. So I went for a test drive with smart salesperson, Stacilynn, and put down the $99  deposit knowing that it would likely be at least a year before my made-to-order smart would be available.

Late last week Stacielynn called and said “come get your car”.  With our crazy busy schedule we didn’t have enough time to go close the deal until today. Today is the day the smart car came home.

If you would like to get a smart car of your very own you can learn a lot at the smartUSA website http://www.smartusa.com/ If you would like to see them in person and/or go for a test drive visit the

smart center Albuquerque

1220 S. Renaissance NE

Albuquerque, NM 87107

505.999.2500 ask for Stacielynn Miller

There it is!

Believe it or not, that’s a happy face

Stacielynn is gonna give us the run-down on all the bells and whistles

There are important things like the tow hook and the battery under the floor mats on the passenger side. Did I brush my hair before leaving the house?

More important items are located under the “service flap” which most people would call “the hood”

Fluids are under here

Rick’s turn to give it a try

I love these gauges

Finally, a “me sized” car!

This is my favorite shot. Thanks Rick

Rick in the showroom

Smart Accessories

Red Smart with bike rack

Blue Smarts

Rick getting back from his informative test drive

The Smart with Rick’s Tacoma

Loadin’ er up!

A bittersweet moment. We traded the truck for the car.

Saying “Good bye” to the Tacoma

First stop – lunch with my Mom at India Palace!

At the office