Day 14: Driving A Smart Car

Gas Prices Putting It In Park On Day 14 of Putting It In Park I break our rules and drive. What would you do if someone handed over Smart car keys?

by Tiffany Craig

Published: Wed, July 23, 2008 - 5:30 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, August 11, 2008 - 3:42 pm CST

Two full weeks of Putting It In Park and we are getting Smart!

Photographer Arnell Hamilton and I have tried a variety of way to get around town this month without buying gas.

On Wednesday, we got in a crunch and accepted a last minute offer that seemed "almost" perfect.

Will Fusaiotti owns chicken finger restaurants and a gas powered Smart car. "It's a little scary on the Bayway, coming out of the tunnel. We got it up over 80. It's the slowest car on the market from 0-60 right now."

His car is a driving billboard for his chicken business and gets more attention than normal.

I get in without a problem. "You just can't help but smile when you get in this thing. It's hard to be in a bad mood when you're driving it around. It definitely helps."

Arnell is 6'9" and struggles into our tiny ride. "There's no way in the world." He squeezes in and we are off.

Day number 14 of Putting It In Park is driving the chicken Smart car.

The Smart is a two-seater and I have to drive because Arnell is shooting the video.

I know I'm breaking the rules by driving but how stupid would I be to turn down a test drive?

Mercedes-Benz makes this car and it ranges in price from 12,000 to 16,500.

Will says his gas mileage is lower than what he read on the website. "They advertise 41-51 miles a gallon. I've been getting 32-33."

When Will is on the highway, the Smart can get more than 40 miles to the gallon.

He ordered his car online and paid $99 dollars for a reservation. He started driving it in March 2008.

You can get more info about Smart cars by clicking here.

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KxVx Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:45 am

Yeah, think day 14 so far has been the way I’m going to save on gas to go to work….Now I just gotta get Mr. Foosacklys to let me borrow his car until I save enough money to buy my own!

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:39 am

Then again, maybe she found some guy with a truck that runs on horse manure. Wonder what that exhaust would smell like…....

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:37 am

Maybe a chariot will pick her up and drop her off at work.

KxVx Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:29 am

Goodness! Riding a horse would be more dangerous than riding a bicycle to work! And unlike a bicycle, you can’t just chain your horse to a post for the 8 hour workday!

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:07 am

Hmmmmmmmm…... Day 15 promises real horse power…... Anyone tried to follow any road apples in West Mobile this morning?

KxVx Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 8:38 am

He should have just gotten a Mini Cooper, it seats 4 and has the same fuel economy (32 city/40 hwy)!

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 8:24 am

The good thing is that if it should break down, Arnell could just put it in his pocket and walk to work.

Greg Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 7:56 am

Too bad a diesel Smart isn’t available. Mr Fusaiotti could convert it to run on cooking oil. It would really smell like a chicken restaurant on wheels.

mjholmes Says:

Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 9:41 pm

Thanks for bending the rules a bit, Tiffany. As a fellow Smart car owner (May 2008), it’s good to see a segment on it once in a while. I’m not sure where Will saw advertised 41-51 MPG unless he’s thinking of the grey market diesel, whose 0-60 times are double the 2008 gas version. Official EPA is 33city/41hwy, and I get close to that in traffic, gunning it to a red light along with everyone else…higher (40/45) if I ease off the pedals. Still, the personality of the Smart is more of a draw than MPGs; it gets great mileage and is more fun to drive than anything else in its price range.

For the record, you didn’t buy any gas so you didn’t break a rule. Maybe I’m biased. Thanks again for your “Putting it in Park” assignment; everyone in the world needs to re-think their needs and save gas however they can.