Everett Burton's Smart Car
You may look twice when you see Everett Burton drive by in his sporty, new 2008 Smart Car. Burton ordered his car in November 2007 and patiently awaited its arrival in July.
The Smart Car is in demand because of the high-priced fuel economy, often leaving buyers on a waiting list. Smart Car dealers only receive 30 smart cars each month.
"I expect this to change, though, as they have only been on the market here since January," Burton said.
The Smart Car is built by Mercedes-Benz with a three-cylinder, 70-horsepower engine that gets up to 45 miles per gallon. It can be driven as a manual shifter with the paddles on the steering wheel or as an automatic.
You might worry about safety in such a small car, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated it with high marks in all safety categories.
Everett says, "It rides a bit rough, but it handles great."
It also makes for a good conversation piece.
Credit: NASA/Sean Smith