For years now, I’ve lusted after Smart Cars. Even before they came to America, I looked at pictures from other countries and crossed my fingers that the USA would someday have them for sale. And if not, I’d just have to figure out a way to buy one in Canada.

But frabjous day, they did indeed come to America. And next year, there should be a glut of 3-year-old Smart Cars available for sale, after the crazy people who get 3-year leases turn them back in. So I’ve started thinking more and more about these little cuties.

I decided I’m finally ready for a test drive. I haven’t done that yet, out of fear — what if I hate the driving experience? I remember thinking the Chevy Aveo was absolutely adorable, but then I drove one. What a massively uncomfortable ride, for me at least. So I’ve been holding off on the odd chance that I might find the Smart to be the same way. But I really need to do it, so I can either cement the lust in my mind, or move on to some other automotive dream (Fiat 500, anyone?).

So I ventured to the Smart Web site, where they had a form to fill out if you’re interested in a test drive. I filled out the form, being sure to check the box for “email” as the preferred method of contact (because the phone is a viper). I also filled in a field that said I would be looking to buy in 2011. Here’s what I received back:

Subj: smart Test drive request form

Thank you in advance,
The smart center Orlando team.

So maybe I’ve been mistaken in capitalizing the word “Smart” all this while? Anyhoo, not surprising to receive a form email basically saying “we got your email, and we’ll be in touch soon.” Lots of folks do it. But then, two minutes later, this arrived in my inbox:

Subj: an important message from

[three names]
[physical address / phone number / Web site / email address]

Okay, so a second placeholder email. Also with some grammar issues, and no capitalization of the company name. Is this perhaps that cute hipster thing of not capitalizing things? Am I yearning for a hipster car?

Two days later, more communication:

Subj: Thank you for your inquiry

[one dude's name / title]
[physical address / phone number / email address / Web site]

So at least this guy knows where his shift key is. But it seems that, three emails after I filled out a form saying I’d like to set up a test drive and prefer email communication, they’re asking me to now call them on the phone to set up my test drive. I’m at a complete loss as to why I filled out the form, or why I had to sit through these emails. Plus, since I’m not buying until 2011, why should I bother with having a stranger drive my car for trade-in purposes? Ugh.

I wrote back:

So do I need an appointment for a test drive? Or can I just stop by the dealership?

The next day:

Its always better to schedule some time as we tend to get busy. But if you want to just come by feel free.

Thank goodness I have my desk right here, to bash my head on. I think … I’ll just feel free to come by.

Fortunately, there are two other Smart dealerships over in the Tampa area. So if these people continue to make me a little crazy, and a test drive turns out to wet my whistle, I’ll have a variety of purchase options.

And we frequently call the car a “Snart” because of an old greeting card I remember from my college days, of a guy looking at notes he’d written to himself, stuck on his refrigerator door. One of those notes read, “I am snart.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at 10:29 am and is filed under Blog, Rants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.