Let's get SMART Tulsa

[Trent]

I thought that TulsaNow should know about this opportunity (I'm not affiliated in any way):

Dear Tulsans:

I think we each share a desire to bring business and energy to Tulsa.
Jackie Cooper Imports and I are writing to ask for your support in our
effort to bring a smart car franchise to Tulsa.

Mercedes and United Auto Group have recently announced plans to finally
bring the smart car to the USA. Over 1100 companies are competing for
just a few dozen distribution points nationwide.

Let's put Tulsa on the map!

I'm writing to ask each of you to sign up at
http://www.smartusa.com/index.html
to become "AN INSIDER" to receive periodic updates. Just enter your
contact information and check "OTHER" as source of how you learned about
this. Smart is tracking sign ups. We can get noticed.

AND THEN ASK EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN TULSA TO DO THE SAME!

Let's bring smart to Tulsa!

Remember when all of us in Tulsa rallied to vote Tulsa Zoo "America's
Favorite Zoo?" Imagine the smart VIPs suddenly being overwhelmed by
interest in smart coming from Tulsa! We can do it!

Let's get Tulsa on the map for a Cooper smart franchise! Can I count
on you??

[Rico]

If this cause were just to get the franchise.... and not put it in the pocket of Mr Cooper...

You would have my support 110%

I notice you have said you are not "affiliated in any way"

Who wrote the letter you have posted below..?

Does Mr Cooper also have such an effort in the works for his OKC franchise..?

[Trent]

Hi Rico,

The letter was forwarded to me so I didn't know if it was proper to cite the author. I just copied and pasted. I actually previewed and then removed the author just for safety's sake. I don't know if the original author is affiliated with Cooper or not but I would say not.

I'm not sure if he has the same thing going in OKC.

I just saw it as a way to see these cool little cars come to town. I have seen one in person and really like the design.

Moderator, if this is considered advertising then pull it. I'm not a SPAMMER and don't want to be considered one here.

-Trent

[mdunn]

id like to see a LeCar dealer in town!

[rwarn17588]

I hope they fixed the transmissions of those smart cars. Car and Driver road-tested one out in the Oklahoma Panhandle (no lie) and gave the tranny a big thumbs-down.

Let's see ... here's the article:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/9295/pumpkin-rollers-in-no-mans-land.html

[iplaw]

Le Cars...I think they sell them with extinguishers as a standard option now.  Maybe that's just in France.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

I hope they fixed the transmissions of those smart cars. Car and Driver road-tested one out in the Oklahoma Panhandle (no lie) and gave the tranny a big thumbs-down.

Let's see ... here's the article:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/9295/pumpkin-rollers-in-no-mans-land.html

The beaver eating a cow chip is awesome.

[Johnboy976]

I will do my best. We've succeeded in beating online numbers before. I'm sure we can do it again.

[Trent]

Just out of curiousity is there any car dealer that I could have mentioned that would not have gotten the "put the money in the pocket of" response?

I know nothing about Cooper or any of the rest but it seems like they're all about the same to me.

I just saw an opportunity for something kind of cool to come to Tulsa, nothing more.

Oh and I drive a French car, there's no shame in that either.

-Trent

[Ed W]

I have to wonder how successful the Smart Car will be once the Chinese auto manufacturers enter our market.  They're going to torpedo the Koreans just as the Koreans torpedoed the Japanese by selling a comparable product at a far lower price.  And if Smart Cars are priced roughly the same as a mid-range American car, the Chinese just may yank the rug out from under them.

Don't misunderstand me.  I'd like to see our country move toward energy independence by adopting more fuel efficient vehicles, along with government policies that promote reduced dependency on petroleum-based fuels.  I'd like to see individuals decide that giving their money to nations that promote killing Westerners is a form of insanity.  I'd like to see local communities based on pedestrian standards rather than motor vehicle standards.  And I think that the Smart Car is a step in that direction.

But will it work?

[AngieB]

quote:Originally posted by Trent

Just out of curiousity is there any car dealer that I could have mentioned that would not have gotten the "put the money in the pocket of" response?

Actually, for me, the only car dealer you could have said that I wouldn't have a problem with is Jackie Cooper! They've done a great job with the MINI dealership and I would expect they'd do just as well with Smart.

[rwarn17588]

I question whether the Smart Car will be successful, period. It has enough shortcomings even without Chinese cars in the U.S. market.

The Smart Car is too small for many drivers to ever consider, especially on the crash-worthiness issue. There's the aforementioned transmission problem. Its mileage is good, but not better than hybrids', and not much better than the low-priced Toyota Echo.

When I saw in Car and Driver that the dinky thing was getting just 50 miles per gallon, I thought: "Why bother?"

[T Badd]

quote:Originally posted by mdunn

id like to see a LeCar dealer in town!

Funny you should mention Le Car. I graduated High School with Chris Nichols. Despite the fact that his dad ran the dealership, he drove a Le Car until after graduation. We used to push on the fenders and ask if they used Coors cans for the body parts. He could get that thing up on two wheels, though...coming into the Union HS parking lot. There were a pair of twins (Ricky and Randy) who had a pretty bad-donkey little Le Car tricked out with ground effects and everything. Guess it was the early '80s version of pimping out these rice-burners today.

BTW...I think those Smart cars are pretty cool. I'd probably drive one, if my commute wasn't 100 miles a day. I'd save a ton on gas, though.  I was particularly impressed with the video of the crash testing.

Smart Car crash tests