Field Guide to Programmers

Today's Smart looks a little different but it is basically the same car I lusted after in Switzerland back in 2000:

From the streets of Zürich...

Until you see a Smart in person, you really can't grasp how tiny it really is, especially when you see it parked on the street next to regular cars. SUVs were far and few in between when I was in Europe last. The majority of cars were about the size of today's Honda civic (or my own 97 Accord). And even then, the Smart looked like a toy!

I'm sure there is something about the efficiency of a car like the Smart, so small and tidy, that makes it appeal to programmers. I really can't explain my own obsession with this little car beyond that idea of compact necessity. I had a similar yen for the Mini, but it couldn't quite compete with the plucky spirit of the Smart. (though the Mini is a really fun car to drive)

According to the Smart USA site, you can reserve a Smart for just $99. MSRP on the base model is just $11.5K and for $2K more you can upgrade to the "Passion" model which gives you a bit more doodads.

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