And Now There Will Be Four

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
03/04/2018 at 18:15 • Filed to: Smart, unnecessary car shopping with mercedes, Miss Mercedes smart Car Girl

I really am going to be making this a yearly thing, aren’t I?

In a few days I’ll be transferring the title on the fourth smart in my fleet, then in a couple weeks flying out to pick her up! (March 17th)

Laura is a 2005 smart fortwo cabriolet. She is one of the G&K imports from Germany, like Chelsea is!

Unlike Chelsea, she needs much less work. I’ll want to get a couple interior trim pieces and give her a good detailing. Outside of that, she has 50,000 miles and I’ll be her third owner.

Why Laura? Well I’m still keeping with my current nomenclature and choosing a woman I look up to.

In the running this time was: Curie (Marie Curie), Laura (Laura Jane Grace), Laverne (Laverne Cox), and Danica (Danica Roem).

Laura won out...amusingly because once again Miss Tesla (which I’m happy that Miss Honda is okay with us still being friends) mentioned something that made me giggle. This car opens up like Laura does. Ugggh, fine. lol

For those of you not following my adventures, this will be my fourth smart...and I still have the other three (in order by year):

- 2005 smart fortwo passion coupe (First Generation: W450) “Chelsea” (Chelsea Manning) - 24,000 miles.

- 2012 smart fortwo passion coupe (Second Generation: W451) “Tucker” (Preston Tucker) - 143,000 miles

- 2016 smart fortwo Edition #1 (Third Generation: C453) “Phil” (Groundhog Day) - 4,800 miles

This means I’ll have two first generation smarts. I will likely make Laura my summertime daily driver.

Tucker

Chelsea

Phil

Current family photos

DISCUSSION (56)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:22

Eventually they will add up to one whole car!

Congrats on the addition!

Chariotoflove > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:23

You’re hopeless, you know that?

Maxima Speed > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:28

please tell me this is for a Opponaut Smart Spec Series. I will pay so much to do that.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:30

You are nuts... and I mean that as a compliment.

So when you have enough cars do they combine to make a super vehicle or something?

Mercedes Streeter > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
03/04/2018 at 18:32

Based on measurements, I officially now have two cars!

Thank you! :3

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:32

I think a Smart intervention is in order.

Mercedes Streeter > Chariotoflove
03/04/2018 at 18:33

I do!

What’s worse is that my new girlfriend enables my collecting! :D Well, Tesla did too...actually. lol

404 - User No Longer Available > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:33

Call me when you have a Smart Roadster... about the only one I’m interested in, lol.

http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/MCC_SMART/SMART_ROADSTER/700112000430171117001/index.html

We can legally import that next year...

Mercedes Streeter > Maxima Speed
03/04/2018 at 18:34

I’ll just need 4 more, then we can have a spec series!

(I’m semi-serious, that does actually sound fun!)

Mercedes Streeter > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
03/04/2018 at 18:35

Danke! <3

Oh, so that’s how I get a 9k pound towing capacity!

Mercedes Streeter > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/04/2018 at 18:37

Wait...we can? The oldest roady is a 2003. Is there something I’m missing???

Funktheduck > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:38

Canada is 15 years

Cé hé sin > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:38

I’m guessing he’s Canadian? They have a 15 year rule.

Mercedes Streeter > Funktheduck
03/04/2018 at 18:39

Ah...so I’ll get a Canadian roadster then get it across the border. ;)

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 18:44

(Cracks one open) Never change. To Mercedes and Smart cars!

(Btw, cracked open apple cider because laws, dammit! And looks similar)

Mercedes Streeter > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
03/04/2018 at 18:50

I promise to never change! <3

Lame, I have two bottles of red moscato wine to drink! :p

404 - User No Longer Available > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 19:01

Eh-xactly.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 19:02

Oh, I just love being 14. -__-

Edit: holy fuck, totally forgot that I turned 15.

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 19:19

How many more versions of Smart before you’re ready to start the North American Smart Car Museum?

Once you do maybe expanding the fleet can be done tax free!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 19:37

I’m going to be honest. I like this color combo the best.

Mercedes Streeter > Kiltedpadre
03/04/2018 at 19:55

I could probably open a small one now lol

Oh! That’s a way around my storage problem. I can just store them on the floor.

But buildings be expensive. :(

Mercedes Streeter > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
03/04/2018 at 19:57

14-15 years old were interesting years for me. Those were the years I started experimenting with women’s clothes..

You’ll get there!! :D

Mercedes Streeter > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
03/04/2018 at 19:59

I like the first generation the best in general. They’re the weirdest and the most quirky by a long shot. :)

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 20:01

I’mma be honest, I totally forgot about the fact you used to be a dude. Could’ve fooled me. Reminds me of another layer of awesomeness to your story :)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 20:31

Kinja'd!!!

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 21:43

That’s the great thing about a Smart Car museum; much less square footage needed.

On a more serious note the convertible will be great to have for summer. I keep considering looking for a cheap droptop, but I’m having trouble convincing the wife a fourth vehicle makes sense.

Tracey Kennedy > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 22:12

Is it true the power is better on model’s after 2009?

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 22:21

A neighbor of mine has a Soviet car with Ontario plates. Been there nearly eight years that I know of.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 22:35

That does sound like fun!

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
03/04/2018 at 22:43

I’m trying to decide who’s crazier. You, or David Tracy?

Doesn’t matter. I love you both :)

Mercedes Streeter > Tracey Kennedy
03/04/2018 at 23:10

That was a rumour some dealerships (falsely) pushed around. All second generation models have the same amount of power (assuming we’re talking about US spec cars), but you’ll find greatly improved reliability past 2009. 2010+ will be the sweet spot. :)

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
03/04/2018 at 23:12

At this point I fully acknowledge and accept that I’m girl David Tracy. :D

Mercedes Streeter > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
03/04/2018 at 23:15

Awe, danke! <3 My besties forget too. Sometimes I’ll bring up something overly specific and they’ll go “wait...OH! I forgot!” lol It brings a little more brightness to my days :3

Most people seem to agree that I have many layers to my story that makes me, me! :)

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 00:04

You do realize you can buy other cars, right?

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 01:14

When the roadster and fourfour become legal stateside, can we expect you to be the first to import?

Mercedes Streeter > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger
03/05/2018 at 01:20

I mean...that’s a sarcastic or rhetorical question, right? Because yeah, obviously I can buy other cars.

Since I’ve advanced my career, I’ve begun making two or three big purchases a year. Last year it was a gaming pc, some random parts for various projects, and the security deposit for a house. This year’s first purchase was going to be a Miata, another smart, or a U-Haul CT13. I didn’t find a manual Miata without rust in a colour I’d want and minimal mods for a reasonable price and the fiberglass RV market is only just now beginning to start blooming. What I did find was a convertible first gen smart cabriolet going for half its book value with only super cheap repairs needed.

I weighed waiting longer for a CT13 to show up or a Miata that tickles my fancy, though I only have a couple months before I’ll have to move on to the next big thing of 2018 (bottom surgery). So I took the rare smart convertible. I’ve always wanted a convertible smart since I fell in love with them back in 2008, so this slotted in perfectly.

If that makes me boring, then screw it. I don’t buy cars to please others.

Mercedes Streeter > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
03/05/2018 at 01:22

I’ll probably get one before they’re officially legal. “smart roadster for sale US” is a search I perform often. :D

pip bip - choose Corrour > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 02:24

awesome!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 03:33

Congrats and very cool fleet. Does any single individual in this world have more Smarts than you?

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 06:50

And there I was, about a year or 2 ago as The slammed, cambered, 2000 fart can Civic Type R-icer responding to one of your comments on FP that stuck out to me, thinking you were just another commenter but with a story to tell for that particular Countersteer story. And here we are now :P

Lokiparts > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 08:37

I still remember the first time I saw a Smart Roadster, I was in traffic headed to work, and I was behind this weird unbelievably tiny little sporty looking car. It had BRABUS on the rear hatch, foreign license plates and I genuinely had no idea what the hell it was.

Once I got to work I immediately Googled Brabus and was surprised to find that it was actually a tuning company, but with a little more searching I finally stumbled across the Smart Roadster.

I’ve gotta say I’ve never realy cared for the ForTwo, nothing against them per se, I’m just sort of ambivalent towards them... but that tiny roadster. That thing gets me all fizzy. Someday I would love to have one of these things, they are just too cool.

I wish I could have gotten a picture of it, but this was literally 10 years ago and I don’t think my flip phone even had a camera.

GeekGirlKatie > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 11:33

Just when I finally caught up with you by getting a 3rd car! Craigslist here I come!

Funktheduck > shop-teacher
03/05/2018 at 13:24

“Neighbor”

shop-teacher > Funktheduck
03/05/2018 at 13:51

I’m not into soviet cars, but yeah :)

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/05/2018 at 14:56

Why not? :D

Mercedes Streeter > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/05/2018 at 14:57

I’m actually not sure. The guy I bought this smart from had three (two that ran and a third that’s a “glider” that was pulled from the factory floor before it got an engine or electrical wiring), but four?

Mercedes Streeter > GeekGirlKatie
03/05/2018 at 14:58

You have three!!!? I didn’t know! What do you have nowadays? :)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 15:11

I mean I can see having a bunch of cars, and I kinda understand having all generations of one car, but now you’re acquiring replicas of cars you already have? I just don’t really get it. Redundant vehicles just doesn’t make a ton of sense to me. A smart car and an F-250 with a custom ramp so you can drive the car into the bed? Esoteric and mostly pointless, but I get it. Parts cars? I guess I can get that. But multiple temperamental mostly stock Mercedes economy cars is an odd decision.

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/05/2018 at 15:58

Now that I have every generation, I’m seeking different significant variants of either the third or first generations. I’ve always wanted a convertible smart since I first fell in love with the brand, but never was in the right place at the right time to get one. Until now, I’ve had three coupes.

To complete the collection, I’ll need:

- A first gen diesel (I’m making an exception to my generation rule here because the oldest second gen diesel is still 15 years from being able to be imported)
- A first gen forfour (see above: 22 years until a 2nd generation forfour can be imported).
- At least one Roadster.
- Crossblade.
- At least one concept vehicle (not likely, but one can dream, right?)

I am very willing to admit that my choice in car collecting makes little sense. Owning a single smart makes little sense as it is, let alone multiples. Though, honestly I don’t really care. lol

Unless prices fall on diesels, obtaining the rest of the smarts on my bucket list will be extremely difficult, so next year I may branch out into other brands I’m interested in (though not nearly as obsessively), like Mazda!

Funktheduck > shop-teacher
03/05/2018 at 16:58

That’s exactly what you tell the feds

shop-teacher > Funktheduck
03/05/2018 at 17:41

I was going to take a picture of it on the way home, of course it wasn’t in the driveway for like the third time in eight years :)

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Mercedes Streeter
03/05/2018 at 18:29

OK, you have rationalised your collection. I don’t think we are allowed to question your taste any further :)

GeekGirlKatie > Mercedes Streeter
03/06/2018 at 14:44

I had to trade in my Honda Civic about a year ago to get something bigger since my kids are now 10 and playing sports. So I got a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and at the same time I got my partner a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. Recently I inherited a 2002 VW Beetle from my step dad after it had pretty much sat for almost 5-6 years by only being driven once every 2-3 months. It was in horrible shape when I started working on it.

I actually finally got off my ass and started my own Kinja page which I will be going over the restoration of the Beetle and the work I do on friends and family members cars. Here’s the link to the first post about it with also introduction about myself https://geekgirlkatie.kinja.com/a-new-project-after-starting-a-new-life-1823498705 . Sorry if it’s a bit long winded.

Mercedes Streeter > GeekGirlKatie
03/06/2018 at 16:21

OH MY OH MY! You have a lifetime follower!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mercedes Streeter
03/06/2018 at 16:56

Congrats on #4!

Tohru > Mercedes Streeter
03/15/2018 at 02:13

I know you enjoy hoarding them so much, but the next time you get a line on a cheap one could you hook an Oppo up? My malaise barge only gets 25mpg, and I’ve always had a soft spot for those smarts.