In real estate, we talk about Smart Homes, meaning everything from ecologically sound building practices, materials and systems to being digitally wired so that one can dial in on their cell phone and turn on the oven.

We talk about Smart Growth, environmentally and politically sensitive land use zoning and planning... maintaining greenspaces in cities, conservation neighborhood development, TND/PUDs, attractive commercial spaces without acres of asphalt.

And now, there's the "Smart Car."  They don't have a lot to do with real estate in Covington except that I'm a Realtor and now I drive one!

While we were in Europe last year, my wife and I noticed them everywhere, and kinda fell in love with them.  She said they were so ugly, they were cute!  When we got home, I did a little research and found that Mercedes would start building them for the US market and importing them in 2008.  That's all it took.  The next day, my reservation was in for the first one I could get. 

After almost exactly a year of waiting, I picked up my Smart Car this morning.  It's one of about 200 delivered in metro-Atlanta to date, and the first one - so far as I can tell - in Covington.  What a great little car!

It's actually roomy, peppy and has all the bells and whistles my big SUV had... except one.  The Smart Car has only an eight-gallon gas tank to supply the 3-cylinder engine.  But with its 40 to 50 MPG, the eight gallons should send me 350 to 400 miles!

Mine is the "Passion" model with remote keyless entry, heated leather seats, sun roof, air, auto-down electric windows, remote adjustable mirrors, automatic halogen headlights, rain-sensing wipers, AM/FM/CD, iPod plug, drink holders, "luggage" space behind the seats, and more stuff I haven't even figured out yet.

The rear-engine, rear wheel drive Smart Car is amazingly affordable, even though it's built by Mercedes to those exacting, quality German engineering standards.

Any other Realtors driving a Smart Car, or have one ordered?  I'd like to hear from you!

Maybe more Realtors should drive them!  They make you feel Smart... and kinda "Green."