Showing posts with label smart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smart. Show all posts

Vermont Car Show (people watching)

 
    "What's class number twenty-six?"  asked the man who had just read the official 66th Annual Vermont Antique Car Show document, displayed on the dash of my 2015 smart fortwo.  (The card read: Class #26: Display Only, special interest groups 1989-2023, not judged.)  I did not stand up from my lounge chair to greet him.  Instead, I merely said, 'not judged' from the comfort of the portable screened gazebo I'd put in the back of my stall, behind the tiny car.
 
    He walked with a stiff posture, carried around some permanently crinkled face muscles, and talked with a bully's 'searching-for-someone-who-deserves-it' demeanor.  "What's with this snapperhead?" he indicated towards my license plate.
 
    "That's related to my artwork."
 
    His sneer-scoff was just noticeable as a nose-twitch-lip-curl as he came towards the gazebo's zipper-door and said, "You're an artist.  What kind of art do you do?"
 
    I got up and said, "Like this image." As I exited the shade, patting my chest, he stared at me too long because (I think) he couldn't tell if I was holding eye-contact, because I was wearing ultra-dark mountaineering sunglasses with side-shields (which relaxed my Asperger-desire to look away from faces).  He could, however, read my smile, easy attitude, close-trimmed full-white beard, and colorful hat.
 
    He glanced longer than necessary at the abstract splash-type of shape (the color of faded-blood) on my hoodie.  "Some weird shit.  Don't get it.  I guess it's not..."
 
    I intentionally cut him off:  "New England.  It's the outline of New England."
 
    "Bullshit."  He batted my statement down with a waist-level flap of wrist.
 
    I tipped my head to the left and said, "Not everyone can see it."
 
    "Oh, I see it.  It's just.  That's not art."
 
    "Not everyone likes what I create.  That's their prerogative."  I said, turning and zipping myself back inside my bug-free shade.
 
፨  ፨ 
 
     "I would like to thank you so much for being here today.  I love-love-love that you've displayed it all.  And done it this way.  I love it so much!  It looks almost like the car might fit inside the pop-up?  Is it one of those tents that goes up in seconds?"  The energetic lady, comfortably dressed, comfortable in her middle-age, asked as she took out a phone and photographed the black-on-grey trademark logo [Quick-Set by Clam].
 
    "Thank you.  Yes, it does only take a couple minutes to put up.  The car might fit inside, but the front-end will stick out a foot or so because this is the six-foot gazebo."  As I talked she leaned inside the top-down convertible and said/asked what everyone says/asks: ...Didn't know they made a convertible; more room inside than imagined; thought all smart cars were electric; are highway-speeds safe; how much would a used one cost; is winter driving feasible... et cetera.  I answered questions and thought I recognized a fellow-Asperger's by her obvious non-conformist streak.
 
 ፨  ፨ 
 
    Not all of "us" are intentionally non-conformists.  Some of "us" are unaware of certain types of "unspoken" societal or cultural norms (pertaining to behaviors, dress, attitudes, or appearance).  "We" can't choose to intentionally not conform with something in "our" blindxpot.
 
    As an example:  I was in the National Gallery of Art in DC when a distinguished professor (whom I had previously recognized as one of "us") laid down on the floor next to a series of Giacometti sculptures being displayed on several large, shin-to-knee, coffee table level pedestals.  He then raised his voice to a shout, proclaiming that the curators were idiots to have made it impossible to see these tiny, thin, bronze artworks without sitting or lying on the floor.  Docents descended on the shouting man dressed in crumpled disheveled as if he were a member of the unhoused-population.  He calmly explained himself and was steered towards a suggestion box.  Professor Carmody's protest was not rude non-conformity; it was just that: "how to behave in a museum" occupied a blindxpot.
 
፨  ፨     
 
     Before displaying my smart subcompact vehicle at a car show, which predominantly contained trucks, muscle cars, racers, hot-rods, and museum showpieces, I thought it would be admired as something very few people here, in Vermont, were familiar with.  I was parked not far from a pristine '91 Nissan Figaro (also a class #26; even though it looks like it's from the 1950s).  My blindxpot:  I had no idea there were so many people (predominantly male) who hate the idea my subcompact car suggests by its existence.
 
    I was booed with thumbs-down and middle-fingers up.  More than one person exclaimed they thought it was visually ugly.  A man my age (red hat with four white letters) shouted as close to my face as tent-screen permitted, "WELCOME TO THE 21st CENTURY!!" (confusing; maybe he meant 20th).  It was referred to as a "nostalgia buzz-kill."  A child said, "we don't like this, do we Daddy?"  I received more than a handful of: "Well, don't you look comfy?" (oddly demeaning, but I was very comfy).  Another said in my direction (while pretending they were talking to the person they were with): "...more like a seedling-hugger, 'cause it's too small to hug a whole tree!"
 
    That last one was so good I intend to print a version of it on next year's hoodie.  Because (as regular readers don't need reminding) I am an intentional non-conformist.  While I enjoy exchanging ideas with the intellectually curious, I'm especially proud when my lack of conformity hits a nerve in conformists and their incurious comrades.
 
Don't get too comfy:
 
 

Before Driving Your Smart Car to Vermont


Thinking about driving your smart car to Vermont (or moving to Vermont with a Smart Fortwo)?

  • Premium gasoline is available everywhere.  Ethanol-free premium is more prevalent than in many other states, with the number of stations selling ethanol free in the state coincidentally similar to the number of covered bridges in the state.  (Pure-Gas.org/Vermont) (Vermont Covered Bridge Club)
  • For driving on plowed roads, in snow and ice, switch between winter snow tires (non-studded) and all-season tires, mid-November and mid-May.  Snow tires can be ordered/installed at several major retail tire shops.  (Vermont Tire and Service)
  • Due to smart's low undercarriage clearance, it is recommended not driving when snow falls, or is expected to fall, faster than ½ inch (1.25cm) an hour for more than five consecutive hours.
  • After major blizzards subside (Vermont averages 4 or 5 significant snow storms a year) all business parking lots are professionally plowed within hours.  And, the Vermont Agency of Transportation is exceptionally proficient at plowing all major and most minor roadways inside of 12 hours (the only roads not plowed, or plowed last, are dirt and gravel, Class 4 roads). (VTrans Winter Weather Central)
  • Significant potholes, irregular pavement, and semi-repaired asphalt is the rule in almost every city and on portions of almost every secondary road or two-lane highway.  Interstate highways and many "high-traffic secondary roads" have recently been/are currently being/will soon be repaved.  Drive your stiff-suspension-smart with care.
  • Parking is rarely free.  Even in small non-tourist towns meters are prevalent and their hours are extensive.  In winter months, parking bans can prohibit parking on select or all city streets.  In large cities and select towns parking in residential neighborhoods can require a resident parking pass.  (Burlington Parking App)
  • Because of tourism, Vermont charging stations are becoming more prevalent.  (Public Charging Map - Vermont)
A dangerously-unsafe habit of Vermont drivers, on four-lane highways:
  • Vermont drivers over-adhere to one never-enforced-unless-in-an-accident "law":  left lane is for passing; right lane is for travel.
  • As in almost every state, when traveling on four-lane highways, motorists are required to indicate their intent to change lanes with their turning signal.
  • Following too closely or "crowding" is as prohibited in Vermont as it is in the "down states," however, it is never enforced and never obeyed. 
  • Routinely, Vermonters will indicate their intent to pass with their turn signal, pass in the correct manner, and then—as soon as their rear bumper passes your front bumper—immediately cut in front of your car.  All Vermonters are incapable of gradually merging back across the center line and over into the right lane of travel after they are a few hundred safe feet ahead of your car (in a slow manner).
  • The most extreme example witnessed:  Driving the speed limit on an empty four-lane highway at night (no other headlights in sight); a car with Vermont plates caught up (they were going about 15 mph over the speed limit), tailgated for a few miles, so-close their headlights were hidden (less than 20 feet away) then they indicated with their signal, passed, and cut so close in front that their bumper was not visible (less than 6 feet).  [If it weren't so prevalent, I would have thought the driver was acting with malice and I would have called 911.]
  • At least 25% of Vermont drivers seem to be unaware they are dangerous drivers. 
  • When "turning-in" after passing (which is the crux of the issue: learn to merge and stop veering) many Vermonters will over-correct, cross the right white line with their tires and/or hit the rumble strip and throw up dust and sand.      



extra essays encapsulating unique Vermont insights:
The Lazy Witch Coffin Windows of Vermont

Dealer Review - Smart Center of Portland

Avoid salesman Mark Tower—everyone else is fantastic.

The best measure of a business is how they handle mistakes and problems.

Recap:  I ordered and placed a $1,000 down payment on a 2014 Smart Cabriolet on the 4th day of February 2014.  My salesman, Mark Tower, told me it would be delivered between late-April and mid-May, which was fine by me...who needs a convertible in Portland until May?

New bit:  In April, Mark told me "Wampy" (nickname explained here) would be arriving in the port of LA on 16 May.  I thanked him for his update and explained that I did not want, during dealer prep, to have a license plate holder screwed into the front plastic of my car because I intended to install a special mounting bracket.  He assured me his service department would, "never install a front plate bracket without a customer request".

Memorial day came and went.  No car.  I'm impatient; so I asked for an update and Mark responded with (and I should note, he—like almost everyone under the age of 50—only communicates by phone text) "it's a 2015 and they aren't releasing them yet.  I'll let you know when they ship it north.  If you're not satisfied you'll get a full refund".

Angry at being treated this way (and confused...how did my 2014 become a 2015?) I complained to the General Manager who immediately rectified the situation by giving me a free Smart Cabriolet loaner until my car arrived. 

Please note:  I used the past tense form of 'arrive' in that last sentence because I only needed to drive their free loaner for six weeks; I picked up Wampeter on 10 July.  I paid dealer invoice—$20,500—not the MSRP of $21,950.  And, as you have already sussed, a front plate bracket had been installed, which they are going to fix (in a week or so) by swapping the front body panel from another new car in inventory.

Mercedes Benz of Portland/Smart Center of Portland, has many professional, wonderful, fantastic people.  I worked with, and recommend working with, Andrew Plummer (GM), Dale Acelar, Crystal Barber, Ben Tait, and Mylee Burns.  I recommend you avoid Mark Tower.

A free "stand in" loaner from the dealership

I have mixed emotions.  Sorry and perturbed (to have been dealt this hand); combined with a bit of consternation (at feeling forced to—once again—gripe and complain like an ornery ass-hat) and pleased as a swine wallowing in his own ordure (at my current vehicular status).  I eliminated names to protect the guilty and the innocent.

Smart Center Portland General Manager,

          I ordered a 2014 smart cabriolet in February.  At the time, I was informed it would be built in April and delivered in late May.  As the months passed, I was informed of the status of my vehicle, its VIN number, when it would arrive in the port of LA, and when it was expected to get to Portland.

          On 23 May I received a quick note relating that since it was a 2015 model year that it was uncertain when it would be released and that I would be kept updated.

          I wrote back expressing my huge concern; I was expecting my 2014's soon arrival and was now worried it might not be the model I wanted.

          This was your salesman's reply:

"The only difference between the 2014 and 2015 Smart is a digit in the VIN.  If its not the car I promised then you will have your deposit refunded no questions asked.  I will let you know when Smart trucks the car North to us."

          No acknowledgement that I ordered the current model year—not next year's—and no explanation. 

          Is this how all customer's are treated?  If I had ordered an expensive Mercedes and the next model year arrived instead, would I have been provided full explanations or would I also just be encouraged to request a refund?

          I want to understand this mix-up.  Is it only mine or an entire shipment?  Does this happen routinely when new model years come out or is it the first?  Was the mistake made when the order was submitted or on the factory's end?  What is your best educated guess on arrival?

          I don't intend to wait until September.  I ordered a convertible in February so that I could enjoy the top down this summer. 

          I do not want to have any more dealings with that salesman; he should focus his derisive 140 character messages on young tweeters and not on people who've already bought a car or three in the past.

Respectfully,

Veach Glines

Mr. Glines,

          I apologize for my salesman's seemingly emotionless, flippant, curt and non-helpful email message.

          I have reviewed the order and determined that indeed your order was originally processed as a model year 2014 but was switched by the factory due to the changeover from one model year to the next.  I am working with the smart brand people, now, to see when we might be able to get the vehicle from the port.  I will let you know as soon as I hear from them.

          Until I can get a definitive answer, I would like to offer you a Smart convertible to drive.  Although it will not be the car you ordered, I am hoping that it would be a satisfactory short term solution.

          Per your request, I removed the salesman from your file and added a new salesman.  I have cc’d him on this message and will make sure he connects with you right away to update you and make arrangements for alternate transportation. 

Thank you,

General Manager

Yesterday I met with the General Manager who gave me a 2013 smart cabriolet to use until my 2014 2015 arrives or they locate one in stock somewhere.  Thank you smart center of Portland.

see my hopes way up there? teetering?

          Today, I was informed that my vehicle is being held in the port of LA/customs because it's a 2015 model.  According to the salesman (who I'm beginning to despise rather than just think about the same way I do all people who sell for a living: with disdain) since the 2015 models are not authorized to be delivered yet, it will not be trucked north for an undetermined amount of time.

          I ordered a 2014.  I've been told the 2015 is the same as the 2014 and that the only difference between them is a digit in the VIN number.  I'm still... what's the word? ...pissy.  That fits.  Color me pissy and skeptical (because sales guy is an idiot).

tched chickens, three un...

          This is (but shouldn't be) still considered counting one's chickens.  But...loan approved; VIN number in hand (the first 5 letters of which are: WMEEK I do naught shite ye); insurance prearranged; and not hurricane season (nothing to capsize a cargo ship in the Caribbean).  So unless—while unloading the ship or loading the truck, someone tries to carry too many smarts at one time, happens to drop mine and then accidentally steps on it—my chicken is quite successfully pecking a hole through its shell.

          Accordingly, I designed this custom badge from GoBadges to replace my factory smart-logo because, although I understand why someone would want (nay, need) to keep the emblem and model on their Toyota/Hyundai/Ford/Chevy/Honda/Chrysler/Mitsubishi in order to readily identify theirs, in a parking lot full of similar, generic, mid-sized sedans—I don't think that's going to be an issue I have to contend with.  (If you look close, you may notice I gave the snapperhead logo a teeny-tiny facelift).

Dateline: T minus 30 days

My smart car is on the ocean.  It is scheduled to dock in the port of Los Angeles on or about 16 May; add 10 days to get to Portland, and Memorial day should be memorable.

Memorial day update:  It's in car-jail.  Delivery date is now TBD.

one unhatched-chicken, two unha...


          After my car arrives, what will be the first alteration? 

          The badges—forward of each side mirror—will be replaced.

          Basic models are 'pure', cabriolet's 'passion', and limited editions each have their own.


          Mine will arrive with passion badges (in about a month) and I will immediately replace them with wampeter, which Smart Madness has custom made for me.


          Kurt Vonnegut coined the word in 1963 with the novel which begins:  'nothing in this book is true'.  Something which connects or ties an otherwise unconnected group of people together is a wampeter.

          Some salesman and loan officers; a few mechanics whom I've yet to meet; me; my family, friends and neighbors; you; the person who made the above badge, and then picked up her iphone (which has a green velvet case) to look it up and ordered Cat's Cradle using her Amazon app; other smart car owners (some of whom I'll exchange waves with in passing, others I'll exchange ideas with online, and a few others I may actually meet at the 2015 Portland smart car rally...which does not exist outside of this sentence as far as I know) — none of these people are in any way actually connected by this vehicle, this tool, this mode of transport for one or two people and an average-sized grey striped cat.  Nobody actually thinks a mystical-phantasmagorically-cosmic connection has actually been created by artfully combining plastic, metal, rubber, glass, cloth, leather, and matte grey paint, into the object which is currently sitting in the rain, in France, in a huge lot surrounded by thousands of other micro-cars.  I realize, nonetheless, that it is harmless to ponder this connection as if it actually existed.  So I ponder.  Busy, busy, busy.

build date


          I've been informed that Friday, 4 April 2014, is the day my smart is scheduled to be built.

          That's National Cordon Bleu Day (if you didn't know, now you do) and I intend to celebrate that day by eating some crusty panco chicken, ham, and cheese.      

smart font

                                                   With slanted e or without...that is the question.

Soon. Very soon.

          14 years ago the orange-splashed smart I decided against buying in Germany would've cost 11K, but wouldn't have been convertible and wouldn't have all the tech-extras of the matte grey one I ordered yesterday.  Even though the price has almost doubled since 2000, I'm quite pleased.
          Expected build-date is in April.  Delivery should be late May or early June.    

A Meme for February

Thanks to Irb at Click... Click... Click... BANG!!! for this, Use only one word meme. I send it to no one, I like to challenge my own brain (but feel free):

1. Where is your cell phone? - off

2. Your significant other? - amazing

3. Your hair? - disappearing

4. Your mother? - septuagenarian

5. Your father? - cremated

6. Your favorite thing? - fellatio

7. Your dream last night? - odd

8. Your favorite drink? - ICBM

9. Your dream/goal? - Gallery

10. What Room are you in? - Bed

11. Your hobby? - film-watching

12. Your fear? - 2012

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? - alive

14. Where were you last night? - Fringe

15. Something you are not? - wealthy

16. Breakfast? - rarely

17. Wish list item? - Smart-car

18. Where you grew up? - Midwest

19. Last thing you ate? - Fritter

20. What are you wearing? - orange

21. Your TV? - 1080p

22. Your pets? - feline

23. Friends? - strange

24. Your life? - uncomplicated

25. Your mood? - up-beat

26. Missing someone? - Gus

27. Your car? - nonexistent

28. Something you’re not wearing? - jewelry

29. Your favorite store? - Powell's

30. Your favorite color? - #20

31. When is the last time you laughed? - Lunch

32. Last time you cried? - #26

33. Who will resend this? - meme-lovers

34. One place that I go to over and over? - sleep

35. One person who emails me regularly: - dv81too

36. Favorite place to eat: - Y

37. One place I would like to go right now? - camping

38. One person I think will respond: - #33

39. One TV show I watch all the time: - Stewart

I love your smarts

Photobucket


I want. I have wanted. I will want. I don't really understand why. I rarely have materialistic desires; when I do, I just wait. After many months (or more), if I still think about the item, I buy it. I first wanted this eight years ago. Maybe I'll lose the desire in another couple years. Maybe I'll buy one next year. Maybe I'm a fool.