I have a new crush. This time though, it’s not on a person. I’m not a material girl, but I admit an attraction to items that are sparkly, glittery, or pink. I still love twinkle lights, chandeliers, and anything with dangling beads, (and Ewan McGregor, who, for the record, is not sparkly, glittery, or pink.)

My crush this time is very unusual for me. I’ve fallen for a car. Never overly concerned with how I get from Point A to Point B, being excited about what I drive is a new experience. Yes, the phrase “midlife crisis” comes to mind. A car cannot make me younger, but it can make me smart. 

Let me clarify. I have a smart car. That’s not a typo, the name is all lowercase. When we lived in France, we saw smart cars all over Europe. Fuel-efficient and able to park in tight places, they make sense there. Here? Time will tell. In the land of SUVs and monster trucks, the smart car is, in a word, tiny. It’s so cute it’s downright huggable. (My salesboy was cute and huggable too, but I digress.) 

Smarts are in 36 countries around the world, and just arrived for sale in the US in January. There are 72 smart centers nationwide, but you can’t just walk in and buy a car. The pre-order wait list is about nine months. I was on a “second chance” list through the closest dealership, which is in Chicagoland. Someone who had pre-ordered had a change in circumstance, and because I was not picky on options or color (there is no pink), I bumped up to the head of the list. 

I got what I wanted. It’s white, with leather heated seats and a premium sound system. That’s all a girl needs, warm buns and music to crank. Being the mom of two teenage boys who lug around guitars, bowling balls and football pads, this car is not practical. And it’s only a 2-seater, the smartfortwo passion coupe. Most of the time, it will be my smart for one.  

The smart car is the invention of Swatch (I used to have several Swatch watches) and Mercedes-Benz (I used to have several Mercedes convertibles). Well, okay, I used to want a Mercedes convertible. Smarts in the states are electronically limited to a top speed of 90 mph. I got it up to 85 with no vibrations. (Just trying it out, Officer.)   

I think the car qualifies as a business expense. Every presentation I give, I show photos of smart cars and a model smart. Now I have the real thing to show people. I should get an endorsement deal. The US smarts are 8.8 feet long, 5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide. It is so roomy inside that you don’t feel like you are in a dinky car until you notice someone pointing at you or snapping a picture with their camera phone. My older son is six feet tall and has plenty of leg and head room.  

The gas tank holds ten gallons and it should get about forty miles to the gallon. Long road trips can happen, as long as I pack light; cargo room is limited. Smart touts all the safety features, and I do feel safe in it. Again, time will tell. Smarts are made in smartville in Hambach, France, along the border of Germany. I can’t go back to Europe, but I can have a piece of it here. Ah, the joie de vivre!