Hey there, so nice to see a posting. I drove a for-four in Paris last summer. They just released one with nearly transparent panels, very iMac / swatchy of them.

There is one in Palo Alto, but the owner has it here on a one year permit. It has to be out of the states after then, as it's considered uninsurable but ok with the whatever tourist / worker / some kind of paperwork. Incidentally, there are at least twenty four smart coupe's in the bay area, several here past their 12 month approval. One blue and silver one that is always in the upper market neighborhood desperately needs manifold and exhaust service, but parts are obscenely expensive as they are basically gray market - which is black market in today's import climate.

At the SF int'l car show this week there is this vendor called ZAP that has a modificed electric smart car for sale. LAME. Or nice, sorry, but it makes it even more of a stereotypical euro bon bon confection. The smart is a legit set of wheels, not some retirement community kart. ANYWAY, venting aside, having visited the factory once, and quite a few euro dealers that have been hit up by Americano's wanting one of these cuties, and then chatting it up with the owners over here, I'm guessing you can get any kind of smart you want, but your going to need at least $10 extra in oily money and about the same for surprises. Expect to not find insurance with any US agency, unless you have a non US passport and can tell them the tale of how you have to have this car because you are such a bon vivant extraordinaire. My friend had his TVR deported, then two years later, he was investigated for INS crap. I think it's a pain in the arse unless you plan to lose at least the amount of the car just on the process of getting it here semi-legitimately.

As they're beginning to ship to Mexico, it's worth considering marrying someone with Mexican citizenship as opposed to Euro, perhaps that's more legit for insurers.

I'd love a cross blade for those rare warm days....... My favorite is the Jean-Charles de Castelbajac version, I can't find a pix online, it's camo green with some black and orange trim, but the camo is a whacked out pattern. Love it.