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Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. has manufactured what it has appropriately called the “Smart Car.” Although the car doesn’t do math equations or speak another language, its abilities are catching the eyes of many people.
The car, which runs about 43 miles per gallon, is extremely fuel efficient and as Brian Menard, president of Reliable Exterminators Ltd., Toronto, said, it has saved his company money on fuel costs. And with gas prices in Toronto soaring to about $3.50 a gallon, a fuel-efficient car may be the solution.
“How do we address these rising fuel costs? They are going to keep going up,” Menard said. “Let’s face it: If fuel costs represent about 10 to 11 percent of overall cost, and if it goes up 10 percent, it whacks off about 1 percent of your bottom line, of your profit. You don’t have a lot of control over (gas prices) other than looking for other options.”
As Menard’s other options started running out, he stumbled upon another one.
“Someone suggested I try one of these, so I did,” Menard said of the Smart Car. He ended up liking the car so much that he decided to order more, but because of the popularity of the cars in Europe and Canada, there is a six-month waiting list.
“You have to drive it and check it out,” he said excitedly.
Not only has the car slashed fuel costs — Menard believes the car has saved him more than $300 a month — but it also has allowed his service technicians to serve their customers better in crowded areas in downtown Toronto. Menard commented that two of the Smart Cars can fit into one regular parking spot, which makes parking in the city much easier.
As for how his technicians responded to the vehicle, Menard said the car is very popular with the workers.
“It’s not meant as a road warrior. Right now, it’s kind of a novelty; everyone fights for it, but it’s a convenience for the technicians. It’s a great marketing piece too. Everybody wants to hop in and go for a ride.”
Priced around $13,000, the car takes about $13 to fill up its almost 6-gallon tank. And as for how smart the car is, it almost has a mind of its own. “It’s an automatic standard,” Menard said. “You can shift, but if you’re kind of slow, it will shift for you. It really is a ‘smart’ car; it thinks for itself.”
Like car, like owner.
The author is a contributing writer to PCT magazine.