[pavlov]

Mercedes is quite active at the lowest end of the market: they produce cute microcars under the Smart brand. (I guess Smarts might not be available in the US at all, considering Americans' excess-oriented taste in automobiles.)

[pchristensen]

OK, fine. Apple makes the iPhone, the SmartCar of computers.

[thwarted]

The iPhone may be the SmartCar of computers, but it's the Mercedes of phones. While we'd all like the believe that that highly capable phones are really full fledged computers, that isn't yet the case and Apple doesn't even strongly market it as such (there's no "replace your desktop computer with an iPhone" marketing).

[vaksel]

smarts are around, but they are not that popular. I think they've been out for two or even three years here, but I haven't seen one yet

[olefoo]

I see two or three a week, but that may be a function of the places I spend my time. They strike me as tippy and underpowered. I could see using one in the city, but I wouldn't want to take one from Portland to Seattle, or to the mountains.

[swombat]

I've driven a smart a few times, both on the motorway and in the city, and I have to admit that it's really quite pleasant to drive, in town anyway.

In town, it feels really, really nimble and quick. It accelerates quickly, it parks easily, it fits into small gaps and spaces, it can turn on a dime, and generally it just feels good.

On the motorway, it's ok until 75mph or so (speed limit being 70mph here). Above that it start to feel very light on the road... 85mph was the highest I dared to take it, and it felt like every gust of wind might knock me off the road. Around 70mph, though, it felt small but steady.

On the whole, I think it's a really nice car, particularly for those who like a modern gadget feel. The Smart feels like an iPhone car, if you see what I mean. You wouldn't do your excel spreadsheets on it, but it's damn nice when you're out and about in the city.

[icefox]

Seen a few, even thought about getting one, but for 2K more I got a used 3 year old car that has a bigger trunk, back seats, much better gear box (manual 6-speed) and is overall much nicer.

[sgoraya]

Very true - In Europe, you see those tiny Mercedes everywhere. A couple of people commented that they have been spotted in the US though I have not come across one yet in California.

[russell]

It is available in the US, but it is not cheap. IIRC it's in the range of 20K.

[gamble]

Smart has been a huge money pit for Daimler. They lost billions, cancelled most of their unreleased vehicles, and had to be absorbed back into Daimler.

[Locke1689]

Fine - Porsche.

[pavlov]

I don't think the "Apple of automobiles" exists, in the sense of there being a premium brand with substantial marketshare that would be operated by an independent company. (Porsche recently became a subsidiary of Volkswagen.)

Edit -- on second thought, I guess BMW could be it. They are still independent and don't produce anything cheaper than the Mini.

[Locke1689]

Porsche works fine as long as you consider their very long history before the month or so ago where they got acquired by Volkswagen.