http://tinyurl.com/2knlh

A few of us from NewYorkMINI.org and PhillyMINI (yahoo group) were selected to drive the new Mercedes Brand: SMART.... LOL what a silly little car

Enjoy the Pics... note to self... if your directons include a Starbucks, everyone's on the same page

Mike

 

What's the story behind all the Target logos? Were they sponsoring the event?

Also, who put up the signs in the second picture from the MINI communications kit? Someone in your group or someone from SMART?


Can you share a little bit about the test drive?

 

Great pics!
My gallery from the weekend is up HERE!!!

The cars are covered in Target logos because they hired us to drive around The Hamptons to promote their "Bullseye Inn" store they opened in Bridgehampton.

Silver02CooperS is the culprit who put the cards in the SMART's window. All 4 cars were driven by MINI owners so we had to promote the MINI to people who were interested in the SMART.

 

Here's how i described the car to the people on http://www.newyorkmini.org...

They were, um how can i say this, Different. Mercedes needs to work on the shift program on the tranny. The car (in auto mode) wants to operate around 2000 RPMs. As GMINI03 can attest, these cars DO NOT perform under 3000 RPMs. So we used the auto stick mode 99% of the time, leaving it in a lower gear.
When stopped at say a red light, the car will roll back, and when the light changes, you have to floor them to get them to move. And forget doing any fine movements with them! They either back up really fast, or sit in one spot and stutter. That goes for moving forward too. If your foot isn't to the floor, you're not moving (from a stand still).
Its definitly NOT a "driver's car." Its to get you from point A to point B in a narrow steet/City setting.
All in all it was a fun, crazy weekend beating on these cars (Brand new I might add, only 15km on the clock!!!). Lol, we had no respect for the break in period!!!!

Acetonic has informed me that we were driving the 3cyl TURBO models!! 60bhp Woohoo....

I never thought seeing a Ferrari or a Rolls would get old... but they're everywhere in the Hamptons! We even had a Lambo Murcelago (or however its spelled) sighting. As well as a few Astons

Mike

 

Haha! I think the Target jumpsuits looked sillier than the cars.

Cheers,
-Justyn

 

A little background re: this event.
It was in posted in Vendor Announcements a few weeks ago...
Stacey from Legacy Marketing Partners contacted me a while back to help her put together a group of MINI enthusiasts who would be interested in drivng SMART Cars and make a few bucks while doing so :smile:
Target and Smart Car came together to market both companies over this past weekend out in the Hamptons.
I forwarded all of the many inquires that I received from members here on NAM and members on NewYorkMINI.org for final selection.
It seems this will be an ongoing marketing push for both companies and will expand to many cities throughout the US.
If anyone is interested please PM me ....and I will forward your contact info to the correct parties.

It seems everyone had a blast ...as the pictures .... seem to confirm :smile:

Peace,
D

 

I saw a lot of Smart cars in Italy last year. I thought they were owned by Chrysler rather than Mercedes.