My Smart Car WAG ‑ A Love Story

It was I999 when I first saw a Smart car. I was in a shopping centre in Germany, and at first I couldn’t even comprehend that it was a real car! A good while after that I started to see this tiny car in the UK and it wasn’t long before I was hooked … yes, I’d fallen in love!

Imagine my reaction when on Christmas Eve 200I, while pottering around my kitchen, I saw out of the window, a little black and silver number driving towards the house. My jaw dropped when it stopped outside my house and Nigel, my brother‑in-law, hopped out and handed me the keys. He’d hired it for me for two weeks as a Christmas present. Wicked or what? I was so overwhelmed I have to say I shed a tear or two. Even more tears fell though, when I had to hand it back again![pay]

I now longed to own my very own Smart car much to the disbelief of those around me (and just who’s laughing now guys?). Having spent two whole weeks driving around in the hired Smart, I was head over heels ‑ hook, line and sinker! I spent ages trying to read up about them on the Internet and wherever else I could. My partner Joolz would probably say I breathed, ate, slept and lived for Smarts ‑ sorry Jo0Izie ! I started saving hard for my dream car.

When my brother knew just how I felt he offered to help me. While he was in Belgium, he came across a little diesel version and actually bought it on my behalf. I was so excited. He had arranged to get it brought back to the UK for me ‑ it was now April 2002. But then we hit a snag ‑a BIG one. The lorry, and my Smart car, which was perched on top, was held up at Dover for some or other reason. My heart sank; I was gutted. We battled with the powers that be, and after 4‑months my brother managed to get the release documents.

I was over the moon, and just had to go to Dover with my brother to catch a first glimpse, and to bring him ‘home’ on the trailer. He was beautiful ‑ silver Tridion, true blue panels and Sportiva wheels. As we traveled back to Northampton I had to keep looking out of the back window to check he was still there. I called hirn ‘WAG’ (another long story!!) ‑ and had this put on the special number plate I had bought T6 HUD. This is my brother’s initial and the first 3 letters of my maiden name.

Then I hit another snag ‑ trying to register him in the UK. Dover customs seemed very reluctant to release his registration documents, and of course without these DVLA didn’t want to know. I did some modifications to WAG to bring him in line with Road Rules ‑ eg altering the fog lights and the headlights. He then had to go for an inspection and finally DVLA granted him a logbook. Legal at last!! What a buzz to finally drive him ‑ me and my Wag.

I have recently added a few extras after visiting Smarts‑R‑Us in Nottingham. Joolz would say we were there nearly a whole day (I’m sure it wasn’t THAT long Jooiz), mind you, I did manage to spend quite a bit of dosh. But he’s worth every penny ‑ I love him dearly and I just know we will be together for a long time to come.

 

Submitted By:

Maxine Holmes[/pay]

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