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34 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 11, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED You'll Love Our Service! 905-335-4080 BURLINGTON LINE 2008 smart for two By ROb Bientema OAKVILLE BEAVER As sunny as a field of dandelions, the smart fortwo passion, as tested in Light Yellow, adds brilliant colour to its iconic styling whimsy. FATHER'S DAYJUNE 14 THER2:00PM ­ SAT. BBQ S 11:00AMTO $553 GET INTO A 2008 VOLVO XC90 FOR A bumblebee was bonking its head against the side window as I waited at the stoplight. It was probably fascinated and confused by the colour, officially listed in the brochure as Light Yellow. But that barely begins to describe the smart car's sunny hue and its eyecatching effect, coating an iconic shape that has lost little in the way of novelty since its Canadian introduction in 2004. Heads were turning, kids were waving, other drivers were giving me the thumbs up. There's just something about small cars like these ­ tiny subcompacts, old sports cars, old VW Beetles ­ that puts a grin on people's faces. And the yellow AND HAVE LUNCH ON US! 3.99%* LEASE APR FOR 48 MONTHS RECEIVE A CURRENCY INCENTIVE OF LOYALTY AND LEASE PER MONTH $10,000 DOWN TOWARDS YOUR DOWN PAYMENT $7,200+ $3,000 + $1,000 = $11,200 (APP PLIES TO V8 MODELS M O ONLY) GAS CARD S SAVINGS THE 2008 VOLVO XC90 VOLVO OF OAKVILLE, 770 Pacific Road, Oakville (905) 825-8088 WWW.VOLVOOFOAKVILLE.COM *Lease available on approved credit to qualified retail customers through Volvo Car Financial Services Canada on XC90 3.2 AWD at 3.99% lease APR and $553.31/month for 48 months with $10,000 down and $650 security and first month's payment due at lease inception. In addition, Volvo pp q g y p y p Cars of Canada will provide you with $7,200 to lower your down payment. Taxes, up to $1,995 freight and PDI and up to $54.55 PPSA are due at lease inception. Total lease obligation $26,558.88. Taxes, license, insurance, retailer charges and new tires duties (in Quebec) are extra. Lease has p y y p y p g p p g g an 80,000 km allowance ($0.16 per km on excess). Payment and security deposit may vary by choice of extra equipment. Purchase at end of lease for $19,236.30 plus taxes. Volvo of Oakville may lease for less. Some terms/conditions apply. $1000 gas card is applicable to V8 XC90 models only in Volvo of Oakville stock and must take delivery by June 30, 2008. Some restrictions may apply. Currency incentive may be used to reduce the cash price of eligible vehicle or to reduce the down payment for vehicle financed/leased through Volvo Car Financial Services Canada. Offer subject to availability and is limited to in-stock vehicles. Volvo of Oakville loyalty offer only applies to current owners or leasers of a 2002 or newer Volvo. Some restrictions apply. Offer ends June 30, 2008. See Volvo of Oakville for full details. ©2008 Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. "Volvo for life" is a registered trademark used under license by Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. Always remember to wear your seat belt. Visit volvoofoakville.com. paint job had bumped up the wow effect to the nth degree. One girl even combined her thumbs-up with a hitch-hiking motion. Holy cow, the smart car as chick magnet? Who knew? Which sort of disproves the bit by comedian Ron James, where he asks "How come they call it a smart car when you look so stupid sittin' in it?" The combination of whimsical style, Euro character, eco-justification and a promised payback of fuel efficiency has been winning Canadians over to the tune of 10,000 smart cars sold in the first three years, well over the 3,000 car goal originally set by Mercedes-Benz Canada in 2004. And this year's new second-generation smart car is proving even more popular, already selling over 100,000 units worldwide. There have been a lot of changes made in the smart fortwo but if I had to pen a theme for the smart car, it would be that the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. Yes, its dimensions have increased in length, width and wheelbase, but no casual observer would ever notice that or see beyond that diminutive size and familiarly distinctive shape and character. A first-generation owner might spot some cosmetic exterior changes to headlamps, grille and taillights and, on a more practical note, would readily appreciate a new removable service flap up front allows easier access for fluid replacement. But it's still obviously a smart car. There's also some boasting about better stability thanks to the size increase, but the smart is still a small boat in a big sea when it comes to pitching and humping over the bigger bumps and railroad crossings. Inside, the always-surprisingly roomy smart is even roomier now. There is ample headroom and legroom, even an improved storage area behind the two seats with enough room for groceries or overnight bags for two. But you'd better still be on friendly terms with your shoulder-to-shoulder passenger. The interior is up to Mercedes snuff, the former funkiness toned down somewhat, except for the cute combo of bug-eyed, dashtop clock and rev counter. Strangely, that's a $160 option, which seems like chintzy nickel-and-diming on Mercedes' part over an integral part of the interior design. Although I can understand their struggle to keep this tech-loaded package within price range of econobox competitors. Continued on Page 36