www.roanoke.com

Jim Dixon who works for Botetourt County Public Schools in IT drives a Smart car. It's the itty -bitty blue car tooling off I-81 at exit 150 Monday through Friday.

It is economical. Dixon says it will save him $125 per month in gas and it was relatively cheap. The Smart cars are sold out of Winston Salem, North Carolina and begin at $13,500. His has additional features-- satellite radio, sunroof and heated seats.The 1 litre, 3 cyclinder engine has a combo automatic/straight shift transmission and no clutch. The car gets about 50 miles per gallon on the highway and about 40 around town. Inside it is amazingly roomy for a two seater car.

Dixon has owned the car for about a month but if you have seen it you, have probably done a double take. He commutes daily from Roanoke and carpools some days, so the little blue Smart car isn't on U.S. 220 every day.

Developed in Europe by the Swatch (as in watch) company and Mercedes, it is now a full product of Dahmler Motors. It was built in Europe of course.

Dixon saw one on the Internet and liked it very much so he ordered a car in January. His order has yet to arrive, this cobalt blue car is a cancellation of another customer that he and his wife decided to take.

He has been pleased with the car thus far. Parking is almost as good as the gas mileage and would be better even in a large city. The vehicle is eight and half feet long, five feet wide and
five feet tall. While small it is very safe. The American Insurance Industry has given it a high rating said Dixon. The steel frame cage construction is supported by two front and two side air bags. "I am very pleased with the car," he said.