Well just have to add an update- this morning my husband, driving his Smart to his first day of new job!!!- got T-boned in a major intersection right off Rt. 95. The real axle broke, hubby walked away without a cut or bruise. The car that hit him was a speeding SUV, also damaged, fortunately no injuries. Not the way we wanted to learn about how it handles in an accident, but if he wants to replace it with another Smart, I'm ok with that!