Morris man seeing big savings in little car

Les Kern stands with his Smart Car by Mercedes Benz. Kern drives from Morris to Minooka almost everyday. With gas prices at an all time high, Kern is saving an entire truck car payment in gas. (Herald photo Heidi Terry-Litchfield)

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When gas prices soared over $4 a gallon, it didn't take too much to convince Les Kern that the Smart Car by Mercedes Benz was a smart choice for him. Kern works at Minooka Community High School and drives daily from Morris to work. He also commutes between the two high schools. “The money I'm saving in gas from my truck equals the car payment on this car,” said Kern. When gas prices started to rise, he said, he started looking for fuel efficient cars to replace his truck. He said he looked at several cars, including the Prius, but after comparing price, insurance and fuel, he would have 10 years of free gas when comparing the two side by side. “I drive 12 miles from Morris to Minooka High School daily,” said Kern. “I also use it around town for errands, and I'm averaging 43.7 miles per gallon.” He admits his wife's initial reaction was “are you sure you want that?” But after a lot of research, he became convinced it was the right choice. “It was also important to me that the car I bought was eco-friendly,” he said. “We recycle everything at our home, and the fact that every part of the Smart Car is recyclable was important to me.” The Smart Fortwo went on sale in the United States in January 2008 and Kern said there is a waiting list for them already. “You put $99 down and go on the list,” he said. “When it's ready, they call you to come pick it up.” The car is completely customizable. When you put down the down payment, you are able to customize color, inside and out, as well as other options. According to the Smart web site, the Smart Fortwo is the only model scheduled for production for the USA in 2008. The pure coupe, passion coupe and passion cabriolet all come equipped with the 3-cylinder, 1-liter gasoline powered engine. Kern said the one draw back to the car is that it only seats two people, but when the family needs to go anywhere, they still take the van they used prior to this purchase. He said he has had to add an additional 10 minutes to every trip to the store because people stop and ask him about the car. “One of the big questions is about the safety of such a small car,” he said. “The safety rating is high and my insurance even decreased when I switched from the truck to the Smart Car.” He said the car boasts a five-star side and four-star front crash rating, which often surprises those looking at the 8.8-foot long, 5.1-foot tall and 5.1 foot wide car. After reading the statistics, Kern only worry was whether or not he would fit, since he stands 6-foot-1 1/2 inches tall. “They built it for someone 6-foot-5 inches, so it has an incredible amount of room,” he said. They tucked the engine in the back, where the spare tire would normally go. The radiator and fluids are in the front, where typically the engine would sit. “While the car only holds two people versus the Mini's four-passenger seating, the Smart Car has more storage space,” said Kern. He said other than the fact that it doesn't waste gas and it keeps pollution down, the idea that he will be able to save money to use towards other family needs is a big draw. He said he plans to give this car to his daughter when she learns to drive. The fact that for under $1,000 you can order new panels and change the color of the car will allow her to have some of the same customization her dad had when he ordered it. Kern said the only cons he can find in the car is, at his height, he wishes there was about six inches more leg room. He also said there is an issue with cross winds. “When you are driving down the highway and there are crosswinds of about 30 miles per hour, and the windows are closed, you can really feel it and need both hands on the wheel,” he said. “If you just open both windows, the problem corrects itself.” He also said that, when driving, you have to be a bit more defensive as if you were on a motorcycle because people tend to tailgate and don't always see you. He said they are currently considering another one and he looks forward to the anticipated 2010 electric version.