My Jetta TDI gets over 40 mpg...and it's fast, has four seats and an enormous trunk. I'm on the smart usa list, paid my $99 reservation fee, but from what I understand the first round is going to be gasoline rather than diesel. Hardly any improvement over the Jetta, and such a compromise of space.

Heh. I also have a Jetta TDI, so I understand your point. Maybe if you had a small parking spot, or had too much stuff in the garage you could make a stronger case for a smart...

The diesel smart is supposedly in the 70mpg range - that would raise the bar a little bit if they ever bring that over..