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GREENSBORO — She had waited years for this moment. And when Linda Davis climbed behind the wheel of the Smart Fortwo — an extremely compact car not yet available in the United States — she knew she had to have one.

"I saw my first one in Italy in 2003," Davis said. "Then I saw them again in France and on the Isle of Crete. I loved them, but I wanted to drive one first to be sure."

Davis was one of a few hundred people who got the chance Sunday afternoon, when Smart, a member of the Mercedes Car Group, held a test drive and demonstration at The Shops at Friendly Center.

The vehicles, known as "Smart cars," will be available in the United States for the first time in 2008 . Drivers across the country — including Davis — are putting themselves on the waiting list.

"We drove down from Asheville in our Dodge Neon Sport, and I've got to tell you, this was so much better," said Davis, 45.

"It had a lot more get-up-and-go than I thought it would. I'm definitely in love."

At 8.8 feet long and a little more than 5 feet tall, the Fortwo definitely stands out in the parking lot. People gathered as test drivers zipped in and out of the parking lot in the miniature cars, many in the crowd asking what kind of vehicle it was.

"It looked like a Mini Cooper," said Jeff Garfield, 32. "But then I looked again and it had a completely different shape, very unique. I've definitely never seen anything like it."

That's the idea, the company says. The Fortwo is a two-seat car that weighs in at just over 1,600 pounds. The manufacturer also says the Fortwo gets better than 40 miles a gallon.

Other amenities, such as the car's Tridion Safety Cell — a race car-like, metal-formed structure that surrounds the driver and passenger — had many in the crowd impressed at its relatively low price.

Whereas the Mini Cooper starts at $18,700, the Smart Fortwo's basic model, the Pure, starts at less than $12,000, not including tax, registration and other fees.

"Even the most expensive model, the convertible, is starting at under $17,000," said Jordan Sheffield, 23, a self-described "gearhead" who travel ed from Raleigh to take a test drive.

"And the panels are made out of plastic. You can switch them out for different colors. It's awesome. You can customize for so cheap."

But the Fortwo isn't for everyone. With a maximum speed of 90 mph and just 71 horsepower, it isn't for speed demons or those looking to tow anything.

Davis said the price was definitely an incentive. The car will be her third, alongside a Chevy Astro minivan and Ford F-250 pickup truck.

"This is going to be a car just for me," Davis said. "It's going to be for fun, and if I'm taking anyone with me in it, it will be just one other person."

Sheffield and Davis represent two ends of a spectrum of drivers the company hopes to attract. Whether it's college students who need a cheap car with good gas mileage or adult drivers who want a vehicle for fun, Smart says they want the car to appeal to all.

Mercedes-Benz of Winston-Salem will be the dealer for the Triad. The dealership expects to get its first shipment of the cars in January, said Tim Cooper, the general manager.

They'll have three models — a convertible and two hardtop options. Prices will range from $14,000 to $20,000, Cooper said, depending on the level of equipment with the car.

The Mercedes-Benz dealership in Winston-Salem will have exclusive rights in this area first, said Bryan Matthews, Internet sales manager at Mercedes-Benz of Greensboro. The Greensboro dealership will carry the cars at a later date, he said.

News & Record reporter Lanita Withers contributed to this story.

Contact Joe Killian at 336-373-7023 or joekillian@news-record.com