The world was a very different place in 1998 when Mercedes embarked on the Smart car launch. The A-Class had just fallen over instead of avoiding an imaginary "Elk", making people very wary of the plastic-bodied micro car.
No amount of smashing them into E-classes, simulating real-life accidents would convince people it was safe. There was a lot of fancy technology to be afraid of, too, with its sequential gearbox and sandwich floor under which the engine lived. And then there was the question of whether Europe's most image-conscious urbanites would shun the wee oddity.
"Is the Smart going to America?" we asked. "Forget it," we were told. America's appetite for SUVs was growing ever more voracious thanks to a booming economy and cheap-as-water petrol. For a while there it looked like the conventional car was all but dead in the US. After all, who'd drive a car when an SUV or a truck was clearly much safer and tougher?
We can laugh at the notion now, but like I said, the world was a different place then.
Fast forward to 2004: consistent reports of trucks and 4x4s rolling over on the news every day has prompted a substantial shift away from tall, heavy vehicles - so much so that the Detroit's Big Three, Ford, GM and Chrysler, have recently poured investment into their long-neglected car lines.
The Iraq war and the subsequent high oil prices has encouraged many people to downsize, especially the new generation of young drivers who are opting for small, cheap, funky and, above all, customisable cars.
The success of the new Mini was an early indication that change was afoot and Toyota was quick to notice. It whipped up a few funky designs and created a whole new youth brand called Scion, which has already found favour with hip youngsters.
GM's long-maligned Saturn brand has finally found its feet too, thanks to some sporty models and clever designs.
America's Generation-X had MTV. Generation-Y is getting its own car brands.
DaimlerChrysler (DC) now plans to bring the Smart brand to the US to do battle with Scion, Mini and Saturn, but it's developing a special pseudo-SUV called the Smart formore, a close relative of the new Mitsubishi Colt, especially for the occasion.
However, if the reaction our Smart fortwo got driving around the northern Californian town of Sebastapol is anything to go by, I think DC may be missing the point. Six years ago people would have pointed and laughed, but today they smile and wave. To my surprise, absolutely everyone thinks it's clever and chic.
The plot thickens, however. The red Smart fortwo Passion convertible we're driving is not a DC press car. DC doesn't import Smarts into the US and, although it's obviously aware of what's going on, it seems to be sitting back watching what happens.
These Smarts were imported into California by a company called ZAP, a 10-year-old business specialising in electric and super-low emission vehicles. ZAP is actually classed as a manufacturer because its produces its own electric car conversions as well as electric bikes, scooters, ATVs - all that sort of thing. They're a very enthusiastic bunch at ZAP, but a tiny hillock on the American automotive landscape, which is possibly why the American press has all but ignored its intention to sell the Smart fortwo in the US.
Some have presumed the endeavour is doomed. Others, like me, beg to differ.
My chaperon for the day is Alex Campbell, the company's earnest and politically vocal public relations manager. I had hoped to drive the Smart to San Francisco, about 45 minutes south, but the car doesn't have any plates because it's not technically legal yet.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was evaluating another Smart on the same day, checking emissions in order to assign it what Zap hopes will be an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) certification. This would make it eligible for all kinds of tax breaks but Alex is worried.
"They're watching our asses like hawks," he explains. Zap's a small, versatile company and he suggests that perhaps the EPA would like to have them under tighter control.
Whatever about all that, my photo-op has been ruined and to make matters worse it's a cold, overcast day and nobody's out. Nothing for it but go for a spin around Zap's Santa Rosa HQ.
I had expected that driving the Smart in American traffic would be a terrifying ordeal, but I'd forgotten how substantial the little Smart feels. It's high driving position gives a reasonable view of the road and it's tiny 659cc, turbo-charged engine bestows just about enough point-and-squirt go upon it to make sure it doesn't get trampled when the pace picks up.
Indeed, in many ways it's ideally suited to the US - people leave comparatively large gaps between themselves and the car in front, which makes swapping lanes a doddle. Not only that, but most of the roads are set up for wallowy SUVs travelling at inappropriate speeds, so you never notice the understeer-prone handling and lack of steering feel.
You do notice the gearbox, though, which is just as dim-witted as I remember.
Once we squeezed it in sideways between two parallel-parked cars, we were bombarded with questions from passers-by. They're a savvy bunch, American consumers, and they asked a number of questions I hadn't thought about - spare parts, tyres and whether or not it was legal to park it at right angles to the kerb, The passing cops didn't care, but we didn't get a chance to ask a parking Nazi.
"Who makes it?" was a common question which Alex would side-step with "a major manufacturer". Mercedes has nothing to do with the American Smart and ZAP is careful not to make it seem like it's using the Mercedes name to sell its products. As far as I can tell, ZAP seems to be buying up European dealers' unsold cars and shipping them to the US by themselves. Once they have the dealer network in place (he expects a total of 150 nationwide), they themselves will take care of sales, servicing, repairs and warranty claims of all the Smarts they sell.
Most of the people passing by thought it ran on electricity, but when we told them it ran on plain old gasoline their interest increased dramatically. Despite ZAP's best intentions, electric cars still aren't very good. While most people would like to help the environment, they haven't the disposable income to buy a car with a 80-mile range just to commute to work.
The Smart, however, with its potential 60 mpg without the complexity and expense of Hybrid technology, is perfect for most commuters.
Jonathan Cornfine was just one of a huge number of people who said that, considering its economy, size and the fact it's made by Mercedes (who said that?), he'd definitely consider one. His wife was less convinced, concerned about the safety aspect and the lack of space, but could be easily persuaded by the entry-level price mooted by Alex. At $12,000, who wouldn't be tempted?
Everyone who passed us had something to say about the Smart, with many demanding business cards from Alex and wanting to know when they can get one. Alex reckons he'll sell every one of the 15,000 he expects to import annually without having to try too hard, with Brabus and possibly Roadster Smarts finding their way across the Atlantic before long.
Its low price and funky looks means it will be a massive hit with young, trendy buyers - and, who knows, in another six years all those SUVs might be replaced with dinky micro cars from car makers we haven't even heard of yet.
Think the idea's a bit far-fetched? Two words for you: Arnold Schwarzenegger. In America, anything's possible.