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I saw my first 'smart car' while on vacation with my family in Germany in 2000. My brother and I still laugh at the picture we took of my 6-foot-4 dad hovering over the little thing with a "what the heck" grimace on his face.

(By the way, that's not dad in the picture. That's Rick Masters, a local smart car owner.)

Now, smart cars are here. The European-made, micro-car debuted in the United States this year and already I've seen three in Bakersfield. After following one owner to her home to (she actually was quite nice about being followed but declined my interview request), we managed to track down another one for our story today. (I have to say, too, as small as these cars are, I had trouble in my Ford Focus trying to keep up with that lady.)

The car is certainly cute -- you can't deny that -- the price is decent and the gas mileage is pretty good. But some say the two-seater's practicality may not win out here. For the same price (about $12,000 to $13,000), you can get a Kia Rio or Toyota Yaris with more space and nearly the same gas mileage.

If you're in the market for a new, fuel-efficient vehicle, would buy a smart car?