SECOND HAND SENSE: The thousands of scooters that Rome's chaotic streets are home to have been joined by another distinctive mode of transport - a sort of bulwark between the option of two-wheel drive and no drive at all.
The Smart is, after all, a near perfect solution to city congestion - a tiny car with two seats, a tiny engine and about as funky a profile as it is possible to have. And the Italians love it.
Not alone does it allow one to zip through the city and park in a space that would normally only accommodate two Vespas but you can probably get it in a colour that matches those uniquely Italian colours in your wardrobe.
It is perhaps a little too cutting edge for Irish drivers, however, or maybe we only buy cars that can take us out of the city rather than remain solely within its confines.
Originally the result of a co-operation agreement between the Swatch watch company and Mercedes - designed to manufacture and market a car that would be uniquely youthful - the Smart was a long time coming to Ireland.
When it did arrive in numbers some years ago it never really made an impact. People seemed to consider it ridiculously small and odd, which is to rather miss the point.
This is a car designed to turn on a sixpence, park anywhere and get you and your partner or pet to and from Marks and Spencer's. Period.
There is a small number of Smarts on the road, many of them used by companies to advertise their products or services but very few private motorists have opted for the car.
It is available in two and four-seat options and there is a roadster version that you could probably fit under your Christmas tree for the ultimate surprise gift.
It's certainly not for the tall or large of frame.
The ForTwo version, which is perhaps the best option, will take two people for quite a comfortable ride around town.
Its actual ride quality is not great nor is cornering at any speed its strong point.
The engine is a buzzy 700 c.c unit that is perfectly designed for city flexibility although it is mated to sequential automatic gearbox that is not to everyone's taste. The engine is also a very economical one.
Even though the engine is mounted in the rear there is a modest boot for that supermarket shopping.
In fact, the feeling of spaciousness is where the Smart magic really lies.
The fact that the engine is in the back means the space in the front is maximised for passenger comfort.
Two tall seats and the clever proportions of everything else in the cabin make for a much less claustrophobic experience than one might expect.
There are no Euro NCAP crash test results for the two-seater but the four-seater Smart has a surprisingly good profile for a car of this size.
It achieved a four star - out of a possible five - rating for its impact tests.
The Smart has anti-lock brakes, a stability control programme and Mercedes designed a clever "safety cell" to protect passengers.
There is only one listed recall for just under 600 Smart cars and this related to a lighting failure.
You won't find too many Smarts on the second-hand market but there are some available.
One five year-old two-seater is for sale in Waterford with 55,000 on the clock and has an asking price of €4,900. A one year-old model with 6,000 miles on the clock is for sale at € 10,400.
FOR: Constant attention, if that's what you are into, and a brilliant car to park in the city.
AGAINST: Constant attention, if that's not what you are into, choppy ride and very limited space.