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A motoring marriage made in heaven

10th November 2008 Print
A motoring marriage made in heaven Husband and wife Jason and Amanda Kearins are enjoying wedded bliss after buying their very own his and hers smart cars.

And the Kearins are a happy couple as they are benefiting from not only considerably lower motoring costs but also the distinction of owning what could be Britain’s rarest smart pairing – an open-top crossblade and a special edition limited two fortwo.

Seeking improved fuel economy over their previous vehicles, the couple bought the cars after visiting their local smart retailer in Stevenage, and both are suitably impressed.

Jason’s crossblade, which has no roof, doors or conventional windscreen, was one of only 100 examples sold in the UK. Even with winter fast approaching, the keen motorcyclist is savouring the ‘open air’ experience.

“I just love the freedom that it offers and having the open sky above me,” said Jason, who uses the crossblade for his daily commute to Ware where he works as an engineer. “Being exposed to the elements is just part of the attraction and I have full waterproofs or warm clothing to wear when the weather turns nasty.”

Meanwhile Amanda’s limited two was introduced earlier this year as part of a small production run to retain the model’s exclusivity – the car featuring a special light blue metallic paint finish as well as a host of additional extras.

“We only visited smart of Stevenage to look at the crossblade initially but I was taken by the limited two as soon as I saw it in the showroom,” explained Amanda.

“When we did the sums, we decided that I could have a smart of my own too and I’m thrilled to bits as I’ve never had a brand new car before – not least one that includes air conditioning and brown leather heated seats.”

Whilst the couple love their smarts for different reasons, both have been won over by their car’s frugal fuel economy.

“My previous two-litre saloon was costing me £62 per week to run,” added Jason. “However as I’ve been keeping a record, I know that I’m getting an entire month’s worth of fuel for approximately the same amount from my crossblade, which is returning up to 49 miles per gallon.

“Amanda has noticed a significant saving in her petrol outlay too,” he continued. “What’s more, we are both able to tax our new cars for less than what we were paying for one of our previous vehicles.”

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A motoring marriage made in heaven