Smart Car MPG in the City

[Arminius]

One of the guys I work with bought a Smart Car (the Passion model) a few weeks ago. He has filled up 3 times and gotten 46, 42 and 38 mpg. The last tank was used during a time when we had a lot of snow. He does about 80% city driving, I would guess. He also doesn't utilize any techniques to increase FE, beyond simply driving the speed limit. I'll post his future mpg if anyone is interested.

[cfg83]

Arminius -

Originally Posted by Arminius

One of the guys I work with bought a Smart Car (the Passion model) a few weeks ago. He has filled up 3 times and gotten 46, 42 and 38 mpg. The last tank was used during a time when we had a lot of snow. He does about 80% city driving, I would guess. He also doesn't utilize any techniques to increase FE, beyond simply driving the speed limit. I'll post his future mpg if anyone is interested.

I'm interested, especially because he isn't *trying* to get good MPG. I would love to see his "typical" MPG in high-summer. Would he be willing to participate in this? :

Welcome to Your MPG!
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=garage

Oooooooooh, look at what I just found :

2008 smart fortwo coupe
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG....rue&details=on

CarloSW2

[Arminius]

Originally Posted by cfg83

Arminius -



I'm interested, especially because he isn't *trying* to get good MPG. I would love to see his "typical" MPG in high-summer. Would he be willing to participate in this? :

I'll ask.

Oooooooooh, look at what I just found :

2008 smart fortwo coupe
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG....rue&details=on

Yeah, he's aware of that.

[Arminius]

Ok, my friend's most recent mpg was 38. I believe this mostly city driving, and he does things like taking his lunch break in his car while running the engine to say warm.

He said that he previously had much more highway mileage that I indicated, which would account for the higher mileage I mentioned earlier.

I almost got him to post here yesterday, but we got interrupted and I lost his attention. Perhaps I can get him to post here if I say that he wears a dress and hates the Cowboys and loves the Packers. If not, we'll have to assume I'm telling the truth, won't we?

[mpgvalues]

That's much better then I had originally read. Actually, that's pretty good for the money. I'd love to have a car like the Smart to drive back and forth to work but it's small size frightens me. But hey, safer then a motorcyle.

[cfg83]

mpgvalues -

Originally Posted by mpgvalues

That's much better then I had originally read. Actually, that's pretty good for the money. I'd love to have a car like the Smart to drive back and forth to work but it's small size frightens me. But hey, safer then a motorcyle.

I think that is the most important way to look at it. The Smart is "something between" a car and a motorcycle. Comparing it directly to a car doesn't make sense. When I drove my motorcycle, I was trading safety for convenience (parking, zipping between logjams of cars).

CarloSW2

[Arminius]

Originally Posted by mpgvalues

That's much better then I had originally read. Actually, that's pretty good for the money. I'd love to have a car like the Smart to drive back and forth to work but it's small size frightens me. But hey, safer then a motorcyle.

Side impact got 5 stars. It's definitely safer than a motorcycle. Plus, you'll be able to convert it to EV when the engine dies.

[H4MM3R]

Please ask how it handles in the snow.

~Thanks

[Arminius]

Originally Posted by H4MM3R

Please ask how it handles in the snow.

~Thanks

Sorry, I forgot to mention that. He said that it was quite a bit better than a Ford Focus, which he used to own, which is front wheel drive. I also once spoke to a Canadian who said the same thing.

The Smart, as you probably know, is rear wheel drive.

Btw, he said he plans to post here. He (SmartCar123) has posted here in another thread once already.

[Peakster]

Yikes... I'm not sure if I like the looks of the USA smart car compared to the Canadian models . Why do things made for the USA have to look so aggressive?