C'mon guys and gals, we're all dying to hear some real world MPG's!!!!

[roverallover]

Hey folks ... first half-tank gone and here's what I got:
175 miles and the gauge read half-full (or half empty if you view the world that way ...) ;)
4.6 gallons of 91 to way-top off ... probably only 4.3 to fill it ... $15
That is soooooo much better than the truck! (yay)
and for the magic number ...
38.7 combined and not with a light foot at all.
I'm off to Newport Beach from SD this morning on the full tank so I can get a good idea of nearly highway only when I get back.
Have a great day all!
Oh ... and as a minor tip. If you want a center arm-rest and you're alone .... put the passenger seat flat-forward. Makes a nice armrest!

[SmartBob]

Sounds good, man. I appreciate the info.

[roverallover]

Ok - back from the Newport run ...
No real traffic so it was 70+ mph the whole way and back ... hills in Laguna (which you'll never get up faster than 60 in 4th)
160 miles r/t ... 3.68 gallons means a pretty darn good 43.5 mpg !! That already beats the sticker of 41. Now if I was doing 60 like I usually do (I was running late), then I can see that being at least 45 to 47.
Some tidbits:
Don't drive 70+ mph on the freeway - especially if it's windy. The car gets buffeted A LOT by cross winds and cars next to you. Slow down ... seriously ... I'm pretty "ballsy" and it was almost to the point I might sell the car.
The ride on the freeway was not good at all. Any groove and you're getting pulled that way, any bump and you're feeling it. If you have a long freeway commute that isn't in bumper-to-bumper traffic, get another car. Don't get me wrong, I love my Fortwo, but it isn't comfortable at all on the open highway.

[dlent]

I am liking what Iam hearing regarding mileage. I am hopeful, other's soon will provide even more "real life" numbers.

[Fredvon4]

roverallover

I drive about the same basic truck... is you perspective based on comparison from the Ram 4x4?

I drove the 450 in Germany and did have some concern with the buffeting and squirrelly feel but got used to in fairly fast...

Did you get power steer?

[jonnysan]

Tires that come on the vehicle and what affect they will have on the ride and handling of the car. They will have a HUGE effect on both of those things. I was never a fan of Continental Tires and never will be. The one time I used them I found them to make the car seem "squishy" riding and handling. This was some time ago, though, and they may be made differently now.
This is JMHO and I will see for myself how the car handles once I get it this week or next. There's that *eternal optimism* showing again.....

John

[24-42]

Originally Posted by roverallover

Ok - back from the Newport run ...
No real traffic so it was 70+ mph the whole way and back ... hills in Laguna (which you'll never get up faster than 60 in 4th)
160 miles r/t ... 3.68 gallons means a pretty darn good 43.5 mpg !! That already beats the sticker of 41. Now if I was doing 60 like I usually do (I was running late), then I can see that being at least 45 to 47.
Some tidbits:
Don't drive 70+ mph on the freeway - especially if it's windy. The car gets buffeted A LOT by cross winds and cars next to you. Slow down ... seriously ... I'm pretty "ballsy" and it was almost to the point I might sell the car.
The ride on the freeway was not good at all. Any groove and you're getting pulled that way, any bump and you're feeling it. If you have a long freeway commute that isn't in bumper-to-bumper traffic, get another car. Don't get me wrong, I love my Fortwo, but it isn't comfortable at all on the open highway.

If the above is true ( I have no reason to believe that it isn't), it leads me to really be happy to have chosen the 450. I do have a hard time accepting that Mercedes could/would take a step backward.

The decision to purchase my car was 100% mine. My wife was apprehensive but supportive throughout the whole process. Since bringing the car home she has become completely won over and that's to the car's performance merits.

To any objectors; I categorically reject any implications to the contrary of the above statements, so just save your little typing fingers from typing in vain.

Donald LaFavor

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by 24-42

If the above is true ( I have no reason to believe that it isn't), it leads me to really be happy to have chosen the 450. I do have a hard time accepting that Mercedes could/would take a step backward.

The decision to purchase my car was 100% mine. My wife was apprehensive but supportive throughout the whole process. Since bringing the car home she has become completely won over and that's to the car's performance merits.

To any objectors; I categorically reject any implications to the contrary of the above statements, so just save your little typing fingers from typing in vain.

Donald LaFavor

I have to agree with Don on this one, too. When I traveled with the Canadian Smart Club this summer (15 Smarts altogether traveling convoy style) I heard no such remarks from them about this sort of behavior and I watched them as I traveled with them in their group. They all seemed pretty stable to me. The did a roundtrip from Montreal to Cooperstown and back in a day...that's a fair amount of driving and thru the Adirondack Mountain region of NY State, too!
I just can't wait to start to begin my own experiences with my own Smart in all kinds of driving conditions. I know how to be objective, too, in evaluating it as I have worked in R & D for 25 years and I am trained to look at mechanical things in an unbiased way.

John

[lulu3]

So, Rover - back to Fred's question - did you get power steering? I'm sure many of us are wondering if this makes a difference in highway experience for the 451.
Thanks!

[jediknight36]

Originally Posted by jonnysan

Tires that come on the vehicle and what affect they will have on the ride and handling of the car. They will have a HUGE effect on both of those things. I was never a fan of Continental Tires and never will be. The one time I used them I found them to make the car seem "squishy" riding and handling. This was some time ago, though, and they may be made differently now.
This is JMHO and I will see for myself how the car handles once I get it this week or next. There's that *eternal optimism* showing again.....

John

Does the car come with continental tires? OMG! We had those tires for 16,000 miles before they went thread bare! Thank god we had tire warranty.