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

[johnssc]

I would have to assume then, that if you see someone arguing with a passenger, speeding, changing lanes without signaling, driving too fast for conditions, tailgating - all recognized moving violations - you would be doing what exactly to remedy these "illegal" activities?

I really fail to see how operating a radio transmitter/jamming device is any different than operating a radio transmitter/communications device. If talking on a cell phone is distracting it only goes to follow that actively seeking out cell phone users with the intent to use a jamming device is also distracting.

And yes, the posted minimum speed may be X, but there is such a thing as impeding traffic by doing so. Typically the intent behind the posted minimum is to accomodate heavily-loaded trucks, over-sized loads, etc.

[mrbadexample]

[quote=johnssc;106658]Great idea about the jammer! With any luck it is someone's doctor calling about a patient's status...

the guy was sitting on my ass (too close for my comfort) i'm sure he was making an emergency call, picking his damned nose!

"but it is ok to impede the flow of traffic and go 45 in a 55"

if the posted minimum is 45mph, i'm legal, i've seen old farts doing 30-35mph in the 45 min zone, they can't see that far, but the state licenses them! i'm at 20/16 now, i can see better than 99% of americans, i'm capable of 140mph, but that was when gas was $0.50 a gallon. hell, i'd love to run 100 mph all the time, if i didn't have to pay for gas.


(legal minimum speed in all of illinois is 45mph, the highest posted speed is 65mph, but each 65mph sign has a 45mph minimum below it, illinois is a "farm state" and farm vehicles drive down our interstates)

it takes a millisecond to see if another driver is zonked out on a cell and doesn't see you, weaves into your lane, waits until he/she gets beeped to move when a green light appears.

look at your right hand, count your fingers... then know i've been rear ended that many times by distracted drivers in the last decade. i've had permanent nerve damage to my neck due to an accident 26 years ago, things don't get better!

eight times hit, twice shy! i'm defensive, and i don't want to lose my smart! i'm waking up the dorks who are more concerned about groceries than the traffic they're driving in!

[johnssc]

Uh, no offense, but I have the same number of fingers on both my right and left hand - neither of which has eight...

"it takes a millisecond to see if a driver is zonked on a cell..." and I would think that it takes about a millisecond to get distracted by about anything and end up in someone's trunk/door/whatever. You know, it is funny. I do a lot of commuting. I watched a guy rear end another fellow through inattention. The best part was that the guy who was hit from behind was so fixated on what the person who hit him was doing, he never accelerated, changed lanes moved or otherwise took any action that may have moved him out of danger. He just sat there staring at his mirror. Now, I am not saying that all accidents are avoidable, but (thank God) I think I have had so few because I try to put myself in situations where I am less likely to be in one.

As far as the 45 mph thing, here in PA that is also the legal minimum and one is expected to keep right as well. Forewarned is forearmed though so if I ever am driving my car in Illinois and wondering why I am getting obscene gestures and/or dirty looks and generalized malice I will will know who has paved the way.

In the meantime, I do hope you enjoy your vigilante activities and, should anyone who is not a law enforcement officer attempt to enforce upon you some level of law observance that they feel is dreadfully important that you "learn your lesson" just as you expect those to whom you wish to teach a lesson to yourself should learn theirs.

PS - I apologize for the hijack...

[BlkonBlk]

93 octane Shell V-power (not that i perfer but it close to my house =))
20% highway 80% city
Average gas pedal movement, i did floor it once through 4 gear to see what the little bugger had =)
1st tank was 33 mpg ehh
2nd tank was 34+ little better hope in the horizen
3rd tank was 29.somthing hmmm??
4th tank was 27.3 WTF
waiting on 5th tank trying diffrent shifting procedure
i just hit 1000 miles before i posted hoping it gets better with break in
also suspention gets alot smoother as you bring the odometer up really nice not as stiff, for you guys saying the ride is stiff
Little Rant...

if the milege goes down anymore it going back to smart, im demanding a new car, since ive had it, there where scratches on the door when i got home the first day, the roof visor has broke "first time i pulled it foward"
and now the gas milege has bein going down, and i havent got any help from the dealer they are to busy to deal with these problems, if it was any other car dealer they would have fixed the problems and gave you some free **** or somthing ASAP, this is my first new car and i was so siked to get a BRAND NEW car and im actually wondering if it was worth the 17,000$

But just bought my scan guage II hope to see what im doing actually

[DowneasTTer]

Just did Max's record since pick up in May. First fill was from dealer in Lynnfield, MA to home about 225 miles of interstate driving. The rest is just around the Bangor, Me area. Here are the results:

Date Mileage amount Cost miles traveled mileage coat/gal
5/16/08 10 0
5/17/08 241 6.3 $25.19 231 36.66666667 $4.00
5/23/08 502 6.1 $24.96 261 42.78688525 $4.09
5/30/08 791 6.7 $27.06 289 43.13432836 $4.04
6/10/08 1054 6 $25.67 263 43.83333333 $4.28
6/23/08 1359 6.6 $28.32 305 46.21212121 $4.29
7/1/08 1552 4.7 $19.98 193 41.06382979 $4.25
7/7/08 1784 5.3 $22.64 232 43.77358491 $4.27

As you can see I should be pretty happy. So much better than the rover @ 14 mpg, the Jag V-12 @ 13 mpg, the Saab @ 23 mpg or even the Audi @ 28.

DowneasTTer
Orrington, ME

[omahanut]

Just filled up for the first time 91 Octane, 39.9 miles, includes in town and interstate, very little a/c.

I am sold

[unicycle]

I'm getting at least 45 mpg lately (using A/C most of the time -- breathing troubles otherwise), with some tankfuls coming in at about 47 and one even showing up at 50.4 mpg. I am doubtful of every claim I read on this forum (including my own) due to the tiny tank and the inconsistency among gas station pumps, so I should add that I'm a hypermiler who will drive 60 mph, draft slow trucks when possible, shift into neutral, etc. I'm now practicing with turning the car off as I approach a light and gliding to a stop in neutral. In other words, my claims are probably fairly accurate.

418.7 miles on a tank
When I got nearly 419 miles on one tank (with a few clicks to spare -- the readout showed 0.2 gallons left), I earned those miles by driving as gas-sippingly as I could.

My driving conditions are: Mainly highway driving, as little use of the A/C as possible, 93 Octane.

I hope this helps. Or perhaps sets the bar a bit. Has anyone else gotten well over 400 miles on a tank?

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by unicycle

so I should add that I'm a hypermiler who will drive 60 mph, draft slow trucks when possible, shift into neutral, etc. I'm now practicing with turning the car off as I approach a light and gliding to a stop in neutral. In other words, my claims are probably fairly accurate.

I hope this helps. Or perhaps sets the bar a bit. Has anyone else gotten well over 400 miles on a tank?

Ah Grasshopper - you are learning. Eyeball the reflection of the light in the other direction and watch the traffic braking so you'll know when the light will change. Think back to the gashogging days of jumping the light as soon as it changed. That preps you for restarting the engine - gives you adequate time. I only shut my engine down when I know for a fact I'll be sitting at the light for 20 seconds or more.

I almost had a super tank the other day but had to gas up at 392. Had lots of gas left and it averaged out to almost 50mpg but there wasn't a gas station for quite a ways so I had to fuel up . I have yet to break that 50mpg threshold.

[wlmory]

Have a little over 1,700 miles on a Passion which I picked up Sunday June 15th in Boston and drove to Chicago Monday nite - Tuesday. 19.5 hours w/ a couple of power naps and I avg almost 41 MPG. One tank was over 44, but drove w/ a/c on and at 65MPH most of the way. Accelerated to 85 to see what it felt like and that's about as fast as I care to go in this. Drive an A-6 2.7T when I want to fly low. I drive almost exclsuive w/ shifter, the "auto" is a bit sluggish for me, but it's nice to know you can just put it in gear and go, I just like the better responsiveness shifting myself. Good mileage was only one of the reasons for buying...it's GREEN, from the beginning w/ more recycled and recyclable parts, I don't want to think what's going to happen to those hybrid batteries???? and it's a LOT safer ;)....oh, and it's so damn cute too.

Here's the summary:
Smart - Passion Mileage gal Cost $/gal miles MPG
6/15/2008 12
6/16/2008 268.0 7.439 $31.98 $4.299 256.0 34.41 W. MA/NYs
6/16/2008 569.0 7.239 $31.41 $4.339 301.0 41.58 highway
6/17/2008 901.0 7.516 $33.06 $4.399 332.0 44.17 highway
6/17/2008 1,045.0 3.924 $17.03 $4.339 144.0 36.70 a/c stop & go
6/26/2008 1,268.4 6.639 $29.87 $4.499 223.4 33.65 many different test driver
7/1/2008 1,561.0 6.994 $31.47 $4.449 292.6 41.84 resume normal driving

[jsherman665]

I have my name on the line for a Smart,but am also one of those 93 Geo Metro owners that loves the high MPG. My 93 convertible with a 5 Speed consistantly gets 45 MPG, and that is with the top down. I don't drive her in the rain or winter. I also own a 2002 basic Saturn with a 5 speed that gets between 38-41 all the time! Hate to see the midget Smart beat out by two "has beens", but that appears to be reality.

jsherman665 in Willmar, Minnesota