I moved and now I get 47-mpg!

[TMACK]

Originally Posted by SmartDigger

??? are you referring to the country life style or the speed limit. or, the fact some mite say the smart runs on peanuts.

Well, I WAS recalling the 55 mph speed limit, but now that you mention the others: yup, all three!!

[1959_Imperial]

[QUOTE=MPrice2984;288685]More proof that smarts are great commuter cars, so much for the city car idea

My car just turned two years old and I am coming up on 62,000 miles. Not just a commuter car.

[kennyrayandersen]

Just watch for cows – wouldn’t want to tangle the Smart with one – I’m sure it would ruin your, and the cow’s, day! LOL

[jkjahobbs]

Congrat's.

[BobDiaz]

My ScanGauge has given me a lot of insight into the MPG of my smart.

(1) Distance: On short trips, the MPG is always lower. I assume it's because the engine is cold and does not do as well. The return trip always gets higher MPG.

(2) Temperature: On hot days, the MPG is always better than on really cold days.

(3) Speed Of Drive and Type Of Drive: I'm not sure of the exact point, somewhere between 40 to 60 MPH, the MPG is the highest. The stop and go traffic of LA really takes down the MPG, no surprise there.




Bob Diaz

[SuperGeek]

Bob's right. For the best MPGs, fifth gear with as few RPMs as you need to get where you're going. Get up to gear 5 pretty quick, and around 40-45mph you'll get the best power/MPG combination for flat roads. Need to go up an average city type hill? Gradually get up to 50mph so you can take it in 5th gear, and accept the slowdown to 40-45mph. Assuming your speed limits allow it. And traffic behind you - don't hypermile in traffic, it just makes people mad enough to go around you and slam on the brakes, causing you to change speed.

[BobDiaz]

I'll have to wait until January to try this, but I want to take my smart up the coast along Pacific Coast Highway; partly for the ride and partly to test speeds vs. MPG.

The bad part is that in the LA Area, people will want to kill you if you drive 40 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. They just don't understand it's in the best interest of science!


Bob Diaz

[jmaxwell38930]

Does anyone know how much difference the octane makes? The highest we can get in California is 91, but I noticed last week that 93 is still selling in Louisiana and Mississippi. I haven't had the opportunity to drive my Smart there, but the best I can get out here is 38 MPG, both on a long trip and locally.

[Wdhitch]

You should be using 93 if at all possible... it's what's suggested for the engine by the manufacturer. You might see an increase in mileage but you'll defiantly get more life out of your engine.


Edit... I'd love to average 38... always been in the low 30's here.... damn ethanol...

[jmaxwell38930]

Originally Posted by BobDiaz

I'll have to wait until January to try this, but I want to take my smart up the coast along Pacific Coast Highway; partly for the ride and partly to test speeds vs. MPG.

The bad part is that in the LA Area, people will want to kill you if you drive 40 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. They just don't understand it's in the best interest of science!


Bob Diaz

You're too kind, Bob. In my experience in California, you get run off the freeway if you do anything less than 75 in the 70 zone. We're also having problems with people driving 60 in a 35 zone near my house. A couple of bad collisions in the last two weeks and idiots are still speeding down that road.