Hello Smart people! - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Salt227 · 03-20-2010, 01:16 PM

Hi everyone! I figured I would introduce myself before I started poking around here for info. My name is Lauren and I think I might be about to buy a Smart.

Currently I drive a 2005 Mini Cooper S, but the maintenance is about to send me to the poorhouse, so I'm ready to switch to something else. I've been driving Minis since 2002 and don't like driving anything bigger. So I figured that maybe I would just go smaller.

I have loved the Smart since I first saw it back in 2008.

Anyway, nice to be here and I'm ready to learn all there is to know.

forestacademy · 03-20-2010, 01:20 PM

Take a comparative look at the two cars at Fuel Economy

You will wonder why you have been driving that Gas Hog

Welcome to the Forum

Salt227 · 03-20-2010, 01:26 PM

Thanks for the welcome and double thanks for that link!! Wow. I had no idea that there would be so much of a difference!

I think this is going to end up being a very easy decision.

**rfernatt** · 03-20-2010, 01:26 PM

Welcome to the forum!

You'll find a lot of helpful information and folks willing to share first hand experience. The best thing to do would be to visit a dealer and test drive one for yourself. There are some very attractive offers through the end of March you may want to check out as well. If you do get one, plan to join the rest of us smarties in Kansas City this June for our first National rally.

To whet your appetite, here's a video of my first year of ownership:
http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=gs7eZQt-V48

Good luck with whatever you decide!

forestacademy · 03-20-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salt227

Thanks for the welcome and double thanks for that link!! Wow. I had no idea that there would be so much of a difference!

I think this is going to end up being a very easy decision.

I was completely amazed a few weeks back when I was working an auto show and the Mini folks came over and asked what the MPG was on the smart.
I told them the numbers, they paused, and said "Gee I would think it would be better than that"

Dude our combined EPA rating is 10 MPG over the mini, you would think the mini would get better than that

Salt227 · 03-20-2010, 01:39 PM

I definitely thought the Mini would get better than that. Plus the fact that I would be able to switch from premium to regular gas. I haven't been able to use regular for years!

Thanks for the warm welcome. I am so happy to see that the Smart has a cool community attached to it. I have been very active in the Mini community for years and used to go to events all the time.

**rfernatt** · 03-20-2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salt227

I definitely thought the Mini would get better than that. Plus the fact that I would be able to switch from premium to regular gas. I haven't been able to use regular for years!

Actually, smart requires/strongly recommends premium fuel (91 octane) as well. Some folks are running 87 and report no issues, but it's not a practice endorsed by smartUSA. It's a small engine with a higher compression ratio, so like the MINI, premium is still the thing.

BUT, I typically fill up with 7 - 8 gallons of gas and with 43 average mpg the extra $1.50 doesn't really make much difference!

There was a little confusion with the EPA site. See this post: 2010 runs on regular gas ?!

kheran · 03-20-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfernatt

Actually, smart requires/strongly recommends premium fuel (91 octane) as well. Some folks are running 87 and report no issues, but it's not a practice endorsed by smartUSA. It's a small engine with a higher compression ratio, so like the MINI, premium is still the thing.

BUT, I typically fill up with 7 - 8 gallons of gas and with 43 average mpg the extra $1.50 doesn't really make much difference!

There was a little confusion with the EPA site. See this post: 2010 runs on regular gas ?!

I totally agree with you on this...Putt Putt is averaging the same mpg. But , and it may be just mind games, I've run a couple of tanks with sunoco ultra (93 octane) and he seems to run like a bat out of hell.

spiceJax · 03-20-2010, 05:52 PM

You have to drive a smart and see how roomy it is inside. There's a smartcenter in Annapolis. go check it out!

MJB

BB Benz · 03-20-2010, 07:15 PM

Delighted to have you here!
Your smart will be 3 feet shorter than your Mini Cooper. You will like the standard features that you would normally find on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. After all these were designed by Mercedes-Benz engineers!
Like rfernatt and Putt-Putt's owner, I average 39-43 mpg depending on my lead foot.
This car is different to drive, but is very much like the nicest air-conditioned street legal Go-Kart that will still get you 40 + mpg depending on what you can coax out of it while having great fun. Also depending on how many other smarts are in your neighborhood, you will get lots of attention. And I do mean LOTS!

If you have not already, by all means go to www.safeandsmart.com and www.truthaboutsmart.co.uk, a website in the uk that is fun, interactive, and informative, though talks about the diesel version that we did not get. Another site that has a wealth of current information but also has information about variations no longer made is www.evilution.co.uk . Our USA smarts are different as are Canadian smarts so not all information will apply.
Rich