Gas Miles per Gallon tracking

[Mitspowered]

Welp here are two new mileage reports.

Location:
Florida (nice and flat)
Load: single passenger, maybe 20-40lbs in "stuff" for the first trip shown below.
Tire pressure:
Thanks for reminding me-I need to check that.
************
211 miles
Nearly all high way driving. Windy day, driving at probably 70-80 mph average
93? octane (Utltra Premium) at Hess
6.883 gallons
30.65 MPG
**************
246.2 miles
Proably 150 miles of highway driving-less frentic pace-I'd say 65-75 tops.
The remainder was just top and go driving around town.
EDIT:93 octane Amaco Ulitimate
[forgot I am presently driving on the Hess gass]
[(Utltra Premium) at Hess (different location than first)]
6.103 gallons
40.34 MPG (that's more like it!)

I've been making a concious effort to drive the car at a more relaxed pace-the first few drives were of a head bobbing sort when leaving stoplights. I haven't bothered with the manual shifting except to "play" with it 2 or 3 times. Now the car is MUCH smoother, but a lot of cars seem to tail gate for the first fifty or so feet and then go around me (BTW, I am nearly always in the rightmost lane). Interestingly, once I am up to speed,we nearly always tend to arrive at the same place at the same time if there are no lights to stop me.

Since this last fillup, I have found myself checking to see how many miles I've driven before the first (last?) goes out. And, yes, I know it's not an accurate way to gauge MPG, but it is wholly satisfying to what the miles go by and still seeing that bar illuminated. (it went off today at 59ish miles)

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by Mitspowered

Welp here are two new mileage reports.

Location:
Florida (nice and flat)
Load: single passenger, maybe 20-40lbs in "stuff" for the first trip shown below.
Tire pressure:
Thanks for reminding me-I need to check that.
************
211 miles
Nearly all high way driving. Windy day, probably 70-80 mph average
93? octane (Utltra Premium) at Hess
6.883 gallons
30.65 MPG
**************
246.2 miles
Proably 150 miles of highway driving-less frentic pace-I'd say 65-75 tops.
The remainder was just top and go driving around town.
93? octane (Utltra Premium) at Hess (different location than first)
6.103 gallons
40.34 MPG (that's more like it!)

I've been making a concious effort to drive the car at a more relaxed pace-the first few drives were of a head bobbing sort when leaving stoplights. I haven't bothered with the manual shifting except to "play" with it 2 or 3 times. Now the car is MUCH smoother, but a lot of cars seem to tail gate for the first fifty or so feet and then go around me (BTW, I am nearly always in the rightmost lane). Interestingly, once I am up to speed,we nearly always tend to arrive at the same place at the same time if there are no lights to stop me.

Since this last fillup, I have found myself checking to see how many miles I've driven before the first (last?) goes out. And, yes, I know it's not an accurate way to gauge MPG, but it is wholly satifying to what the miles go by and still seeing that bar illuminated. (it went off today at 59ish miles)

don't worry about the head bobbing drive it like an auto and it will smooth out fast. I know that isn't what the dealer told you, try it.
karl

[Karl Roth]

179 miles 4.5 gal 92 octane $14.87 this tank 39.8mpg average from new 38 mpg average at www.fueleconomy.com 37.9 only 15 smart cars registered.
Spent more on my bar tab than for gas... Good deal.
karl

[vibrato]

OK,.....Here are the details and some pointed disagreements with all those nay sayers out ther re: wind deflection, bridge winds, truck drafting, etc, etc.
I really don't get all the negativism...STILL, with this great smart vehicle.

Here are some details re my recent pick up of my smart and my return trip home. Which was exactly 755 miles from pick up to in Cary, NC to Thomaston, CT.

I have a home in NC and CT. So when I configured my smart I did it with my CT address. Then I changed my mind and decided to take delivery in NC. So I reconfigured and changed it to NC. So, guess what **- the car actually came in EARLIER than I expected (au contrare to all those DDE complaints!!)

So I get a call from my Cary NC dealer that my car IS THERE. My gosh, can ya believe it....it's earlier than the DDE and whatever other negative posts are here. Be patient my friends.....it's gonna be there soon!!

OK...enough about all of that. Here are the details of the trip from NC to CT:

Picked up the car with 10 miles (that's ten miles on the odometer!!) Sales lady...(and a very good one too....) tells me and reassures me she personally filled the car and it is FULL of 93 octane fuel.

So, I'm a bit apprehensive about jumping into this new breed auto for the USA AND HEADING straight from Cary, NC to CT. So my plan is to kind of take a leisurely trip up to CT via roads/Interstates that would be close to new smart dealers. I'm in no hurry, so I thought I would go - Cary, NC to Virginia Beach, VA. (There's a dealer in VA Beach) should I need service or emergency repair. So I set out from Cary...drive to VA Beach, VA....I don't need gas but I fill er' up any way. I have the leg to leg mileage if anybody wants it....but for the total trip here is what I got:

755 miles total drive in two days (overnight in VA Beach) approx 283 miles from Cary, NC.to VA Beaqh.

Head out the second day thinking about the "perilous" crossing of the Chesapeake Bay bRIDGE and tunnel**-NO PROBLEM. No wid shifting or drifting. Cross te Delaware Mem Br. ... NO PROBLEM....get on the NJ Tpk...NO PROBLEM.....get on the Garden State Pkwy.....NO PROBLEM... In fact I'm havin' a ball weaving in and out of that mundane traffic and enjoying my smallness to play smart and change lanes with and fight for advantages with the big mercedes, bmw's, etc.

Cross the Tappanzee Br.....NO PROBLEM.....

Now I'm in CT. Yup in CT and finally home. Here are all the details you need.

I logged 755 miles 95% highway. Tried to keep it under 70 all the way, but the smart wanted to go faster at times. I think I hit 75mph one time. Drove the ENTIRE way in Auto "D" shift mode. Never pushed or over reved the beast.

I kept detailed logs of fuel. But, to make a long story short, I burned 16.7 gals of 93 Octane (didn't care about the brand and didn't record it either) For a 755 mile trip in two days. = Avg of 45 mpg. HEY, I'm impressed!!

Additionally, I didn't burn a drop of oil, I checked it at home and it was full, sweet honey colored (light yellow) no smut, ! I ran the AC not at all. I checked the tire pressures frequently******-no problems. I started out with 30psi front & 38 rear. I had no issues with the transmission or how the car was prepped. It was great!! And, as a bonus, My back didn't bother me any more (I think less) than when I'd made a similar trip in my luxury SUV.

Hey, I bought the yellow/black passion. I'm gonna buy another one real soon. I'm gonna get a cabriolet...but I'm gonna WAIT to see if there are any body/mechanical changes that might come out in 2009 or 2010. I love the car. And it ain't because of the mileage.....it's because it's fun, fun, fun to drive!!!

Any questions........I got answers!! But STOP THE NEGATIVE Blah, Blah, Blah!!!!! :-)

[Dave777]

Good job vibrato. 45 MPG is about right for 95% highway and under 70 MPH.

[4-2NV]

Fillups to date:

32.7 mpg
33.1 mpg
33.6 mpg
36.3 mpg

Last one was a fill by a kid who kept clicking in more fuel after the stop while asking about the car, so it may be a bit high. I also recall forgetting to reset trip odo on third tank till about 10 miles which would add 0.3 mpg to the third and reduce fourth by that amount, which makes more sense.

Driving mostly 10 mile runs back roads to and from work, plus local trips, last 2 tanks entirely in auto mode.

Trending in the right direction and probably indicative of what this car does in local driving (with my driving style, whatever that is)

[jpkherd]

OK, @ 900 miles on my Pure. Mostly suburban highway with some around town. Highway speeds about 70, because any slower and I would get run over.

33.2
32.3
35.6
39.7

The last one was done on Mid Grade not premium. I thought it was interesting that it is the highest so far. I can't wait to hit the 40's! All of my other cars get MPGs in the teens, so the Smart is an interesting change for me.


Much like 4-2NV's post above, my mpgs have been getting better each time. It seems like there truly is a break in period. Once those metal/metal surfaces get lapped in properly it seems like things do run a little better. I don't think my driving habits are any different.

Although I do have manual shifting, I don't have the paddles - It is a Pure. All driving in regular "D" mode.

7 Gallons is the most I have filled up. The others were about 6-1/2, 4-1/2 and 6-1/2.

Oil looks great, but I do smell a little coolant smell every once and a while. I may have to get this checked out.

JPK

[strider63]

Location:Charlottesville, VA
Typical terrain: hilly/flat, 500ft altitude.
Driving style: conservative
Load: single drive mostly
Fuel brand and octane: Kroger's 93
Fillups
1st -7 gal-252 miles, Odometer 260 (70/30 highway/city) = 36mpg
2nd -5.59 gal–178.5 miles, Odometer 438 (0/100 highway/city) = 32mpg
3rd -7.465 gal–281.6 miles, Odometer 720 (15/85 highway/city) = 37.72mpg
4th -7.760 gal-310.5 miles, Odometer 1031 (40/60 highway/city) = 40.01mpg

[911k]

Location: Dallas, TX
Typical terrain: flat
Load: single drive mostly
Fuel brand and octane: Dealer fill
Fillups
1st -7.05 gal-289 miles, Odometer 295 (70/30 highway/city) = 40.99 mpg

[smartSparky]

Originally Posted by smartSparky

Second measured tank. (I always buy gas at the same Costco, 91 octane).

Total miles to date: 467
Miles this tank: 138.5, (about 120 freeway 70-80 mph, top down)
3.940 gal. ($3.699/gal) = 35.152 mpg (all miles were in auto vs. 1st measured tank which was paddle/manual)

Going to try an experiment next week on my usual freeway run from Corona to No. San Diego County, all freeway driving will be with the top up. I want to see if there is a drag factor from soakin' up the 'rays. I'll let you know.

Sparky

Measured Tank #3:

Total miles: 662

Miles this tank: 194.3 (about 120 freeway 70-80 mph, top UP)
5.293 gal., ($3.799/gal. @ Costco 91 Oct.) = 36.709 MPG

So, a modest improvement from last week but not sure if it's from the enginge "running in" or driving freeway speeds with the top closed. If it is from the top being closed, to me it's only a modest increase and worth the cost to enjoy the sunny So. Cal. spring weather.

This week I'll go back to my usual driving habit, (top down unless it's raining), and see if the mileage drops again.

Sparky