Here is a key consideration to gas mileage....

[jonnysan]

COuldn't get the link to work right and still can't....article in CNNMoney. Basically says what most here already know but some are in denial over....gas mileage can drop as much as 4mpg at road speeds over 60 due to increased drag effects. This doesn't sit well with many, including me, because I like to drive in the 70-75 mph range to keep from getting run over and ....to get there!
Like the song goes...I can't drive....55!

John

[wdw412]

Originally Posted by jonnysan

http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AvKTioB...nnmoney.com%2F

Not a valid link

[erikdfier]

This has been proven to myself for years. Aerodynamics (or lack of) play a huge roll in fuel consumption and I rarely drive above 75 mph now. The new EPA standards cruise at 80 mph and that is crazy in a Smart car

Your definitely on to something with your statement. "I like to drive in the 70-75 mph range to keep from getting run over" Thats the truth. I never realized how creepy it was to drive at an honest safe speed of 65 mph until I got the Smart car.

[dennyrex]

the last thing I want to do is drive at 80 mph or 75 or even 70. I'll be doing my best to stay under 60, and driving the appropriate roads for it whenever possible. like anybody out there driving on the freeway has the skills to drive safely at 80 ;-)
I won't mind the bump up in mpg, either of course, but I don't need to get anywhere that fast.

one thing hitch-hiking and walking does for you over the years is give you a good sense of on-time and under budget ;-)

[jwight]

John, is this the article?

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/26/auto..._gas/index.htm

[4-2NV]

Originally Posted by erikdfier

This has been proven to myself for years. Aerodynamics (or lack of) play a huge roll in fuel consumption and I rarely drive above 75 mph now. The new EPA standards cruise at 80 mph and that is crazy in a Smart car

Your definitely on to something with your statement. "I like to drive in the 70-75 mph range to keep from getting run over" Thats the truth. I never realized how creepy it was to drive at an honest safe speed of 65 mph until I got the Smart car.

My last two driving trips from Boston to NYC and this past weekend to Philly I conciously kept to 65 mph instead of my usual 75+. I was able to get upwards of 22-23mpg average out of my Chysler 300 SRT8 vs the more typical 18-19 mpg at the higher speeds. And I was not getting run over, rather I drove comfortably in the right lane with the traffic and often in the center passing lane at that speed on the highways. The drive was much more relaxing as well. Not ready yet to try it in the smart, mostly because I have no spare tire and too few miles on it to be comfortable that breakdown is not likely. And admittedly, the big Detroit iron competes better with the 18 wheelers and is quite a bit more comfortable for my old bones over 4 hours of driving. My wife also threatened to take away my keys if I dare attempt to take on the Cross Bronx Expressway in the smart.

[erikdfier]

I've noticed that driving at a steady pace in traffic will also increase mileage by reducing some wind resistance. I'm getting 43+ MPG during my commute so far, cutting my gas costs in half.

[Fredvon4]

I drive Interstate 10 from San Antonio Tx to El Paso Tx several times a year. With the exception of a few mile either side of 3 towns on the 745 mile route the speed limit is posted at 80 mph. I can prove with absolute certainty that my 7800 pound F350 uses less total fuel at 80~85mph vs the days when it was posted 55mph due to Fed Gvmt mandated speed limit.

Hint... The longer the run at a higher average speed the shorter the trip duration..... think about that for a bit

Do not forget that the smart car is driven quite efficiently in Germany at autobahn speeds of 100Kph (62mph) to 130Kph (80mph).... I saw, or was passed by, many doing significantly faster. wink

[jwight]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermiler

Been posted before but bears a re-look.

[erikdfier]

Originally Posted by 4-2NV

The drive was much more relaxing as well. Not ready yet to try it in the smart, mostly because I have no spare tire and too few miles on it to be comfortable that breakdown is not likely. And admittedly, the big Detroit iron competes better with the 18 wheelers and is quite a bit more comfortable for my old bones over 4 hours of driving. My wife also threatened to take away my keys if I dare attempt to take on the Cross Bronx Expressway in the smart.

The Smart car was surprisingly comfortable over my road trip last weekend, which covered over 400 miles and 190 mile nonstop segments. Give it a shot, I think you'll be surprised.

OK, I'm no sedan lover so I cant compare it to anything other than my 3 other cars, which are sports cars and the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.