Cars that cut your gas bill in half

[yuckmoon]

This is on CNN Money today. Enjoy

Cars that cut your gas bill in half

These three minis manage to combine maximum gas mileage with just enough zoom.



Cars that cut your gas bill in half - Aug. 13, 2008

[jwight]

I discovered a new concern, however, while heading home up a 20%-grade hill. Halfway up, even in manual first gear, the Smart stalled, unable to limp the final 20 feet. I had to gingerly reverse, stacking up traffic in both directions.

What?

[yuckmoon]

Originally Posted by jwight

What?

Yeah. I thought that sounded a bit odd considering I just went on a road trip this past weekend, all in the mountains and able to maintain a 75 mph. I just figured his hill was special. But over all I thought it was a nice review.

[texaspierz]

That could be possible, because we have a sharp incline going up our driveway. Our problem is we have to turn 90 degrees and come up a sharp hill. The car doesn't stall, but it is sluggish until it pulls into the level garage. Just a quirk that makes her more fun to drive!

[vwW12]

«however, while heading home up a 20%-grade hill. Halfway up, even in manual first gear, the Smart stalled, unable to limp the final 20 feet»

Wow.

That is a pretty serious diss right there. "Stalled"? The hill-assist must have engaged and a person with no experience with cars with hill-holding assist technology was unable to figure out that all she needed was to give it some gas.

That's the sort of shoddy journalism that perpetuates myhts reagarding modern, efficient vehicles such as the smart car.

[BigWarpGuy]

Too bad they did list the Twike.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

Too bad they did list the Twike.

Not a car.

[Kermit]

I had to take a rural detour a few weeks ago. A drunk hit a telephone pole by my house. We had to go out in the woods on a soft sand road (not packed dirt) about 2 miles to get around the downed power lines. There were a few areas where the dirt was so soft the car bogged down in the same way that it is described for the hill. Luckily in the really deep sections it just made it out. Weird how it would bog until it practically stalled, I made sure I was in 1st too.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by texaspierz

That could be possible, because we have a sharp incline going up our driveway. Our problem is we have to turn 90 degrees and come up a sharp hill. The car doesn't stall, but it is sluggish until it pulls into the level garage. Just a quirk that makes her more fun to drive!

Try giving it more gas next time and let us know the results.

[Karl Roth]

Most cars with traction control cut power and apply brakes to prevent wheel spin, stepping on the gas will usually allow it to add more power and move you along. Eight months of driving the car on hills highways and gravel roads snow sleet and even a hail storm the car never stalled.
karl