Buy a Smart for the mileage??

[deltadart]

Saw my first Smart the other day and had a good talk with the owner. I expected to hear many good things about it but didn't hear all that much. Yea she said it's cute but mileage is far less than she expected. To top it off she has to buy premimum gas. With a mix of city/highway she's getting 34-35 mpg. I told her it should get better when it get's broken in but she said so what if the mileage increases 5-7 mpg she will be getting only 40-42 mpg. She admitted she let the "cuteness factor" sway her opinion. She said she sold her 2001 Chevy Cavalier that got 32 mpg with the same kind of driving. I told her I drive a 2004 Cavalier and get 32mpg city/highway and burn 87 octane gas. She flat out told me not to buy the Smart. Whats your thoughts?

[Flashman]

A 2001 Chevy Cavalier was rated for 20/29 (4-speed auto). A 2004 model got 21/31. So I seriously question that you or her were truly getting 32mpg in combined city/highway driving. Might want to re-test your actual mileage.

[min4cin]

Sounds like buyers remorse to me, She now realizes the smart is smaller than the cavalier and can haul less, a problem if the smart is your only car. Didn't she read the smart web info as to the gas requirements and the mileage? We are buying a Smart to add to our garage family would never consider having it as our only car.

[Razorback]

I am purchasing the smart for several reasons, one being the gas mileage but that is only one of the main factors. I like the fact that the smart has replaceable panels, is 'GREEN", small, good looking, very stylish, standard safety options, price, and several other factors that making a smart a smart purchase. Buying a smart for the mileage? They would have been better off keeping what they had or purchasing a different vehicle.

[jonnysan]

[QUOTE=deltadart;80485]she will be getting only 40-42 mpg. QUOTE]

Maybe it hasn't occured to her that the smart for the $$$$ invested, had the highest mileage of any naturally aspirated engined car to date to hit the roads in the US. Isn't it interesting how all these great cars from the past suddenly have become great gas mizers of the 21st century?

Give me a break.

It should also occur to her that driving habits have a whole lot to do with mileage....don't blame the car. And only getting 40-42 mpg at a time when brand new Hummers with 2 people in the vehicle still cavorting around the highways boasted of their phenomenal 20mpg!!

How come so many people still don't get it??? They will very soon.

I will be so glad when mpg comparisons go away and cents/mile is the norm....as in EV's costing 3 cents/mile to operate vs ICE powered costing 15 cents (and rising) per mile. That's for equivalently sized/weight vehicles....

[LinuxGuy]

I made up my mind that my next car I bought would be required to get 40 mpg (2007 EPA rating) or more on the highway and cost less than $15,000. This left 3 choices: smart, Yaris or Fit. Could not see myself driving a Fit so that left the smart or Yaris. smart mpg rating is higher and it is more suitable for my needs! So, mileage was a big factor along with price in my purchase decision.

[LorbeerTLC]

I bought mine because it's the only high fuel mileage vehicle (Hybrids included), that's offered in a cabrio model. I'm getting about 40mpg on average. Toyota Prius would have been my second choice... but I might have held off for either the Plug-In Prius or the new Chevrolet Volt at the end of 2010.

At any rate... I'm VERY happy with my 2008 smart fortwo Passion Cabrio. I'm finding the size really is a plus when trying to find a parking space and now the extra room in my garage is great too!

-Tom L.

[GPfeffermann]

My Passion Smart Car has about 500 miles on it. On mostly steady speed 55-60 mph, I get as high as 46 mpg. In mixed driving, with a lot of regaining speed from low revs, I get 28. Anyone figured out what the optimum rpm or speed in 5 th. gear is, mileage-wise ?

Guy

[Smart09]

i am getting this vehicle for the gas mileage but im not putting anything more than premium. it has no MPG change as many of the other smart drivers have stated. its a good buy but later also thinking of getting an electric.

[kwagar]

Let's face it. At 12,000 miles per year and 20MPG versus 12,000 miles at 40 MPG is a difference of 300 gals of gas per year. Even at $5 per gallon the difference is $1500 per year or $4500 for 3 years and $9000 for 6 years.

This makes it very difficult to get a dollar return on the purchase of any car unless there are other reasons for needing or wanting a different car.

That being said, if all drivers got 40 MPG there would be one hell of a drop in the imports of foreign oil and that would be a good thing.

If you are going to buy a car then the mileage can make a big difference in your choices along with the purchase price of the car but just to buy it for the mileage increase if you weren't buyimng otherwise is not a good financial choice in most cases.