Finally 50-mpg! - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Macaw · 10-19-2008, 07:29 PM

Only took 9,000+ miles but finely got to the allusive 50mpg. 95%-highway and 5% in town. Took a long trip and when possible was behind a semi (made sure I could see driver in his mirror) not too close and was running between 62 and 65mph and with a 14-mi stint at 70mph. Just squeeked in at 50mpg. Same trip earlier in the week running 70-mph with air running and a stiff head wind and running solo netted 41mpg.

jetfuel · 10-19-2008, 07:31 PM

...pretty good....
...fuel grade?

jetfuel

Kermit · 10-19-2008, 07:35 PM

I have been sooo soooo close but can't break the 50mpg barrier. Lucky dog!

Macaw · 10-19-2008, 07:36 PM

93-octane marathon
38-psi front and rear
no a/c windows up

jetfuel · 10-19-2008, 07:40 PM

thanks bud...to quote bling...lucky dog

jetfuel

Macaw · 10-19-2008, 08:02 PM

Now that fall is upon us being able to run with no a/c is averaging 44-45mpg on my commutes.

Kermit · 10-19-2008, 08:07 PM

I have another month of so before I can commute with the windows up and A/C off. Right now is windows down and A/C off but it's helping me yield some nice MPG's.

sixcrows · 10-19-2008, 11:49 PM

I topped 50 MPG for my third time this weekend.

I took a trip from Schenectady, NY to Lake Placid, NY. The round trip miles were 328. I avoided the straight and fast Route 87 North in favor of winding back roads all the way there, and all the way back. My top speed was under 60MPH. The final mileage came in at 51.09 mpg.
During the trip, I tried hard to maintain a constant speed, which was difficult because I had to climb and descend the Adirondack Mountains. Once I hit the mountains, I shifted from Auto to Manual to allow me to downshift when I needed a little boost over the tougher hills.

My mileage has varied widely, from a low of 30MPG to a high of 57MPG.
I am averaging 41.27 MPG after 28 tanks of gas.

Dave Van · 10-20-2008, 08:49 AM

My best was 49.6 so yet to get the five-oh....but IF I do it will just be for fun...very happy with the car even when after a fill-up I calculate and get only 45 mpg....still good!

**jwight** · 10-20-2008, 09:04 AM

FYI, there's a long thread on smartmaniacs about disappointing mpg - their 451s aren't attaining the advertised 60 mpg. Some people are never happy.