It took 10 years to put 20,000 miles on my last car so MPG doesn't mean much to me. However, I am tired of sitting on a cushion to see where I'm going in our SUV and practically need a crane to get me out of my daughter's Saturn (old age is hell - lol)...Smart will solve both of those problems. Have already seen one in the neighborhood. Kinda startled me when it came whipping around a corner like gangbusters.
the smart cars mpg numbers are disappointing to my $500 93 geo metro ! I get 45 mpg in my metro. There are thousands of nice metros out there that get mid to upper forties in mpg and can be bought for less than $2000 easily. There is absolutely no reason why smart can't take virtually the same engine that was used in early nineties metros and put it in a smaller vehicle and get worse mileage.
Another thing. Why can the 05 European Gas smarts get 55 to 60 mpg and the 08s get 20 mpg worse? Why ? Why ?
I am still getting a smartcuz it looksso damn cool but the mpg is very dissapointing!
As was mentioned earlier in this thread, you can blame the US govt for not getting a diesel smart. The equipment necessary would have been nie impossible for this little car. It would also have been prohibitivly expensive for such a small vehicle. I have to agree that people seem to be confusing this simple little car as something akin to a hybrid. It isnt.... period. And thats why I am buying it. I for one do not trust the technology, especially considering the questionable reliability of such complex systems. I have heard that replacing the batteries in a Prius would cost thousands of dollars. No thanks. I dont want to be part of Toyota's guinea pig pen where I foot the bill for new technology that is easy on my concious, but buries my wallet. The smart is a gem, in that its a simple small car powered by a proven technology. Good old internal combustion. And for running on plain old gas, available anywhere I think the mileage is fantastic.
Concerning the OP's purchase, Its not my place to say if it was right or wrong. But I'll throw in my two cents for good measure. Dont get me wrong I love VW's and will certainly purchase one in the future. But they took the bait hook.. line and sinker for paying the premium for a diesel. Everyone.. everywhere are jacking up prices of diesel VW's. A car that originally sold for 18k should not be selling for 14K with 80k miles on it. If you look in the market 2.0 and 1.8T Jettas with comparable miles are selling for around 10k or less. Considering the higher cost of diesel right now, all I see it good for is practicality, in that you can travel further on a full tank. But even with smart taking premium, i'm sure it will still save you more money, and you wont have to worry about always finding fuel.
I do hope you enjoy the car, its great, but I hope that the purchase was a wise one for you.
This thread seems to me to be the most thoughtful, intelligently written and considerate that I have read on this forum for some time now.There have been a number of defectors of late and usually their reasonings have been met with a certain amount of ridicule and sometimes outright derision which is sad. Some posters write that the smart is just a car, others that it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, it's both. And it's neither. We all have a decision to make when our number is called, hopefully we are all satisfied with the decision that is made.
I'm happy you found a car you like but I'm confused by your parting "one finger salute" shot. If mileage is your primary concern you have made the proper choice ... for you. I have a other concerns which supersede the mileage issue, chief among them is parking and population density. this is perhaps best illustrated by the following facts.
Plainfield, CT
July 2006: 15,417 (+5.5% change)
Land area: 42.3 square miles.
Population density: 363 people per square mile*
*(very low).
Seattle WA
in July 2006: 582,454 (+3.4% change)
Land area: 83.9 square miles.
Population density: 6866 people per square mile*
*(high).
From www.citi-data.com
And my mileage for the week was 46.3 MPG!!!!! I can't wait to see what my highway mileage will be. I have read online that many get around 52 mpg during long highway trips.
I like VWs and have one and I've followed the forthcoming TDI in the Jetta Sportswagen. If you don't mind the turbo lag, it isn't a bad drive; it is, however, filthy and the new "clean" diesels aren't much better. And while biodiesel is somewhat better, to use 100% biodiesel is very hard on engine seals and gaskets.
Check out the EPA site for the 2008 Mercedes E320 Bluetech versus the E350; the new "clean" diesel puts out nearly three times as much smog as the gasoline version.
It may solve the mileage issue for some folks, but IMO it's not a very balanced solution.
Mercedes, BMW and VW all had new diesel models at the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) that will be here in the next year or so. Don't expect the first two companies to deliver high mpg, but the new VW diesels should be very good. And all will be more expensive than the smart. Plenty of rumors and speculation as to what PAG has cooking for 2010 or 2011 - diesel, MHD, full electric?
These engines are already available in Europe. Check out Autocar.uk.co. I might be willing to live with the turbo lag if they smog factor wasn't ~3x higher.
The smog rating for a 2005 Jetta TDI is nearly five times higher (25) than the gasoline version (5.29) and absolutely the highest number I've found on the EPA site for any recent car.
Somehow, the finger now takes on additional significance.
The best of luck to you... let's hope you escape a lot of the VW electrical gremlins that have been known to spoil what is an excellent car.
I'm buying the smart because it is small. I like the challenge and practicality of small spaces (be it housing, automobiles...etc). My other vehicle is an SUV that gets 30MPG on the highway if I'm not driving like a jackass. I do have to admit that the environmental impact is not really a factor in me choosing the smart... I'm greener than the average person. The main attractant to me is the small footprint on the road during my commute, and the fact that I can park the thing anywhere.
I'm buying smart for multiple reasons. Gas mileage (still more than double my Ford Explorer Sport Trac), I like unusual vehicles(allways wanted an original mini or isetta) and it fits in the garage with my Harley, Piaggio MP3, and Honda Big Ruckus. Everytime I here about another person changing their mind I keep thinking that despite all they say, its really the turn in the stock market and general economic downturn that has them re-thinking dropping 15-20 thousand on something that isn't necessarily needed.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Today
Linear Mode
