My 1574 mile adventure!

[Mr Bean]

My Smartie Adventure

I left Atlanta on Thursday the 17th of July to head to Mt. Vernon Ohio to see my Mom and then go to Vanceburg KY to a Family reunion. I had my car on the freeway here in Atlanta be did not want to head up I-75 with all the trucks so I would be traveling to Ohio via US RT 23. As a bonus, US 23 is a real pretty drive.

As I headed north I ran into another Smartie on US 23 in Franklin NC, we ran together for awhile and it was neat having a caravan! We came to one of only two hills that were a challenge in my five days and I had the car in Auto and it kicked down to fourth but I was never under 50 mph. We parted ways when he went north on US 441 but did find out he was from Athens.

I had 888 miles on my car when I left and I made my first stop for gas and the night at Wise Va and found out that I had gotten 46 MPG running the highway. I had been getting 34 in town so I said Whoopee! On Friday I would run from Wise Va, to Newark Ohio and would get 42 MPG. I stopped at my nephews in Louisa KY but he was not home and then headed to an Uncles in Ashland. He had a Pontiac, Chevrolet dealership for many years and was very impressed with my Smart. I crossed the Ohio and picked up US 52 to OH RT 93. OMG! What a blast. The road is curvy and the Smart was like driving a go cart. MAN, did it hug the curves; I was taking most of them at twice the posted speed. I had a Blast! I then picked up OH 664 north of US 33 and it was like riding a roller coaster. Not only curves but those humpy hills that make you got weightless. I was having FUN!

On Saturday I stopped and saw my Mom in Mt Vernon Ohio and then headed south and spent the night in Portsmouth Oh. I went to my cousins Church in Scotts Branch KY on Sunday as my Aunt had passed on July 4th. Was a real nice old time country service.

I left there and headed to a family reunion in Vanceburg KY and had a great time. I left the reunion and took 2 lane road down through KY and picked up US 23 again in Prestonburg. I spent the night in Big Stone Gap VA and came home Monday and was even able to stop at Harrah’s in Cherokee on the way home for a couple of hours. Hey, I had plenty of money to gamble with what I had saved on Gas!

I had 1574 total miles with a low of 42 MPG and a high of 49. I averaged 46. The car ran great and I did get down to 55 on a couple of hills and it had kicked down to 4th. I ran in Drive all the way. On one hill I did get some pinging before it downshifted. I let up when it happened and as soon as I push the accelerator again it kicked down to 4th.

The ride was very comfortable and I did not miss cruise control at all. I had my Ipod with me so I used that for tunes all the way. I also did not run the air at all.

I do not think that the car was meant for long distance traveling but I would not hesitate to do it again. I talked to a TON of folks and got my picture taken so many times by people with cell phones that I lost count.

Mike

[jwight]

Thanks for the report - lots of good info and great gas mileage. BTW, my late mother-in-law was from Mt. Vernon.

PS - the real Mr Bean would have done the trip in his Mini!

[smarteepants]

What's the speed limit and how fast were you driving? Here in Utah, the posted speed limits are 75 but everyone drives 85. There even trying to raise the limit to 80 mph on certain parts of I-15. At those speeds, I'm only getting 39 mpg. Sounds like a great trip. I live in a very mountainous area at over 6000 ft elevation, and I have been very impressed with the hill climbing ability of the smart. It easily keeps up with most the traffic.

[citroen]

boise idaho to glacier park montana and back 1780 miles speed 50-80, petrol used 35 gal. priceless. and i thought i got a lot of strange looks in my citroen 2cv6!!!!!!!. think i'll order another!

[Cliff@YourLEDShop]

wow, good gas milage