My -Fill in the blank- gets better mpg than that!!

[conchobar]

Is it just me or does everyone think they get better mileage than the Smart? I'm not even talking about Civic, Yaris, or Geo drivers, but Camry, Altima, and E-Class drivers. A girl last night is convinced she gets 42 city/ 46 hwy on her early 2000s Mitsubishi Mirage. Typically I don't respond to silly comments like that one, but I just flat out told her, that was complete BS (No, I didn't curse). Based on my interactions, the average american, SUV drivers withstanding, thinks they get 36-40 mpg combined. Whats the craziest mileage claims you guys have heard?

My wife suggests that I tell them that I drive 300 miles then fill up on $15 worth of premium, to put things in perspective for them.

[2micro4u]

Your not alone.... Or people with hybrids will say hey I get better mileage than you and my car is bigger. I just smile and say of course its a hybrid! Now compare a only Gas powered car against the Smart and then we can talk.

[smartHHO]

I hear ya. I was in the Mall one day, and there was a Smart there for a drawing. This old man tells me after looking at the Milage sticker on the window, why would I buy one of these when my Kia Rio gets 38mpg in the city, and 45 on the Hwy. I was shaking my head due to the fact that I had a Kia Rio at that time and max combined with pulling extra tricks was only 36.

[unicycle]

Well, I don't get people trying to outsmart my milage, but the general public does tend to fool itself on the issue of how (blank) they are. Yesterday a woman I know told me that her '05 Mini Cooper convertible gets 38 mpg. This seemed suspiciously high, so I checked a few sites and told her the results. Basically her # is probably closer to 33. It turns out that she'd calculated the results years ago based on one fillup.

Unforch, there are plenty of smart car drivers who make the same mistake. They drive 250 miles, put in 5 gallons, and declare that they're getting 50 mpg. So let's be mindful that this sort of fooling oneself comes from both camps.

[SuperGeek]

And then there's the 2008 EPA calculation switch. By 2007 methods, the Smart would get somewhere around 45-47 hwy using EPA methods. They updated the calculation to be more in line with current driving habits and highway speeds in the 70mph range. The old calculations assumed 55-60mph highway speeds, and in most cars that makes a huge difference due to wind resistance. Especially the Smart, which is about as aerodynamic as a brick. If/when competition heats up, I expect Smart could redesign the outer surfaces to be smoother in a wind tunnel and get another 10% highway mileage or better. The core drivetrain's a good balance for North American needs - speed vs. economy.

[mike-in-sa]

I get that all the time too. I quit talking milage and tell them the truth is; I bought my smart for the looks it gets and the attracion it brings to my business. Would have bought mine if it only got 15 mpg. All the comments I get from people show me this is a good strategy.

[Kermit]

Just last night I heard it. This of course is in a town where I'd say a good amount of the general populous has IQ's well under 100. Parked out on the front row as my wife was meeting me for dinner and I was a good 45 minutes early.

Got lots of positive reactions, remarks and even the regular camera-phone picture takers. Then as I was sitting on a bench I heard it......"Hey Billy-Bob (or insert whatever the name was), your Geo used to get twice the mileage of that and that is REALLY expensive".

I wanted to reply that I used to have a Metro and it only got about 2-4mpg's better but was substantially more unsafe and didn't have a fraction of the luxuries the Smart has.......but I just shut my mouth and waited for the next person to come along. Sure enough, the buzz among the crowds outside the restaurant was about the car so it didn't take long. All the rest of the comments I heard were all positive.

[rfernatt]

A few quotes come to mind with some of these discussions...

1. "Everyone is entitled to their own ridiculous opinion." - Unknown

2. "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it." - George Bernard Shaw

3. "Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave." - Penguins from Madagascar


I did have a Prius driver bring it up and I had to point out that it was an apples-oranges comparison, and the smart costs at least $10K less.

[forestacademy]

Just say it is the highest Gas only MPG currently available new. Refer them to www.fueleconomy.gov
Yes SOME Hybrids top it in the city but you can remind them they are carrying arounds toxins in those batteries that have a huge environmental impact.
Some will also hit you with the Deisel comment but you can remind them you can get two smarts for one of them

[SuperGeek]

People will always try to one-up the new guy - the Prius to Smart comparison isn't even close on long term costs. $10k = about 5,000 gallons of fuel now, or 2,000 when we had our peak last year. Billy Bob's Metro was a contender on MPGs alone, but has outdated safety specs and had performance like a diesel Smart. And it was dropped from the lineup. If you want the long-term dollars-saved argument, the lower cost of the Smart vs. anything modern stands true with gas from $1/gallon to $50/gallon. Anyone saying their car gets better MPGs has to drive > 200k miles to see an extra penny in their wallet. And during that 200k miles the same $10k will double in the stock market. So, they can't compete on dollars alone no matter how they try. They could drive a Vespa - that would be cheaper, yes.

Then add in the it's-so-huggable reaction from 90% of everyone - even guys - and ask if their car can compete on that. Economy, appearance, ecology, turning radius... the Smart is a great contender on a lot of fronts and overall pretty darn good.

Why must people try to defend their purchase of a different car? It's a choice, not a competition. Are so many people that insecure? Don't answer that, I already know.