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

[jmatero]

I have a 2008 smart and 2008 Mini Cooper (non-S) and the cooper gets the same... and sometimes better... mpg driven fairly aggressively as the smart does driven conservatively. Don't know how BMW did it but it's an amazing car.

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by jmatero

I have a 2008 smart and 2008 Mini Cooper (non-S) and the cooper gets the same... and sometimes better... mpg driven fairly aggressively as the smart does driven conservatively. Don't know how BMW did it but it's an amazing car.

Not acording to www.fueleconomy.gov
Does someone want to report from another site.

2008 smart fortwo coupe
33
City
36
Combined
41
Average based on 40 vehicles.

38.5


2008 MINI Cooper Manual
28
City
32
Combined
37
Hwy
Average based on 6 vehicles
38.3


2008 MINI Cooper Auto
26
City
29
Combined
34
Hwy

No Average Available for the Mini Auto


And I still can't figure out how Cadillac can claim they get better MPH City with their Escalade Hybrid over the Mini

[jimvw57]

I just say Good for you and smile. They are obviously trying to convince themselves they didn't make a mistake in NOT buying a Smart and are jealous of you for buying one. Let them feel good and just know you are the SMART one.

[smart fortimo]

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

... the same $10k will double in the stock market.

Really? Double? Can you guarantee that?

[SubSlr88]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

Not acording to www.fueleconomy.gov

And I still can't figure out how Cadillac can claim they get better MPH City with their Escalade Hybrid over the Mini

They probably just did all of the testing on battery alone; then did the highway tests to recharge it - then re-commenced the city portion. . . LOL?

[jmatero]

I don't care WHAT fueleconomy.gov lists... I can only tell you what I'm getting and my mini usually gets 40-42mpg. (6-speed, no AC). The fortwo usually 38-40 (no AC). And this is the same commute.. we alternate cars weekly. Not picking on my smart.. love both cars... just a fact.

[unicycle]

Originally Posted by jmatero

I don't care WHAT fueleconomy.gov lists... I can only tell you what I'm getting and my mini usually gets 40-42mpg. (6-speed, no AC). The fortwo usually 38-40 (no AC). And this is the same commute.. we alternate cars weekly. Not picking on my smart.. love both cars... just a fact.

I'd have to guess that this is a fact based on fiction. Them that doesn't track obsessively doesn't track mileage at all. Unless you record a bunch of fairly full tanks for miles and gas added afterwards, I'd venture that you can't accurately gauge your mileage. And if you're going by the car's readouts (in the case that the mini has one), that's not perfectly accurate, either, tho it's prolly pretty close. Since you offer no indication that you're accurately measuring anything, and since your statement contradicts information that's already out there (as previously noted -- minis get worse mpg's on average than smarts, and they're rated lower as well), everyone should doubt your info, including you.

[mdfortwoguy]

sometimes I wonder if I am the only person who gets in my smart and enjoys the drive, without trying to squeeze out top fuel economy. Fuel economy was a bonus, but not a factor in my purchase.

On average, I get about 29-30 mpg out of a tank, and this is with an (unfortunately) very short commute, several 30 mile trips on the highway a week (where my average speed is usually 75 or above), and quite a lot of start/stop city driving in Bethesda, Arlington, and DC.. all 3 areas with dense traffic.

I've had 1 or 2 tanks where I tried to hypermile and such, and I just don't fine it enjoyable or worth it - this car is too damn fun to not toss it around.

[andrewd]

the point that should be made here is no matter what the govmt says the car is rated at, in reality different results will be had, too many variables...

i use more fuel on average in my smart than in 2 previous cars both manual 1.5L and a 1.8L and both 1.5 times the size and weight with better performance..

in Australia the combined factory figure is 4.9L/100 combined and 4.4L/100km highway thats 54mpg highway 48 combined!!!

hahaha yeah sure

on a recent road trip around Tasmania (Australia)

i rented a 1.4L auto car (terrible performance! SLOW, couldnt pass a tractor!)
after 3 days i returned it and got a large sedan 3.5L auto 3 times the power, drove it like a maniac quite a bit, so so so fast 6.2 0-60mph vs 15sec and to my supprise at the pump it was 1L/100km better @ the pump on the highway!

[brian r]

Originally Posted by jmatero

I have a 2008 smart and 2008 Mini Cooper (non-S) and the cooper gets the same... and sometimes better... mpg driven fairly aggressively as the smart does driven conservatively. Don't know how BMW did it but it's an amazing car.

We have an '06 Cooper (a base car with a sunroof) which gets 33-34 in suburban driving and 41-42 on the highway averaging 75-80 mph. With the a/c on. It has the Cooper Works Sound Kit (exhaust/sealed intake system/ecu uprgade) which added 2-3 mpg around town and 5-6 mpg on the highway.

I've almost got 40 a couple of times around town in the smart, and above 65 the smart gets 36-38, period. It has a K & N filter.

The smart is a city car, but the Mini is truly amazing. Especially since mine cost less than $19k. The Works kit was another $600.

Originally Posted by forestacademy

Not acording to www.fueleconomy.gov
Does someone want to report from another site.

2008 smart fortwo coupe
33
City
36
Combined
41
Average based on 40 vehicles.

38.5


2008 MINI Cooper Manual
28
City
32
Combined
37
Hwy
Average based on 6 vehicles
38.3


2008 MINI Cooper Auto
26
City
29
Combined
34
Hwy

No Average Available for the Mini Auto


And I still can't figure out how Cadillac can claim they get better MPH City with their Escalade Hybrid over the Mini

It's interesting that the Mini performed much better than the EPA ratings on this, but the smart did so only slightly (actual mileage vs. combined EPA mileage).

VW TDI drivers are also reporting way better real world consumption figures than the government.

In the ads for the Escalade Hybrid, it states that they compared the '09 Escalade Hybrid 20 city/21 highway with the '08 Mini Cooper S Automatic, rated at 19 city/29 highway. The comparison was limited to city driving. The print is very small...