OK, so how r they on the hwy?

[pwbapro]

Question for all of you Smartheads out there:

I was wondering how our little guys do on the highway? I have a reservation, but in about a year I will be commuting 120-miles one way on highway....75mph speeds....cruise control?

with my number I could be waiting that long anyway: 1286.

I do my share of 'round town driving, but......

Thanks for the input,
Kimberly

[mikie]

I picked mine up on Monday (1-21-08) at Portland Smart Center and drove it about 50 miles down the freeway. It was late so traffic would not be as bad as rush hour. While the Smart does fine on the interstate, it probably isnt the car that I would choose for a 120 mile one way trip each and every day. On the other hand if I where headed for a weekend at the beach or to the mountatins (each one about an hour away on Hwy) then I might consider the Smart.

[nscaler]

I was going 72 mph on my test drive yesterday. No cruise control available anywhere...yet. There is another thread about someone working on that. I am interested in it too. Volunteered to test it also.

[spdickey]

Works great on the freeways in Los Angeles. I can zip into spots others would dread between cars. The bright yellow helps there. Handles well at 65-70. Minimum buffeting from passing trucks (which is rare since they're stuck at 55 and I'm doing 70).

Biggest downside is potholes, you DO feel those.

[jrfuisz]

Had my Passion Coupe on DC's beltway for a bit - dicing with rush hour traffic. No issues. Has plenty of speed to keep up (and pass) traffic. Tracks well. There is no cruise control. Electronically controlled steering tightens up at speed so there is no darting etc. Seats are comfortable, ride is good and it handles well. Quieter than my Tacoma. I see no reason it is not a long distance cruiser. Quite frankly the limitation is going to be human. I'm getting some great city mileage. I can only imagine what it will do on the highway, but I suspect you'll need a rest long before the car needs gas.

[stevenvillatoro]

I put on about 50 highway miles a day. The smart has been superb. Great seats with upright seating position. 2-position butt-warming heaters. Firm suspension but not a bouncy ride. Some minor tracking issues at 33/38 PSI tire pressures. More suceptible to wind gusts than other vehicles. You can put the tranny in "D" if you're in stop/go traffic. Plenty of power. Good sound system to keep you company on those long drives. And the thick leather steering wheel feels just right, even though it doesn't tilt. The best part... all the waves and "thumbs up" that you'll get.

[SmartShanna]

I say take the little bugger on the interstate and drive it! It's a car, for cris'sake! My '66 bug had half the power and that didn't stop me from taking it everywhere. If you don't get it out there then the naysayers will have more fuel to put in their bitter pipes (so they can smoke it).

good luck and happy motoring!

[bobnyuma]

Originally Posted by SmartShanna

I say take the little bugger on the interstate and drive it! It's a car, for cris'sake! My '66 bug had half the power and that didn't stop me from taking it everywhere. If you don't get it out there then the naysayers will have more fuel to put in their bitter pipes (so they can smoke it).

good luck and happy motoring!

Little cars have been with us for years. Drive the darn things and be seen. U just have to change your driving habits thats all if you are used to big vehicles. I drivem my 65 Corvair all the time and get the stares and thumbs up too. Its a great car and still running strong 42 years later.

[JRyan]

Is the smart capable of a 120 miles one-way daily commute, the answer is yes. Is it my preference, the answer is probably no.

Especially when you will be cruising at 75MPH, you are not getting much power reserve for passing or merging. 0-70 is 19 seconds in a smart, with a 90MPH top speed.

I notice you own a 2002 Cooper, if I were you, I would trade it for a new Cooper S. With a 140MPH top speed, 0-70 in 8.3 second, and factory cruise control option, it will make the commute far more entertaining.

Especially when you are stuck behind slow vehicles and would like to speed up and merge into the faster left lane to go around the car in front of you. Let's say the car in front of you is doing 50MPH, the 50-70 acceleration is over 9 seconds in a smart, where the Cooper S can do it in 3.5 seconds. You will have to find a huge gap in the left lane before you can pull over and pass without the guy behind you honking and flashing the brights.

Then, there is the long hot humid summer in the south. None of these numbers includes the drag the A/C puts on the car, which is significant for low power cars.

I know you may not want to hear that from a forum of smart enthusiasts, but your usage pattern does put the smart beyond its sweet spot.

Now, if 75MPH is the speed limit in your state, most people are probably cruising along at 80-85 MPH. Which would make the matter even less favorable.

If I were you, I would test drive the smart in the summer with full A/C running and see how it handles the higher speed long distance commute you described.

[stevenvillatoro]

I have no problem cruising down the SoCal freeways at 80+!