Any of you new smart owners out there want to do a leisurely test drive to determine the high end of your mpg figures? Try this.
Go to your local gas station nearest a highway or on a highway, find an open pump and remember which pump you are using, the side you are using and the direction you are facing. Also align the front of your car with something so you can realign it later. Set that pump (if possible) on the slowest possible auto shutoff setting (slowest fill). When it clicks off, remove the hose. Do not top off the tank. Note the type of fuel you are using, premium or regular unleaded. Set your trip meter to zero.
Get on the highway as soon as possible and start driving, but do not exceed 60mph. If you can, try to keep it under 55mph, but that's tougher to do. Drive the smart for about an hour or so away from your start, then turn around and come back home to that original gas station... same pump, same side, same direction of your car, same alignment to the front of the smart. Again, fill up the tank on the slowest setting.
You will have put about 120 miles on your car. Good test. We've done this often over the past two years and using this method gets us our highest readings on our 450. Always 52 or 53. Each car is different, however. Some of our customers are getting over 60 using this method. I'm betting the 451's do just as well.
A note of interest. If you tried doing this with any other car, the other folks on the highway would provide a glimpse of their wrong finger as they sped past. However... in the smart, they will think you are going as fast as you can and give you a pass. No bad looks, just smiles, waves and an occasional RIGHT digit, the thumbs-up. Follow those rules exactly and lets see how high a mileage we can get posted here. Thanks for your help!
Ron Gaus, asmartcar.com
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