Cold Air Scoop - Worth it?

[mvaldes]

I got the GTS from Smart Madness as a cosmetic mod. To my surprise, my mpg seems to have gone up 1-2 for the last 3 tanks. I'm still attributing it to normal variance, but it does seem to be a consistent trend.We'll see if it continues.

[HGB]

Originally Posted by mvaldes

I got the GTS from Smart Madness as a cosmetic mod. To my surprise, my mpg seems to have gone up 1-2 for the last 3 tanks. I'm still attributing it to normal variance, but it does seem to be a consistent trend.We'll see if it continues.

Would it be possible that you changed your driving habits a bit since the install?

[Smart_Dude]

Did I expect any performance increase? No. Did I ‘measure’ any performance increase? Nothing worth mentioning, if any. Did I 'sense' a performance increase? Yes. Does it 'look' cool? Yes.

Interpretation of above... The Smart Cold Air Scoop does improve perceived & subjective performance while providing virtually no increase in objective performance. But for me, the 'coolness factor' is worth the price of a bent piece of plastic. Am I going to buy another for the other Smarts in the family? Probably… but for cosmetic aesthetics only.

Morale – Have fun with your Smart. Mod the daylights out of it, but don’t expect a bent piece of plastic to turn the lil’ 1-liter into an F-1 machine. Probably, someone in Germany would have figured that one out by now. Enjoy the ride!

Cheers,
Jeff

[mvaldes]

Originally Posted by HGB

Would it be possible that you changed your driving habits a bit since the install?

It's possible I've changed something else, but the air scoop was the only variable I could identify. I'm still driving the same route to work (which accounts for nearly all the mileage I put on the Smart) and I don't think I've changed my driving style. I filled up again today and the mpg increase continues. Hard to believe, but that's all I can attribute it too.

[jetfuel]

...any improvement as how the engine intakes/breath air, as little as it may be, is an improvement in performance...

jetfuel

[Smart_Dude]

Originally Posted by jetfuel

...any improvement as how the engine intakes/breath air, as little as it may be, is an improvement in performance...

jetfuel

Very good point... a 1-HP improvement in an 70-HP engine is a far greater improvement than a 1-HP improvement in my SL600 (V-12). Like they say... it's all relative! Touché, Jetfuel!

Cheers,
Jeff

[mvaldes]

Jetfuel, I hope that you're right. I'll gladly take both the mpg increase and one less reason to question my sanity - every little bit helps in both areas!

[jetfuel]

..here's my home made one...a little larger than most but it does the trick..



jetfuel

[Turbo42]

FOX BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see