[Evil Morty]

Hi, I thought I would post my experiences with the first week of the car as a way of introducing myself. I'll keep it short. I bought the car with 54,971 miles for $3500 from my mom when she bought a pickup.It's a 2009 Passion. My son and I flew down to SC from IA to drive it back over the holiday weekend. He's 7 so we did some exploring of the area. First day, Friday, out we did about 260 miles, 80 of which was in the mountains of NC. Lots of twisties, he felt sick so I slowed it down for the last 30 or so. Saturday was supposed to be the first day. It went bad when the slow leak in the RR was a staple in the sidewall. Fronts were new, rears had 1.5k on them. It took lots of calls and an hour and a half trip one way to get another tire. Thanks NTB! We left Sunday morning and headed for Thurmond, WV. It's a ghost town. First tank netted me 42mpg. From there we went to Point Pleasant on the Ohio for the Moth Man stuff. Next was Emmitsburg, OH for the night. Filled up somewhere in IN, got 44mpg. We got to the Fermilab near Batavia, IL about 3:30 and checked out the particle accelerator before leaving for 2 lane roads for a few hours. This next fill I got 49mpg, because we were drafting with a big rig for 200 plus miles at a steady 60-65. The last fill was on highway 20 in Iowa, fighting a strong headwind with light snow, I got 34mpg.
Last fill was 37mpg with 130 of it into that headwind and the rest commuting at 60 to work. Today I changed the oil to full synthetic 0w40 and a mobil one filter.
I ran 87 octane. The fill up door sticker calls for 91 RON, which is the same as 87 R+M/2 here in the states. All of it was 10% ethanol.
SO far I'm enjoying the car. I had a New Beetle for my last commuter car, and my other vehicles are a 96 Cadillac Hearse and a 95 Dodge with the Cummins.

 

[jwight]

Welcome to SCoA!
FWIW Mercedes says the car needs 91 octane and that's what most owners put in.

 

[Evil Morty]

Thank you. Any idea if the change in octane requirements had anything to do with the burned exhaust valves some people experience with 2008 and 2009 model years?
I'm hoping to pick up a wrecked one soon for winter wheels and spares. I can't say I won't make a track day car out of one either.

 

[jwight]

No, smart USA has called for premium gas from the intro of the 2008 model. FWIW, we had the burned valve thing on our 2011, so it's not just the early cars.

 

[twcom]

Cool lube all the chassis pivot points. Since it sounds like there is no pressure or urgency you should just be able to enjoy this Smart and develop it into what your vision of it is. How is your Mother feeling about her baby going to IA.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

Welcome Evil Morty! I love the username! ♥

Newer model years can get the burned valve issue but it seems it either happens with less frequency or people just aren't reporting it. It's not entirely known what is the specific cause (we've had people who ran nothing but Premium get burned valves) so the best thing to do is take care of the car.

Wrecked smarts are seemingly hard-ish to find. I'm on the lookout for a damaged runner to turn into an offroader.

 

[Evil Morty]

Thanks! I've got a few pictures of the car from the ride home.
My mom doesn't seem to miss it, I don't think she had any attachment to the car other than the great MPG.
I misunderstood the gas flap. It say's RON 95 (min.91) I figured the 91 was also RON. Anyway, I downloaded the manual and in the book it's clear on the whole premium thing. FWIW I did start using it after jwight advised.
I ordered a front plate mounting bracket that goes in the tow hook hole. Mine was missing the hook from under the mat.
I live on a gravel road, about 5 miles worth daily and the traction control kicks on a bunch, but with winter here, I'm leaving it alone.

 

[jimvw57]

You might want to try to stay away from the ethanol stuff if you can. it gives you a touch more power and better MPG, at least that has been my experience. The one I have right now is a 2008 Passion and I do like the extras that my 2009 Pure didn't have.