i am thinking about driving from Atlanta to my mothers home in west palm beach
Replies to This Discussion
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940 miles, 370 each way, 6 hours each way, parts in commute traffic so the average speed doesn't show the cruising freeway speed in excess of the 70 posted limit.
Nits: We have stretches of freeway where the slow lane is BROKEN - into rather large, uneven, slabs, and there is one stretch of the drive that has winds racing down canyons at 45+ MPH.
Trip was from San Francsico CA, through San Jose CA, through the mountains (only 2400ft) to the interior valley, down I-5 to the "Grapevine" which has a climb of 4800 ft in 7 miles into the canyon area I spoke of with the high winds. From there we drove the outskirts of LA to Riverside and to Lake Elsinore. Got the car wrapped with advertising and returned a couple days later.
Avg MPG wasn't great, partly because I gave no quarter to the other cars on this drive and most drive at 75+MPH. Only time I went slower than 70 was in heavy traffic where everyone was slow.
Avg MPG going down was 35.7 and coming back was 39.1. Going to LA always gets better mileage because it is downhill in nature except the treks through the hills. Coming back is conversely up hill all the way except for the mountains. Most of the 'valley' drive is only 1-200 feet above sea level.
The smart performed flawlessly, was fun, and except for the terrible pavement portions and the high wind areas, it was a fun drive, active, involved, smiling!
Next trip will be in August to Salt Lake City UT - 860 miles one way, through the Sierra Nevada Mtn range up to 8,000 ft and the Wasatch Mtns at 8800 ft (one stretch with a climb from 4000 ft to 8800 in 6 miles.
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nyc staten island to my mom house upstate ny very nice ride comfortable seats car handles well at 70 mph ,115 miles upstate their is a very steep 2ml grade car pulled it at 60 mph in auto mode
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I've not gone too far with mines because of the exhaust problem, I've been trying to limit the milage in case I have to reject the car! But the longest I went was a 100 mile round trip around the Scottish countryside - great fun on little country roads.
I just seen how much you guys are paying for petrol, here in the UK we are paying £4.61 per gallon, but that was for Shell V Power. So don't complain too much yet - it CAN get a whole lot worse!!!
I dunno how it works over there about taxing your car but here our road tax takes the biscuit - my Mini cost £150 per year but the Smart is only £35!! Woohoo!!
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We pay our road taxes via our gas taxes, but we also pay a license or registration 'fee' (really a tax!). I don't know if you also have the licensing fees in addition to the road tax.
Also our fuel is a little different than yours. Europe requires a much "Sweeter" crude base than the US does. Sweeter meaning it has lower sulfur content. The sweeter crude is also more expensive, and it costs more to refine the crude oil to keep it within EU standards.
Although this is part of the difference in cost, I doubt it is $2.00US per US Gallon worth.
Keep us posted on your price though, I am sure our government and oil companies will do everything they can to catch up!!!! LOL
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Permalink Reply by RJ Johnson on -
From Marshfield, WI to Sierra Vista AZ. 3,928 miles round trip. Black on black smart packed full for 10 day trip. Best mileage was 49.06 mpg, worst was 30.76. Average mpg for entire trip 37.68. Fuel cost $414.21. We were in a hurry on the way out, lots of Interstate driving 70 to 75 mph. Took the scenic route on the way home average speed 54 mph. No issues with the car. Most fun was driving through the Rockies from Grand Canyon to Colorado Springs. We did that run non-stop, other than fuel stops. We never averaged less than 42.5 mpg when traveling on 55 mph posted highways. As always lots of lookers, smiles and questions. Saw 2 smarts actually on highway during the trip. Talked to at least 40 serious future smart owners, the twofour was a magnet at the Grand Canyon. It was hard to get out of there, some folks actually stepped into the road, just to get a closer look. You've got to be cautious when driving the twofour, too many sightseers watching the smart and not the road! Great experience for a couple fifty-something travellers!
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ummmm... it's "fortwo", not TWOFOUR.... and to be real, it's "fortwo" in lowercase, but welcome to the family :)
merry christmas!
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Permalink Reply by 451 Kahn on -
I took a 1000 mile trip and had tons of fun in the Smart. Snow driving the Smart loved.
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Permalink Reply by Gary on -
We have 16,000 miles on smart #1 (blue/silver) and 300 miles on the '09 smart #2 (triple black with every single factory option). Many long trips under our belt...wears you out pretty good if you go hundreds of miles at a time. We're keeping the E class for longer trips, tho that was not the original plan; we were going to be a two-smart-only family.
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Fromoz -
L.A. to Reno R/T
A smile every mile, and less than $50. for gas!
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...to hell and back..when the wife drives it....
flea
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