real world smart car mileage

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Comment by mr bad example on May 4, 2009 at 7:26pm

i just made another powerball/beer run, it was 70F outside, 37 miles there 51.6 mpg, coming back 61.6 mpg, trip totals, 56.6 MPG average, 42MPH average, 74 miles, 1.7 hours total time. not too shabby!!!

Comment by mr bad example on April 28, 2009 at 2:16pm

david, i got the mount on e-bay, along with SG2
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ScanGauge-II-with-XMount-ScanGuage-Scan-Gauge_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQhashZitem270292190531QQitemZ270292190531QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

Comment by Hugo on April 28, 2009 at 10:01am

I drive my Smart back and forth to work on a daily R/T of 52 miles. I try and maintain a steady pace but 55-65 is normal on the highway. When I take the back roads I maintain 50-55 mph. My average mpg is 44. I do not use the paddles but let the Smart shift itself. Maintaining the tire pressure will help ensure good mileage.
There are some out there that get even better than me. I leave in Virginia Beach and the area is flat, no hills.

Comment by DAVID RICHBOURG on April 21, 2009 at 3:36pm

GREAT VIDEO I JUST ORDERED MY SCAN GAUGE. WILL YOU TELL ME WHAT TYPE OF MOUNT YOU HAVE IT ON AND WHERE YOU GOT THE MOUNT, THANKS DAVID

Comment by mr bad example on April 4, 2009 at 2:26pm

i do get better gas mileage at 60F, it takes longer to reach operating temp, the smart uses more fuel when below 190F. i use moderate acceleration, although i did do the "drove it like you stole it" a week ago going home from work at midnight when i came along some kid with a loud pontiac who was gunning it at the lights.

i try to keep the fuel rate during accelleration under 1.3 GPH, i had great traffic during that trip, i could have gone at any speed i wanted 95% of the time, i kept it at 55-60mph. i have a pure, so no paddles, kept it in "auto". no coasting, there are few times when coasting is beneficial in a smart, the smart will idle at about 0.20 GPH while coasting, when you lift the throttle in gear it drops to 0.00GPH and your mpg goes to 9999MPG (the computer cuts off all fuel to the engine and it's running on NOTHING)

i installed the SG2 in november, so i have yet to use it with the AC on, last year i rarely used my AC, only before job interviews. the SG2 can notice when your headlights are on or the blower is on, fuel consumption goes up 0.01-0.03GPH at idle, i am curious what happens when it's running the AC compressor as to driving with the driver's window down with it off.

one of the biggest factors in normal driving is anticipating traffic/lights ahead, not racing to red lights. i filled up yesterday on the way to work and so far i'm getting 48.5mpg for my commuting, it's going to be cold the next few days here, last night was 38F. if you're on flat land, babying it will get you better mpg's. i could see brief spurts of accelleration could equal the slower accelleration if you can ride along for a few miles before stopping again. there are times when i'll put it in manual and force a higher gear than D would pick, it likes to downshift in D sometimes and that will drop your mileage 20-30% over being in a higher gear at lower rpms. that's where the SG2 comes in handy, also monitoring your throttle while driving. i got a 10% increase just by installing the SG2, you become more aware of what you and your car is doing, how it reacts in different conditions.

p.s. i was contacted by the firm that trains smart "brand specialists" about this video, using it to "sell" the smart. this overcomes the EPA ratings with "real world" data. most cars will get a few percent below EPA ratings, i'm getting 20-30% higher than EPA in my daily driving. so the specialists will be armed with real world data in the showrooms.

Comment by Tony on April 4, 2009 at 11:57am

Thanks for sharing what your scanguage provided. I am very curious. 1) with the temp being 42 degrees, you would not have run your AC. I live in FL and run my nearly always. 2) How do you drive? Your consistant driving habbits, are they "like you stole it" IE drive it hard or do you baby the car during acceleration. 3) Do you auto shift or paddle shift? 4) Do you regularly practice any types of hyper milage actions such as putting the car in neutral and coasting often. IF so, please explain. I've only had 50+mpg one time with my smart and would love to see it more often. Thanks.