What type of gasoline do you use?

[Duke87]

Does it negate the savings? A 10 gallon fill up of premium vs regular is $4, assuming premium costs 40c more than regular. A high MPG car easily can make up that cost difference. Of course Smart cars get mid-30s in gas mileage which isn't really that great for a supposedly efficient car...

The gas costs 10% more and the savings on fuel economy over a normal car is 10-15%. You really don't save much on gas.

You do, however, save a bit of money up front as the Smart Car has a lower MSRP.

And, practically speaking, the smaller size makes it easier to work with in an urban setting. You see plenty of Smart Cars around NYC. Not so much out in the suburbs.


It's interesting, though. My friend and I for work drive all over the city in this car, including into "the hood". Often in said hood people will get curious/excited to see it and we have been asked on multiple occasions by random passerby "ooh, is that an electric car!?" It's not in our case, although there is an electric version available.

[agentsteel53]

I've always wondered what went so wrong with the design of the Smart Car that it only gets ~36mpg despite it weighing half as much as, say, a Ford Focus, which gets about 34.

there is something awry with the physics of the situation.  even accounting for the fact that the drivers of each car can be assumed to weigh the same (add about a 600 pound occupant load to each) - the math just ain't coming out right at all.

[djsinco]

...One "small" problem with a Smart --- this was in N'awlins

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wgZbQhozofU/USO-WZ3TW3I/AAAAAAAACCg/711nBl9g2pc/w463-h325-o-k/Smart%2Bcar.jpg

[agentsteel53]

...One "small" problem with a Smart --- this was in N'awlins

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wgZbQhozofU/USO-WZ3TW3I/AAAAAAAACCg/711nBl9g2pc/w463-h325-o-k/Smart%2Bcar.jpg

turns out that was a Ford Escape.  a fairly substantial vehicle, but no dump truck.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/smallcar.asp

[djsinco]

...One "small" problem with a Smart --- this was in N'awlins

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wgZbQhozofU/USO-WZ3TW3I/AAAAAAAACCg/711nBl9g2pc/w463-h325-o-k/Smart%2Bcar.jpg

turns out that was a Ford Escape.  a fairly substantial vehicle, but no dump truck.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/smallcar.asp

You mean I got bad information on the INTERNET? My faith in humankind is now diminished.

Thanks for pointing out the error. However, I would add that if that had been a Smart, there might be none of it visible!

[Chris]

My car drives on diesel fuel. These are pure economic reasons, diesel is cheaper than gasoline in Europe and it gets better mileage. I usually get about 45 - 50 miles per gallon. Diesel costs $ 7.50 per gallon in the Netherlands, which is less than regular gasoline, which costs $ 9.40 per gallon.

Diesel fuel is not popular in the Netherlands though, because diesel cars are more expensive to purchase and own due to high taxes. It only pays off if you drive a lot, or circumvent some of the taxes by driving a commercial car-based van, like I do. However some countries have a car fleet that consists 80 - 90% of diesel cars.

[djsinco]

...One "small" problem with a Smart --- this was in N'awlins

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wgZbQhozofU/USO-WZ3TW3I/AAAAAAAACCg/711nBl9g2pc/w463-h325-o-k/Smart%2Bcar.jpg

turns out that was a Ford Escape.  a fairly substantial vehicle, but no dump truck.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/smallcar.asp

Further, it appears ironic that the vehicle was a Ford "Escape," because I would bet there was no escape from that one...

[Duke87]

I've always wondered what went so wrong with the design of the Smart Car that it only gets ~36mpg despite it weighing half as much as, say, a Ford Focus, which gets about 34.

The European versions of cars are always more fuel efficient than there American counterparts, and the Smart Car is no exception - the European version gets anywhere from 54 to 69 MPG (different sources disagree).

The problem is that US safety and emissions standards are stricter than those in Europe, and the extra equipment required to meet them takes a nice bite out of fuel economy both by making the car heavier and by forcing the engine to operate unoptimally.

[agentsteel53]

so what's the Focus doing so right, then? 

[pctech]

I run regular, no need to run higher octane as my car engine is not a hi-compression model. (2010 Mazda 3) Louisiana is pretty flat, so no hill/mountain issues. Fuel economy averages 25-27 in everyday driving.

[djsinco]

Lexus specifies premium fuel only, but I have used regular (85 in Colorado) since day one with no pinging or other noticeable issues. My service adviser says that the altitude combined with the fuel/air computer system compensate for the lower octane (and MTBE additive in the colder weather months) with no concern about engine damage.