Saving Fuel...

[PapaUtah]

Here is a great little story about the new Smart Fourtwo…

Smart??? Story

49mpg, safe, get’s lots of looks, gas prices are high…then the story loses all credibility and veers off the rails…

“Getche predicts the demand of the vehicles will lead to more availability, likening them to Harley-Davidsons’© a few years ago with similar waiting lists.

But Getche and Matney enjoy the car’s size in that they can haul it and their two Harley-Davidson© motorcycles inside a 22-foot trailer behind their motor home when they travel, meaning no more riding the bikes during rainstorms.”

Mileage on any car is really good when it’s in a 22 foot trailer being pulled behind a motorhome with not one(1), but two(2) Harley-Davidson© motorcycles. Why even run the story??? And they are saving how much fuel??? Harley-Tards©.

If only The Motor Company© were Bear Stearns…

 

[Geezer]

I've been saving lots of gas this month the easy way, by staying home. :yes:

 

[wfooshee]

I just love it when people say they have to get a more efficient car to cut the gas expense.

Let's say I dump my '89 Mercury Grand Marquis (runs great, cold air, power everything, leather seats, working trip computer, but 16 avg mpg) and get 400 buck for it from some sucker. I head down to the Toyota dealer and pick up a Prius, loaded nicely with leather, CD, nav, etc. By the time I'm out the door, it's about 28 or 29K. EPA rated for 48 city, but that's not me. Let's say 42. I know it's hybrid, recovers energy from braking, etc, but ny right foot's stuill big and heavy.

So if I keep the Prius for 250,000 miles, it will have paid for itself in fuel savings. Sooner as gas prices go up, but still, not what you'd call an immediate return! At under-$2 gas (remember that?) it would take over 400,000 miles to make up the price in fuel savings.

You just can't use fuel savings to justify a new car.

Obviously, if I'm already looking for a car, there's nothing wrong with looking for an efficient one, but don't change just for efficiency. It's not really efficient.

 

[Fred W]

The previous link doesn't show what a smart car looks like. Here it is:Smart Car website

Now visualize yourself tooling down the road with all the SUVs, Pickup trucks, and BSTs (Big Scary Trucks) and tell me how safe you are going to be in one of those little things?

At least on a motorcycle you have good visibility (can see around you well) sitting up relatively high and the maneuverability to avoid problems.

Smart Car? I think not so much...

 

[LDRydr]

My buddy got one of the first ones here in the Portland area. He has another one on the way.

 

[PapaUtah]

I personally wouldn't mind one...it would have to be a special version with the factory motor replaced by either a Gixxer or a 'Busa motor. 100hp is my lower threshold. Looks like a great commuter...probably larger than the original Honda CRX's when they came over here...and you sit a little higher. Not sure if I would want to take it cross country. Think it would still get 40+ mpg with a 'Busa power plant???

 

[Fred W]

I'd prolly want to wear a helmet in that thing...

 

[Geezer]

I just love it when people say they have to get a more efficient car to cut the gas expense.
Let's say I dump my '89 Mercury Grand Marquis (runs great, cold air, power everything, leather seats, working trip computer, but 16 avg mpg) and get 400 buck for it from some sucker. I head down to the Toyota dealer and pick up a Prius, loaded nicely with leather, CD, nav, etc. By the time I'm out the door, it's about 28 or 29K. EPA rated for 48 city, but that's not me. Let's say 42. I know it's hybrid, recovers energy from braking, etc, but ny right foot's stuill big and heavy.

So if I keep the Prius for 250,000 miles, it will have paid for itself in fuel savings. Sooner as gas prices go up, but still, not what you'd call an immediate return! At under-$2 gas (remember that?) it would take over 400,000 miles to make up the price in fuel savings.

You just can't use fuel savings to justify a new car.

Obviously, if I'm already looking for a car, there's nothing wrong with looking for an efficient one, but don't change just for efficiency. It's not really efficient.

I agree that I can't justify the cost of a hybrid or other expensive car by looking at fuel savings, but I can buy a fuel efficient commuter car like a Yaris for under $12k. I can pay for that in less than two years with the fuel savings over my Jeep Wrangler. Granted it won't be as comfortable as your Grand Marquis or as much fun as my Wrangler, but if I was commuting every day I'd have one.

 

[MikeYork5]

Harley-Tards©.
If only The Motor Company© were Bear Stearns…

Where ya been - haven't read a Harley bashing post from you in quite a while - is it the winter doldrums that got you down up there in the land of frozen lakes?

 

[TheAxeman]

Here is a link to what I thought of The Smart after test driving one. I ended up getting my deposit back.

 

[krashdragon]

Here is a great little story about the new Smart Fourtwo…
Smart??? Story

49mpg, safe, get’s lots of looks, gas prices are high…then the story loses all credibility and veers off the rails…

“Getche predicts the demand of the vehicles will lead to more availability, likening them to Harley-Davidsons’© a few years ago with similar waiting lists.

But Getche and Matney enjoy the car’s size in that they can haul it and their two Harley-Davidson© motorcycles inside a 22-foot trailer behind their motor home when they travel, meaning no more riding the bikes during rainstorms.”

Mileage on any car is really good when it’s in a 22 foot trailer being pulled behind a motorhome with not one(1), but two(2) Harley-Davidson© motorcycles. Why even run the story??? And they are saving how much fuel??? Harley-Tards©.

If only The Motor Company© were Bear Stearns…

The folks that haul them ( and the bikes) in the trailers behind the RV's.. they only use the cars to go grocery shopping and errands. Possibly to drive from their RV camp to a scenic attraction. Not regular driving. Otherwise, they'd have a nice Toad like a Honda or a Jeep.

mary

 

[Checkswrecks]

They've been appliance-like in Europe for years. Good on gas, easy to park, absolutely painful in the auto trans version, hell on a rough pot-holed road, lacking the soul of a Mini.

Question:

Why do Smartcar drivers not wear seatbelts?

Answer:

They get jay-walking tickets because they're confused with backpackers.

 

[jwilly]

Let's say I dump my '89 Mercury Grand Marquis (runs great, cold air, power everything, leather seats, working trip computer, but 16 avg mpg) and get 400 buck for it from some sucker.

Let me know, I'm looking to upgrade!

JW

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

My buddy got one of the first ones here in the Portland area. He has another one on the way.

He's gonna have "economy" -- no matter what it costs! :lol:

 

[LDRydr]

He's gonna have "economy" -- no matter what it costs! :lol:

And he didn't like that orange color so he's swapping the plastic body panels for ones in another color ($$$). But he says it's worth it for his business, as he's having the business name put on the back and sides, and EVERYBODY wants to stop and look at the thing. Just sitting here in front of our house that day I took the pictures we had a handful of folks either slow down or stop to look at it. Probably thinking "WTF is THAT?".

 

[PapaUtah]

"Toad"???

Ahh! took me a few minutes but I got it...

Here's the Busa power Smart... The Smartuki!

Hi Mike!

With a chart like this it looks like some others are taking a club to The Motor Company© too!