Smart Cars coming to US

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: DougK62
Older Miata's really get poor gas mileage for as small as the car and engine is. Everyone I know who owns one complains of this.

Interesting as I get the exact opposite with everyone I know who drives a miata, especially on the earlier 1.6L models. I'm curious to know what is considered "poor", and what are their driving habits? It's hard to avoid having fun in a miata(i.e. driving it like it's stolen). I can see how auto-x on the weekend and leadfoot city driving during the week with the top down will bring it down to 20 to 25mpg, but highway driving at 50mph+ with the top up in 5th gear on a long commute should have no problems hitting 30mpg, with many drivers getting close to 40mpg.

that's the great thing about the miata, you have the option of having fun in the car, it's not just limited to being a gas saver

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: DougK62
Older Miata's really get poor gas mileage for as small as the car and engine is. Everyone I know who owns one complains of this.

Interesting as I get the exact opposite with everyone I know who drives a miata, especially on the earlier 1.6L models. I'm curious to know what is considered "poor", and what are their driving habits? It's hard to avoid having fun in a miata(i.e. driving it like it's stolen). I can see how auto-x on the weekend and leadfoot city driving during the week with the top down will bring it down to 20 to 25mpg, but highway driving at 50mph+ with the top up in 5th gear on a long commute should have no problems hitting 30mpg, with many drivers getting close to 40mpg.

that's the great thing about the miata, you have the option of having fun in the car, it's not just limited to being a gas saver

I drive in a a spirited fashion and got 31.4 mpg on my last tank, lots of owners report 40 mpg + with careful driving.

The earlier Miata's get better mpg with the 1.6 liter engine versus the 1.8.

The combination of gearing & RWD definitely work against getting insane mpg with Miatas.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I've seen several Smarts here in the DC area. Maybe about six total.

 

[TechKnight]

I just took delivery of mines here in SoCal. I still don't know if I want to keep it.

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: TechKnight
I just took delivery of mines here in SoCal. I still don't know if I want to keep it.

:camera:s?

 

[krunchykrome]

They're already here. I local dealer is selling them, and I've seen them on the road. Not sure what I think about them though. The idea is good, but they don;t seem very safe.

 

[Srfrbum]

I saw one on my way to work in NJ, doing about 90mph on the parkway. Pretty funny shit.

 

[desy]

Those cars are way safer than say my 95 civic cx with zero airbags and inferior crash design.
I've said it before when did everybody turn into a bunch of safety babies?
Gawd the horrible cars I used to ride around in the 70's most didn't even have shoulder belts . . .

 

[TechKnight]

http://www.lsctech.com/smartcar/

Tell me what other pictures / angels that you would like to see or close-ups and I'll see what I can do!