Reply #64: Only 40?

[dancing kali]

What the **** did the US do to drop the mileage?

I have one. It gets 60 mpg. I keep track of my mileage between fill-ups. I've had it for two and a half years and keep it well maintained. Haven't had a bit of trouble with it.

There is a speed limiter. The car has to think for a minute before pulling out from a dead stop. All that really means is that I don't do jack-rabbit starts at lights anymore. It can easily be removed. It, however, has nothing to do with the gas mileage. On the highway, I can happily drive at speed (and have to watch to ensure that I am not exceeding the speed... it's actually a fast little car once it gets going).

I feel safer in it than I do in most other cars.

I get very smug at the gas pump when I pay $13.00 for a fill up and the Hummer (or other "compensation" vehicle) is dinging it's way up toward three digits to fill. A friend once called Smart Cars "Hummers for Treehuggers" because the people who drive them have the same kind of asshole arrogance about them.

If I wanted a car for more than two people I might have considered another car like a Prius... but there is only two of us so we are perfectly happy with a Smart Car for our family. If you have a larger family, or want to use your car to transport lots of people then the Smart Car isn't for you.

$99.00 to hold one? Is that normal for buying a car in the US?