What do YOU think?

This story seemed a sort of filling follow-up to my previous one.

Yesterday, I stopped by Cam's Pizzeria at lunchtime (Cam's is a New York City-style pizzeria in upstate New York). As I walked in the door, a gentleman sitting at a nearby table asked me an innocuous question about the car. I think it was "do you like it?", a question I enjoy answering.

His next question was "What does it cost, $5,000?" No, you can't buy a car in the US for $5,000, especially not one with all the safety features, AC, and extras the smart has.

Next was, "It's all electric, right?" No, I told him, it's all gas. That's a pretty common mistake.

His last one amused me the most. "What do you get, like 80 miles per gallon?" I already told him it's all gas, and no non-diesel gas car in the US gets over 50 mpg, let alone 80. I laughed as I answered that one.

I thought this was an interesting way of asking questions. On the one hand, it shows the misconceptions people have about small cars and the smart in particular. On the other hand, I couldn't help but feel, afterward, that he made my car seem inadequate. The way he phrased the questions, the car came across as expensive, old-fashioned, and poor on mileage.

Of course, those things aren't true. And I like to think that wasn't the way he intended to ask the questions. But it's interesting to note how the way you ask a question (and I'm trained to ask questions, so this is part of my expertise) can go a long way toward influencing how others answer and how they see you. Something to keep in mind as you stuff your mouth with pizza, I guess.

How Much Does it Cost?

You would think the most common question I get when driving my smart is what kind of gas mileage it gets. That's close, but the most common question I get is "how much does it cost?"

Let me just start by getting the numbers out of the way. The 2008 models start at $11,590 for the Pure (basic model), $13,590 for the Passion (the model I have), and $16,590 for the Passion Cabriolet (the convertible). Obviously, any dealer extras and option packages will increase the price from there, but that's the sticker, and that's what you will pay when you buy your car. There is no haggling, and the dealers do not work on commission.

I don't mind telling people how much my car costs, really. I shouldn't, because the numbers aren't a secret. Anyone can go online and track down the price of the car - or any other car, for that matter. But somehow, it feels incredibly invasive to ask me how much I spent on the car. Maybe it's my upbringing, but asking someone how much they paid for a large purchase - whether an iPhone, a computer, a car, or a house - feels rude.

Today, I was filling up my tank at the gas station (40.8 mpg on this most recent tank, which was atypically 70% city driving and used the air conditioner). Cars were stopped on the street going by, and one person rolled down his window and shouted across the gas station parking lot "How much did you pay?" I sighed and shouted back "About 12," and he just shut his window. That was beyond rude!

I don't mind answering questions about the car; in fact, I enjoy it. Most people will start with "what kind of mileage do you get?" or the simpler "what is it?" Often, you get "is it electric?" first. But, invariably, you get the question about price. My response is to be as vague as I can. I typically say "They start at about $12 for the base model, and this is the middle model." That way, I'm giving them enough info, but I'm avoiding saying how much I, in particular, spent.

I wonder, though, why people need to know how much the car costs. If they're thinking of getting one, that's fine. I'd like to tell them they'd have to put their order in now, and there's a year waiting list. If they're making comparisons to their car or other gas-conscious cars, that's ok too. I like to point out that the smart gets only marginally worse mileage than a Toyota Prius, which starts at $21,500 for essentially a full $10,000 difference.

But I don't think they ask for those reasons. I think they ask because the car is small, and they think a small car should cost less. They see it as a stripped-down vehicle, so stripped down it's lacking a back seat and hood or trunk. It's really not, and I'd be happy to tell them about it's surprisingly roomy interior, its safety and comfort extras, its standard features. But I see it in their eyes - they're comparing their gas-guzzler to my brand new sipper, and they're trying to make themselves feel better when spending $25 or more beyond what I spend at the pump.

Maybe I just don't give people enough credit. But I've never, in my entire life, heard anyone ask anyone else how much they spent for their car. When a co-worker bought a new Toyota FJ Cruiser, we ooo'd and ahhh'd over it, but no one asked the price. When a neighbor brought home a Prius, people talked about mileage for an hour, but the cost never came up. When another neighbor upgraded both his and his wife's Volkswagens, I wasn't remotely curious to know how much of a loan he took out.

I think, perhaps, this is linked to the mileage effect. Folks want to feel better about their own situation when other people are bettering their own. I guess that's human nature. But it's still rude to shout at me across multiple cars and gas pumps and ask me how much I spent on my car. Or, if you're going to ask, at least inquire about mileage or safety first. I'd be more than happy to share the details.

No Respect

Today, on the day to work, I was driving in the left lane of the highway where it turns rather dramatically to the right and then to the left. You have to slow down in this section, but I was still driving a hair over 55 and passing a car. But another driver in a gray Toyota Celica (I think) with a ridiculous spoiler was tailgating me and glaring at me. The road straightened out, and I finished passing the other car, then changed lanes. As he passed by me at a minimum of 75, this guy in business attire and sunglasses (despite a steady drizzle and thick gray clouds) gave me the finger without looking in my direction. Ten or so miles later, I get off the highway at my exit and head down the road to work. Turns out, the guy is four cars ahead of me. I hope it was worth it.

It made me think about how folks don't give the smart much respect on the road. Sure, it's an oddity and something unique to watch. But most folks don't think it can hit highway speeds, much less pass cars. Folks, the smart drives wonderfully at 65 or 75. It's fun to see a look of surprise, at times, on the faces of drivers as I pass them.

I'm sure it's small car syndrome. People didn't tailgate me aggressively when I drove my SUV, because it's big and imposing. The smart is small, so they feel they can overpower it.

However, there's another problem on the road - the need to gawk as they drive by. I don't mind if a car slows down as it passes me to get a good look. But when I'm stopped at a red light and cars turn from a side street toward me, I've seen several come close to drifting into my lane or each other as they gawk at the car. I'm not remotely afraid to drive my car on the road, but I do worry about these people who clearly aren't paying attention!

Road rage + curiosity is a bad equation, let me tell you!

What's my opinion worth?

As many other smart owners have, today I received a fairly comprehensive survey from JD Power. Along with their politely worded request for my opinion was one lovely, crisp dollar bill.

The survey was pretty extensive, walking through your impressions of the engine, driving, comfort, interior and exterior look and feel, and my car-buying history. But I had the $1 payment already, so I figured I owed them a well-thought-out and detailed response. I noted the previous problem with the shifting mechanism, and I noted that my gas mileage has been exceeding EPA expectations.

I'll be interested in seeing how this impacts car buyers in the future. Especially since smart celebrated its 10-year anniversary this week and noted an electric model due out in 2010. That's reason to celebrate! As if I needed another, I now have an extra dollar in my wallet!

The Mileage Effect

I had noticed this before but never given it much thought until reading a similarly themed thread in the Smart Car of America forums. There seems to be a unique phenomenon, which I’m dubbing here The Mileage Effect, whereby the increase in gas prices is causing everyone’s mileage to increase.

Here’s how it works. I (or other smart owners) are filling up the tank at the local gas station, gauging in their heads the mileage on this most recent tank. Every other person at the station comes over to ask, of course, how much mileage it gets. When told upper 30s and low 40s, they express enthusiasm. Then, and here’s the good part, they tell you how they’re getting in the mid-30s in their Volkswagen Jetta or Toyota Camry, or whatever other car they’re driving.

The base Jetta is rated at 21 city, 29 highway (very respectable!), and the Camry is rated at 21 city, 31 highway (also good!). The EPA ratings were lowered recently to represent more realistic mileage, so if you drive the highway at lower speeds and with few hills, you can certainly exceed the EPA ratings by a few miles. It’s possible you can even get 35 or more. But if you tell me you’re averaging that kind of mileage, you’re certainly embellishing. And if you start to tout the mileage of your Ford F150, you have a problem.

What is causing everyone’s mileage to exceed EPA expectations suddenly? I’m convinced that people are so stressed about the ever-rising cost of gasoline that it preys heavily on their minds. In any conversation about mileage, they want to make themselves feel better by over-inflating their current situation. Rather than be judged for still driving an F150, for example, they will tell you that their mileage is pretty good. It makes them feel better. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But the feeling is that people are comparing their car to the smart and belittling the smart’s gas consumption. This seems rather silly to me. If you buy a minivan, I am not going to brag about how many people my car fits in comparison to yours. If you buy an F150, I am not going to brag about how much my car can tow. If you buy a Ferrari, I am not going to brag about how fast my car can go. It is not fast, it can tow very little, and it holds one person and some groceries or a bag of golf clubs. It’s not made for any of those things. It is, however, made to drive around town and get best-in-class mileage. That is, in fact, why many people bought the car!

So you can try to make yourself feel better by over-inflating your mileage if you choose. I’ll just smile and nod and maybe say “that’s great” so that you feel even better when you climb up into your GM Suburban and drive away. Then I’ll calculate the mileage on my last tank and think of how much gas I’m saving driving the smart instead of my SUV. I know the truth.

Smart Roadtrip

With the odometer finally topping 1,000 miles, I was due to head three hours to my parents' house for a weekend wedding. I had to load the car with clothes for a four-day trip, plus several things my parents left behind the last time they visited, and one 50-pound dog to be taken to the kennel. So of course, I passed up using my roomy SUV and took the smart!

First of all, the dog clearly doesn't care too much for riding in the smart. In the back, he seemed to feel too constrained (despite being right at home in his crate), and he kept trying to jump into the front seats. But he survived the half hour drive to the kennel, and from there I headed out to the New York State thruway.

The smart did remarkably well on the highway. It was slower getting up to full speed when entering the highway, but it's certainly faster than the big rigs, and there wasn't so much traffic that I worried. It did fine at 70 mph in 65 mph speed limits. There's no cruise control, and this became evident quickly as I found myself constantly checking the speed. But on the reasonably flat thruway, I was able to lock my foot against the side and keep the gas at a pretty consistent speed.

I'm not a hypermiler, and although I consistently check my mileage, it's not my primary concern when driving the smart. Still, I thought it would be fun to try my hand at drafting. For those unaware, drafting is a racing technique in which you reduce drag (and thus increase mileage) by getting very close to a vehicle of similar size or larger and do a consistent speed. On the highway, this is usually done behind big rigs, which can, as Mythbusters proved improve mileage 39%. Of course, it's very dangerous, since these rigs won't see you and don't stop particularly quickly. I tried about 150 feet, which felt safe, and felt the car literally being shaken from side to side by the winds from the truck. It was absolutely not worth it.

There are a few big hills on the way home, and one of them proved a bit of a challenge for the little smart's (and smart's little) engine. It was interesting to note that, as the speed dropped below 60 and the engine downshifted, the hazard lights came on automatically. That smart really is smart!

Otherwise, the trip was fairly insignificant. On the way home, I noticed the reactions of the other drivers more significantly. A convoy of bikers would pass me, one at a time, and ride alongside me as they checked out the car, then wave and pass on. Another driver in his car drove alongside me for a few minutes, then passed ahead, adjusted his rear-view mirror, and gave me a big thumbs up. Kids, especially, seemed to enjoy watching the car as I drove by.

On Sunday, I spent two or three hours driving around town with a friend, mostly on small roads but some highway as well. I decided to fill up the tank, which resulted in every person at the station stopping over to ask me about the car. The result for that tank was 44 mpg. Everywhere we stopped, people came over to ask about the car. At one place, an older woman actually asked me to go up to her car and tell her husband, who didn't seem to care much, about the car. That was awkward.

The next day, I drove home. I didn't notice the reactions of other drivers too much this time, but the trip was easier, and mileage seemed to be even better on the trip back. I drove with the windows down the whole way, and the wind buffeted me throughout the drive so much that, when I stopped, the left side of my face was tingling. It was an odd sensation. I got to enjoy my iPod on shuffle for the entire time (not a feature of my SUV) and had more than enough space for my luggage.

The entire trip, including an extra three hours to the New York city area for the wedding itself in my family's minivan, I did not see one other smart. And I was looking! I got the sense that most of the people in my hometown had never seen one, while I suspect the folks in my town have seen a few here or there. The current tank of gas, made up of the drive home and Tuesday commuting to work, is on pace for my best tank yet, quite possibly nearing 400 miles.

The car does fine on the highway, really. The weather was fine, with no winds to speak of, and it cruised along at 65 to 75 consistently with no problem. I didn't feel any effect of even the biggest trucks passing by or me passing them, and I kept up with traffic just fine. The mileage of more than 40 mpg compared to less than 20 mpg with my SUV, and the reactions of other drivers was priceless. Some folks on the SCOA forums term the experience of smiles per gallon, and I can relate to that.

The only things I missed were cruise control to keep the speed consistent and save mileage and an armrest for long trips. The seat was comfortable enough, and I didn't notice any rough ride except for some side streets in around-time driving. It was a fun trip, made more fun by the experience of driving the smart!