So Glad I bought a Cruze

5579 Views 34 Replies 18 Participants Last post by UpstateNYBill, Nov 23, 2012

silverls

Discussion Starter · Nov 18, 2012

So i was reading an article about the Smart Fortwo and it got me thinking and crunching numbers. I came to the conclusion that even just from a fuel economy stand point, i am doing a lot better with the eco.

The Smart has an 8.7 Gallon tank. At $3.51 for premium right now that comes to $30.54 to fill the tank. Using its top fuel economy of 41mpg. 41 mpg x 8.7 gallons is a range of 356.7 miles. Divide that by $30.54 and you get 11.6 miles to every dollar.

Not using the 42 mpg highway mileage mark, but rather my own average of 37mpg with a 10 gallon tank. That puts me at a range of 370 miles. Regular gas (which is able to be used unlike the smart that specifically calls for premium) is at $3.23 / gallon. So it costs $32.30 to fill. 370 miles / $32.30 comes out to 11.44 miles per dollar.

Now using the actual top 42mpg rating of the cruze you get 420 mile range at the same price is 13.00 miles per dollar.

Or we can put premium into the eco so $3.51 and a 10 gallon tank = $35.10 to fill and use 42 mpg (which is a greatly underestimated highway figure if you running 93 octane) 420 mile range divided by $35.10 is 11.96 miles to the dollar. And most people do much better than 42mpg on the highway in an Eco using 93. I know I do.

In any case, the mile per dollar is better and you actually have a real car with 4 seats and a trunk!!!
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jblackburn

· #2 · Nov 18, 2012

Not to mention driving a Smart Car on the highway just seems like a death trap around bigger cars. I used to drive back and forth to school up I-81 in a 1980's Honda Accord (about the size of a 2000-ish Civic), and I felt like the 18-wheelers would squash me like a fly.

I feel pretty safe in the Cruze, even if it is a small car.

I remember when I used to be able to fill the whole tank in the Honda for $10 though. Sigh...

BlueTopaz

· #3 · Nov 18, 2012

To much math, making my head spin.

blk88verde

· #4 · Nov 18, 2012

Agreed - the Cruze is way better than a Smart Car as far as fuel efficiency/safety/interior room/style.

sciphi

· #5 · Nov 18, 2012

Try parking the Cruze in downtown Toronto, and try parking a Smart. The Smart driver just ran into Tim Horton's, got a coffee and donut, and pulled out again while the Cruze is still circling the block.

All you folks bashing the Smart are forgetting it's a city car that can be used on the highway. Our Cruzes are much more a suburban/highway car that can be used in the city. In the city, exterior footprint rules the day. Not highway fuel economy. And, 30+ mpg city is excellent with all that idling and stop/go traffic. It also doesn't need a ton of power when the fastest it might see in 2 weeks is 50 mph for short stretches until the next light/jam. We take our Fit into downtown for a reason, and take the Cruze on highway trips for a reason.

Different cars for different missions. Not an apples to apples comparison. More like apples to kumquats.

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obermd

· #6 · Nov 18, 2012

Well said :sigh:

Reactions: 1

bryanakron40

· #7 · Nov 18, 2012

sciphi said:
Try parking the Cruze in downtown Toronto, and try parking a Smart. The Smart driver just ran into Tim Horton's, got a coffee and donut, and pulled out again while the Cruze is still circling the block.

All you folks bashing the Smart are forgetting it's a city car that can be used on the highway. Our Cruzes are much more a suburban/highway car that can be used in the city. In the city, exterior footprint rules the day. Not highway fuel economy. And, 30+ mpg city is excellent with all that idling and stop/go traffic. It also doesn't need a ton of power when the fastest it might see in 2 weeks is 50 mph for short stretches until the next light/jam. We take our Fit into downtown for a reason, and take the Cruze on highway trips for a reason.

Different cars for different missions. Not an apples to apples comparison. More like apples to kumquats.

Not 100%. If you were comparing a tahoe foot print to the smart, yeah. If you can't park that cruze in the city, you don't need to be driving.
Yes, the smart can fit into a smaller space than a cruze but unless the city has put in the 2ft x 2ft spaces specifically for mini's, it isn't that much different.:sarcasm:They are still close in width.
And yes, I lived in the Wash DC area for 20 years and parked downtown quite often. So I do have some knowledge in that area. I have parked suburbans in places they shouldn't have been. Was it easy, no. Was it fun, actually yes. Just to see the look on someone's face and hear them say, "wow, you know how to drive that thing!"
If I can drive and park an extended cab 4x4 S-10 in downtown Toronto, the cruze is like taking a cab.

jblackburn

· #8 · Nov 18, 2012

bryanakron40 said:
Not 100%. If you were comparing a tahoe foot print to the smart, yeah. If you can't park that cruze in the city, you don't need to be driving.
Yes, the smart can fit into a smaller space than a cruze but unless the city has put in the 2ft x 2ft spaces specifically for mini's, it isn't that much different.:sarcasm:They are still close in width.
And yes, I lived in the Wash DC area for 20 years and parked downtown quite often. So I do have some knowledge in that area. I have parked suburbans in places they shouldn't have been. Was it easy, no. Was it fun, actually yes. Just to see the look on someone's face and hear them say, "wow, you know how to drive that thing!"
If I can drive and park an extended cab 4x4 S-10 in downtown Toronto, the cruze is like taking a cab.

I love parallel parking into tight spaces - it's like a fun challenge. It's surprised many people what I can fit a car into, even if it's one I don't know that well.

What's even better is watching people that can't park for crap. People with dinky little Corollas act like they're driving a huge bus in parking lots. WATCH OUT! IM 5 FEET AWAY FROM THAT CAR! BETTER DO A 7-POINT TURN OUT OF HERE!

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bryanakron40

· #9 · Nov 18, 2012

jblackburn said:
I love parallel parking into tight spaces - it's like a fun challenge. It's surprised many people what I can fit a car into, even if it's one I don't know that well.

What's even better is watching people that can't park for crap. People with dinky little Corollas act like they're driving a huge bus in parking lots. WATCH OUT! IM 5 FEET AWAY FROM THAT CAR! BETTER DO A 7-POINT TURN OUT OF HERE!

I have been late to appointments so I wouldn't miss the fun!!! That is hilarious to watch.

Reactions: 1

sciphi

· #10 · Nov 18, 2012

The Smart has many more potential parking spaces available than a Cruze thanks to its much smaller exterior dimensions. So the mad parking skillz could be demonstrated when one really needs to park in the available tiny space barely bigger than the Smart. The Cruze would be again circling the block. Again, Smart win, Cruze loss.

Width doesn't have much to do with parking unless it's wider than other cars (The Smart is narrower than many cars). Length does, and the Smart is decidedly shorter than most. Again, maximizing the number of potential spaces available. Spots that others would pass up as too short are viable in a Smart. In a crowded city, that's a HUGE advantage. If I lived in the middle of a city and needed a car to get around, a Smart would have been considered. I live in suburbia and commute to the boonies, so a highway car was in order.

In a suburb with plenty of parking lots or marked spaces, the Cruze is right at home since there's more space available to park in. There are also significant highway stretches to let the Cruze start sipping fuel instead of using it to spin a turbo to consume even more fuel, only to be repeated ad nauseum.

Pure city driving, the Smart wins because it can be parked many more places than a Cruze. Yeah, being able to carry 2-3 other folks and their gear on a roadtrip is great. But, it's useless if it can't be parked close to my apartment to unload the 4-5 bags of groceries in the front seat. Carrying groceries from 2 blocks over in NYC, even in Queens, really bites in the winter. It also stinks having to walk 10 minutes to get to the car in the first place. With a Smart, it could have been parked maybe half a block away. That's convenience in a city, and a Cruze can't hold a candle to it.

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cornbreesha

· #11 · Nov 18, 2012

i'm one of those people that can't park for crap :'(

ErikBEggs

· #12 · Nov 18, 2012

...What sciphi said. I never really considered the Smart an actual car... it is more like a city go-kart or something. That is what it is advertised as and used as. I've actually never seen one on the highway but I've seen them squirming around in big cities.

Sunline Fan

· #13 · Nov 18, 2012

Not a Smart, but similar. Jay Leno style, at 8:35: Jay Leno's Garage: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth - YouTube

bryanakron40

· #14 · Nov 18, 2012

The best part is you have your view and I have mine, even though you are wrong. For me to be right there has to be someone who is wrong. Thanks for being that guy.:sarcasm::storm::smileystooges:

Mick

· #15 · Nov 18, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuRREzSLtEg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

spacedout

· #16 · Nov 18, 2012 (Edited)

There is nothing smart about that car. There is not enough room for passengers, it cost as much as the cruze for some models & its just plain ugly.

It gets the same hwy MPG as my cruze 1LT, granted it does get 8mpg better rating in town. Unlike the cruze the car requires premium gas. Fuel Economy of the 2013 smart fortwo coupe

Since you can't really seat more than 2 people that means If everyone had one our pollution would sky rocket. Similar to motor cycles or scooters, as a whole they cause more pollution because so many engines have to run at once.

Say a motor cycle gets 50mpg, now you have two guys each riding one, there effective MPG is now 25mpg with two engines running(there burning twice as much fuel). See a group of 8+ Harley's driving down the road ever? ya they might as well be driving an old school bus for how much gas they are burning & probably are putting out more pollution than one too.

jblackburn

· #17 · Nov 18, 2012 (Edited)

If you want a small city car, buy something cool. Like a Mini Cooper.

They can do this:

And handle like a go-kart and have something other than a squirrel under the hood. What more do I need to say?!

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silverls

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 18, 2012

sciphi said:
The Smart has many more potential parking spaces available than a Cruze thanks to its much smaller exterior dimensions. So the mad parking skillz could be demonstrated when one really needs to park in the available tiny space barely bigger than the Smart. The Cruze would be again circling the block. Again, Smart win, Cruze loss.

Width doesn't have much to do with parking unless it's wider than other cars (The Smart is narrower than many cars). Length does, and the Smart is decidedly shorter than most. Again, maximizing the number of potential spaces available. Spots that others would pass up as too short are viable in a Smart. In a crowded city, that's a HUGE advantage. If I lived in the middle of a city and needed a car to get around, a Smart would have been considered. I live in suburbia and commute to the boonies, so a highway car was in order.

In a suburb with plenty of parking lots or marked spaces, the Cruze is right at home since there's more space available to park in. There are also significant highway stretches to let the Cruze start sipping fuel instead of using it to spin a turbo to consume even more fuel, only to be repeated ad nauseum.

Pure city driving, the Smart wins because it can be parked many more places than a Cruze. Yeah, being able to carry 2-3 other folks and their gear on a roadtrip is great. But, it's useless if it can't be parked close to my apartment to unload the 4-5 bags of groceries in the front seat. Carrying groceries from 2 blocks over in NYC, even in Queens, really bites in the winter. It also stinks having to walk 10 minutes to get to the car in the first place. With a Smart, it could have been parked maybe half a block away. That's convenience in a city, and a Cruze can't hold a candle to it.

You know i lived in downtown Pittsburgh and downtown philly driving a 97 2 door explorer and cant say i ever had a problem with parking close.

However yes the Smart can park in smaller places. Thank you for pointing out it's only upside. But this post is about fuel economy.

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silverls

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 18, 2012

spacedout said:
There is nothing smart about that car. There is not enough room for passengers, it cost as much as the cruze for some models & its just plain ugly.

It gets the same hwy MPG as my cruze 1LT, granted it does get 8mpg better rating in town. Unlike the cruze the car requires premium gas. Fuel Economy of the 2013 smart fortwo coupe

Since you can't really seat more than 2 people that means If everyone had one our pollution would sky rocket. Similar to motor cycles or scooters, as a whole they cause more pollution because so many engines have to run at once.

Say a motor cycle gets 50mpg, now you have two guys each riding one, there effective MPG is now 25mpg with two engines running(there burning twice as much fuel). See a group of 8+ Harley's driving down the road ever? ya they might as well be driving an old school bus for how much gas they are burning & probably are putting out more pollution than one too.

Motorcycles have been proven to be worse for the environment. Even though you get the gas mileage and blah blah blah, the emissions from a motorcycle is 5 times wors.

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obermd

· #20 · Nov 18, 2012

jblackburn said:
If you want a small city car, buy something cool. Like a Mini Cooper.

They can do this:

And handle like a go-kart and have something other than a squirrel under the hood. What more do I need to say?!

Don't forget you can beef up their suspension and load them a ton of gold bricks. Mini Coopers also fit in city sewers. :th_coolio::signs015:

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