Jul 7, 2008 8:02 pm US/Pacific
Save With Dave: Smart Car
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Take a closer look at one of the hottest cars on the market. Does it really save you money? The Smart Car saved a local man nearly $2,000 a year.
Duncan Young traded in his e-class Mercedes earlier this year. In its place he got a Smart car.
"The first thing people do is smile and point and then you can see them talking amongst themselves, 'What in the world is going on with that car?'," said Duncan.
Yes, it may be small but the savings are big. "At least 100 dollars, maybe 150 dollars a month," said Duncan.
Duncan says he gets between 35 to 40 miles per gallon and he can go 400 miles on one tank of gas. The top speed is 90 miles per hour, he says.
"[It] handles really well. Drives like a champ," said Duncan.
But what about safety?
"You don't want to go blasting through any blind intersections," said Duncan.
Duncan paid $15,000 for his smart car, which by the way, isn't electric or a hybrid. It runs on premium gas. Despite that, Duncan says he's still saving money.
"It'll go 100,000 miles before you need to change the oil," said Duncan.
Another plus: "It makes my wife a parallel parking genius. She said this is the best thing in the world, not only is it better on gas, it leaves a smaller footprint, but i can park it very easily," said Duncan.
There's a waiting list for these cars, but you can get similar savings with other smaller cars, like the Cooper Mini, the Toyota Yaris and even the Honda Fit.
Duncan saves about $1,800 a year just in gas alone.
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