Driving Tips - SMART FORTWO CABRIO Operating Instructions Manual

Driving tips

Driving tips

The following tricks will help you to save
a substantial amount of fuel with your
car.
Not only will you reduce your operating
costs; you also will be helping to protect
the environment.
1. Take five
The following holds true for traffic
lights, rail barriers and when sitting in
tailbacks: always switch the engine off,
as you only need to be stopped for 10 sec
onds to save money.
>Important!
Make sure when you are about to drive off
again that
the selector lever is set to position N,
the footbrake is applied,
the gear indicator is displaying an N.
152 Study in motion
2. Full speed ahead
Driving off expends considerably more
energy than driving at a constant speed.
So when starting off, drive for no more
than two vehicle lengths (approx. 5 m) in
1st gear and accelerate briskly with the
throttle at least three quarters of the way
down.
3. Please shift
Shift gears in good time when the gear
indicator in the display advises you to do
so.
4. Keep on running, look ahead
Frequent braking followed by accelerat
ing will cause your car to use up dis
tinctly more fuel than otherwise. For this
reason you should keep your distance
from the vehicle in front and ease off the
accelerator in good time whenever possi
ble.
5. Letting go
It is always better to let the vehicle roll
with the transmission in gear and to ap
ply no gas than to roll in neutral. This
way, fuel consumption is zero (decelera
tion fuel shutoff).
6. Under pressure
Correct tyre pressures help save fuel, in
crease tyre service life and improve
braking safety. Tyre inflation pressures
are given on the inside of the fuel tank
flap for various load and climate condi
tions.
7. Shedding ballast
Mounted top carriers, bicycle carriers
and ski boxes will increase air resis
tance and in turn the fuel consumption of
your car. When they are not absolutely
necessary you should dismantle them.