40 mpg!!! (Metro 4-cyl 5-spd sedan)

[Mira]

Hey sarguy, an quick unrelated question for you. I'm in the works of starting a blog focusing on FE and simple mods accessible to everyone. Would you mind if I used your avatar as the blog's main icon? I like it for its simplicity and showing what we're all aiming for!

Thanks in advance, cheers.

[MetroMPG]

First: congrats on busting through the big 4-0.

Second: I really, really like your success story. Yeah, this site is supposed to be about the mods. But it's great to see a regular non-modding type of person get inspired enough to break old habits and instantly become more financially efficient (cars on credit) and fuel efficient.

No mods though... not even tire pressure?

Definitely go for the MPGuino. It changes things a lot -- it'll turn exceeding 40 mpg into a game. (And you can even re-sell it later, if you want.)

[MetroMPG]

One more super inexpensive mod I'd highly recommend (if you're a skilled driver): put in an engine kill switch, and kill that I.C.E. when you don't need it to be running. It'll be good for another 5-10% boost in MPG, easily.

[sarguy01]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

First: congrats on busting through the big 4-0.

Second: I really, really like your success story. Yeah, this site is supposed to be about the mods. But it's great to see a regular non-modding type of person get inspired enough to break old habits and instantly become more financially efficient (cars on credit) and fuel efficient.

No mods though... not even tire pressure?

Definitely go for the MPGuino. It changes things a lot -- it'll turn exceeding 40 mpg into a game. (And you can even re-sell it later, if you want.)

One more super inexpensive mod I'd highly recommend (if you're a skilled driver): put in an engine kill switch, and kill that I.C.E. when you don't need it to be running. It'll be good for another 5-10% boost in MPG, easily.

Metro,

First, off, thanks!! I know the site is about ecomoding, but I think you can ecomod a person?? Isn't that similar to adjusting the nut behind the wheel?

Yes, I forgot to add that I did pump the tires up. They aren't at max, but will be soon. I wanted to go up in increments just in case.

If I keep the car, a kill switch is on the list. I sit at lights enough for that to make a difference.

I am waiting to see an MPGuino for sale in the classifieds. I am going to hold out for a bit longer and if I don't see one, I am going to pull the trigger on a new one.

[NachtRitter]

Very nice work! Being free of car payments is an amazing feeling... though it's also amazing how quickly the extra $$ gets consumed elsewhere...

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by sarguy01

Isn't that similar to adjusting the nut behind the wheel?

It's exactly similar, I'd say!

[sarguy01]

Originally Posted by NachtRitter

Very nice work! Being free of car payments is an amazing feeling... though it's also amazing how quickly the extra $$ gets consumed elsewhere...

You could not have said that better. The money from the car payment is now going towards credit cards. We are actually starting to not use them every month and instead are paying them down.

[MetroMPG]

Nice. Are you a reader of Mr Money Mustache too?

[wdb]

I love this story, thanks for sharing it.

I was driving a Subaru Impreza STi a few years back when my job changed and my commuting miles took a big jump upwards. Considering its performance the STi really doesn't do too bad in the MPG department, but I was still buying a heck of a lot of gas. I paid off the STi (which they will have to pry from my cold, dead fingers, sorry ecoModders ), and bought a Honda Fit. Went from ~22MPG to ~38-40MPG, woot! The money I saved in gas covered the car payments and insurance. I own it outright now too.

So congratulations! And keep minding those pennies; they add up.

[sarguy01]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Nice. Are you a reader of Mr Money Mustache too?

No, but I just read a little bit of it. Later I am going to check it out as it looks pretty interesting and very entertaining.