The Fun of Driving for Fuel Economy

[SentraSE-R]

Fascinating article! Those are the kind of mods I'm interested in installing on my cars.

[lee30bmw]

This is actually my first post on ecomodder. I found this interesting because I am definitely the type of person that finds just as much enjoyment out of getting the best possible gas mileage I can even though I have always enjoy racing also.

Until recently I've owned a couple old BMW's (E30). I've always driven them for maximum gas mileage from a more average consumer viewpoint when I'm not racing, but even then their fuel economy is only mediocre when compared to cars on this forum (I got 31 mpg with a long gear ratio). With the older fuel injection, RWD, and a bad drag coefficient I was still impressed, but it wasn't anything to brag about.

Recently I bought a 99 Suzuki Swift for $500 with only 78k miles on it. Now I find myself enjoying doing things like finding ways where I can drive 40mph instead of 55mph, shutting off the engine going down hills, etc. I can't wait to start doing aero mods; I plan to use it for my senior project to finish my engineering degree. We're getting a wind tunnel at my school so maybe I can even do some testing there.

Let's be honest: even if you like driving fast, most of the days you are just commuting anyways, so why not save money for your weekend race car. Now that I have the Swift, it didn't bother me to put my 4.10:1 final drive back in my BMW (I originally was running a 3.25) because I rarely even drive it anymore.

I've always had an appreciation for modest people that don't need to drive their hobby car everyday. A couple of my friends have big jacked up Toyota pickups that get 15 mpg, but drive Corollas everyday instead.

[slowmover]

I previously had a pickup where the power/economy balance was non-existent, both were poor. Went for best economy in a larger diesel pickup (only a Cummins for this) and found a good one besides. Since then, as mileage was so good, it has been fun to find every margin in driving where (with safety first) economy and longest life coincide.

Been driving for economy since the first oil crisis, so much is not new. But, never had a vehicle that could carry 3,000-lbs or tow above 10,000-lbs, or that could also average 19 city and (multiple times) 27 highway. And weighs over 7,000-lbs empty. Ha! Those business-deductible miles look even better, now.

Best of all: it ain't no $70,000 6.7L 2011 Ferd, but was a three year old $19,000 no-rattles, eveythings-like-new Dodge when I bought it. 40,000 miles later, a single $300 repair in 160,000 miles.

[Loudly knocking on wood, too, boys, wishin' you luck with yours hopin' you ain't as old as me when you get "the best one I ever owned".]

.

[lee30bmw]

I know what you mean. I have a friend that had a 96 Dodge R250 with the Cummin's diesel and he achieved 27 mpg while driving to the beach one day with no knowledge of hypermilling, just driving slow probably.

My manager at work has a newer Dodge diesel, and says his fuel economy hardly changes when he adds his 40ft to the back end.

[Fr3AkAzOiD]

I love having a 51 mpg 90 day average in a car that is rated to get 29 mpg average.

If I am feeling the need to go vroom I just head over to the indoor go-kart racing track the next town over. Nothing like do 40 mph in a warehouse and taking corners at 2Gs.

[Arragonis]

The great thing about HM is competing against yourself. As a couch King Edward I assume its the same thrill athletes get from beating their own best running times or gym workout rates.

Except you don't have to wear a purple spandex leotard.

I choose to when I HM but thats just a personal thing.

Originally Posted by Fr3AkAzOiD

If I am feeling the need to go vroom I just head over to the indoor go-kart racing track the next town over. Nothing like do 40 mph in a warehouse and taking corners at 2Gs.

Agreed, Karts are ace.

[Daox]

lol, TMI man!

[Piwoslaw]

The link in the first post appears to be broken

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Except you don't have to wear a purple spandex leotard.

I choose to when I HM but thats just a personal thing.

Purple spandex, you say? Gotta get one of those. At least everyone around me have something to take pictures of, not just the car all the time

[iplaysdrums]

Having the one car that can do it all - performance and economy - instantly brings to mind Porsche's 918 Spyder concept, which is quicker than a Carrera GT, but gets 94mpg (Imperial, I'm sure) when you baby it. Until they make one and I win the lottery, though, I'll just continue ecomodding my MINI.

[MARTINSR]

My brother made the "How boring" comment when I told him about my hypermiling. And you may have seen my reports on how in many cases it isn't any slower to hypermile that being a myth.

Brian