I didn't obtain my target avg. mpg.. I coasted past it!

[Drive Stick]

Well, last night (hence the dark grainy photo and low quality from point and shoot camera on 400 iso) I went for a drive to take my friend to look at a new car and I noticed my needle was still on full at 128.5 miles. I said, hmm well I must have used about 4 gallons maybe my needle is broken?

So I pull into a gas station, set the pump on slow so it didn't stop prematurely and trickled 2.869 gallons of gas into the tank. That was an avg of 44.789 mpg.

I was trying to get to 40, and thinking it would be impossible after a couple tanks of my usual routine getting in the 30's. This tank however I did things I don't normally do such as mash the pedal to the floor on the on ramp to the highway to avoid a truck killing me, and carrying a passenger with me too. Lots of stop and go, and extended idle time & still I managed better mpg.

All I did differently was memorize what speed I need to be going & at what land mark I could put the 5 speed into neutral in order to coast to the next stop sign, down hill, or soon to be (with out fail) red lights.

Well needless to say 10 mpg from the first tank, is a heck of an improvement before trying any aero mods at all yet. I am very happy with the results and I would easily have had 45-47 mpg had it not been for the other unusual variables in my driving this tank.

(maybe the warm air intake is playing a role in this also?)

My next goal is 50, and we'll see what it takes to get there! Easy does it!

[vtec-e]

Well done! Here's to breaking 50 mpg!

ollie

[SVOboy]

Keep up the good work. You'll be at 50 mpg in no time

[Electric Frenzy]

I'm a big fan of the coasting method as well. In our TDi beetle I've found 2 spots on my daily commute where I can coast for 1.2 miles in nuetral at 55+mph. It's helped push my mpg's into the 50's.

[MetroMPG]

Congrats - it's always fun to see what an eye opener coasting or "driving without brakes" can be for people.