took my brother in my car today

[98civicDX]

I had to take my older brother somewhere today and it was funny. He started getting pissed off and yelling on my driving techniques. But i pointed out to him little things like no need to accelerate to a red light and basic hypermiling. He had no idea. Its crazy how most drivers are oblivious to theyre driving habits. They all want to floor it to a red light and slam on the brakes. I showed him how even though cars where passing me, i was keeping up with them in the long run. He didnt care. He calls me a cheapo. I tell him it has nothing to do with the money. It has become more of a challenge.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by 98civicDX

I had to take my older brother somewhere today and it was funny. He started getting pissed off and yelling on my driving techniques. But i pointed out to him little things like no need to accelerate to a red light and basic hypermiling. He had no idea. Its crazy how most drivers are oblivious to theyre driving habits. They all want to floor it to a red light and slam on the brakes. I showed him how even though cars where passing me, i was keeping up with them in the long run. He didnt care. He calls me a cheapo. I tell him it has nothing to do with the money. It has become more of a challenge.

That's it, you're hooked! My family and friends often find one or another thing funny, until I explain how it contributes to 60+ mpg, then they usually change their attitude a little. I mean, I have saved $500 in gasoline since February. My modding expenses have eaten it all, but soon, I'll be ahead overall. If I can save $900 or more per year in gas, this car will remain amazingly affordable even as parts need replacing and expensive repairs emerge.

[micman]

I'm sure your older brother was turning a deaf ear because all older brothers must be smarter than their younger brothers. It's standard protocol. Even so, I can't even convince my own wife of the merits of hypermiling techniques, so that proves even family is a hard sell.

[Frank Lee]

Tell your brother that you will not tolerate as much as one peep outta him when he biatches about gas prices.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by 98civicDX

He didnt care. He calls me a cheapo.

It's a pitty that stopping to let him out would hurt your fuel economy

[Old Mechanic]

4 brothers here, I am #2.

Oldest drives a POS Lincoln Town Car, basically falling apart, but then he didn't fix his roof until the celing was caving in.

Wife actually does very good usually about 29 MPG in her Rogue.

3rd brother, drives a Nissan Pathfinder and a 95 TBird, not great mileage in either.

Youngest brother drives economically and owns a Prius, as well as 5 or more other vehicles, but his two sons drive FSP trucks when they are not borrowing the Prius.

Parents both drive Eldorados and they do fairly well for mileage but really don't care that much. At 90 and making 100k retirement a year Pop can afford to let the car run so it stays cool, but it was close to 100 outside.

regards
Mech

[Fat Charlie]

My wife passed me yesterday morning. She sat behind me for a couple miles at 70, then kept going and called me to ask if there was something wrong with my car. I said "No, but I'm getting over 30 mpg these days." She was quiet for several seconds and then slowly said "Wow."

That settles it. I'm ordering her an Ultragauge this afternoon.

[graydonengineering]

Yes, my wife used to give me a hard time about my driving.. My speed is inconsitant instead of 5 over the limt all the time and I drive around corners fast to maintain momentum. Once I drove our sentra across town and got 45 MPG instead of 27 that she generally averages she started to realize there is a method to my madness!

Using more gas than you need to is money down the drian in the purest sense. You will never see it again and you left less fule for the rest of the world.. Plus it's fun to set new records and get compact car mpg our of a pickup or hybrid mpg out of a standard compact!

[Kodak]

Once I talked to someone who told me that her mother engages in light timing, but I don't think she knew that there was a name for it.

But you're right. Most don't look far enough ahead to know that more gas doesn't always mean faster times. Tortoise and the Hare, eh?

[98civicDX]

I have yet to drive behind someone who is conserving fuel. Drove about 100 miles today in city driving and had a couple pissed off tailgaters fly by me only to get caught at a light. The guy was weaving in and out of traffic but since i played the lights I ended up passing him. It amused me. Why is everyone in such a hurry to come to a stop??
I want some type of bumper sticker that says "why are you accelerating to a red light?" or somethin like that so it might click in someones head.