What gas costs you....

[slowmover]

What fuel costs me has gone from 13 to 16-cpm in the last few years. So, as with other Americans, reducing fuel cost has been to drive less. I'm not sure I actually driver fewer miles most weeks, but I have been diligent about reducing the total number of miles for the same round of errands. Route planning online tools, such as those offered by MAPQUEST, are a surprisingly good aid. Giving myself a rule about some days with no vehicle use at all has helped the most in terms of combining trips.

It's those with fixed commutes hurt the most I'd think.

[320touring]

Originally Posted by slowmover

What fuel costs me has gone from 13 to 16-cpm in the last few years. So, as with other Americans, reducing fuel cost has been to drive less. I'm not sure I actually driver fewer miles most weeks, but I have been diligent about reducing the total number of miles for the same round of errands. Route planning online tools, such as those offered by MAPQUEST, are a surprisingly good aid. Giving myself a rule about some days with no vehicle use at all has helped the most in terms of combining trips.

It's those with fixed commutes hurt the most I'd think.

very fair comment!

I have a fixed 50mile round trip commute every day, so I know what my "baseload" petrol consumption will be..

However, the price can vary month to month, and thats where it catches you!

that said, Its still only a difference of £8 per month for me (1250 miles at 39.6 imp mpg (assuming low of £1.299/litre and high of £1.359 high) so its not huge

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by slowmover

What fuel costs me has gone from 13 to 16-cpm in the last few years. So, as with other Americans, reducing fuel cost has been to drive less.

Or reduce the cents/mile cost. With the Insight, I'm running about 4.6 cents/mile. Even at $4/gal, I was still well under 6 cents/mile.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by 320touring

very fair comment!

I have a fixed 50mile round trip commute every day, so I know what my "baseload" petrol consumption will be..

However, the price can vary month to month, and thats where it catches you!

that said, Its still only a difference of £8 per month for me (1250 miles at 39.6 imp mpg (assuming low of £1.299/litre and high of £1.359 high) so its not huge

Do you know what your "before" (hypermiling / mods) MPG was so you can work out the difference ? Traffic is the killer for me, so I would assume someone who is "mainlining" on the M8 would have more of an issue than I.

You know what you need to do, make a video

I'm going to experiment with a different route. My normal route is (looking and Embra on a map) from roughly the 7'oclock position to the 11o'clock position going clockwise, crossing the main route towards Glasgow (M8) and the Forth bridge. Instead I'm going to try the other way - anti-clockwise which does mean going through the north of the city, but may suit George better as its lower speeds.

BTW, how is the "team" doing ?

[320touring]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Do you know what your "before" (hypermiling / mods) MPG was so you can work out the difference ? Traffic is the killer for me, so I would assume someone who is "mainlining" on the M8 would have more of an issue than I.

You know what you need to do, make a video

I'm going to experiment with a different route. My normal route is (looking and Embra on a map) from roughly the 7'oclock position to the 11o'clock position going clockwise, crossing the main route towards Glasgow (M8) and the Forth bridge. Instead I'm going to try the other way - anti-clockwise which does mean going through the north of the city, but may suit George better as its lower speeds.

BTW, how is the "team" doing ?

M8 is actually not too bad-I P&g along with the flow of accellerating and braking idiots

Generally on the road by 7.15am for 45min run at 25 miles- as for a pre "hypermiling" difference I cant say, hypermiling and me moving to this job kind of happened at the same time.

however i'd reckon I'm probably up 9-12 mpg vs me driving "oldstyle"in the e30



I tend not to drive into work often now- My carshare colleague does that-so I can have extra brain shut off time..

Although, now I have an HTC I can log my journey and video if required

As for driving past Leith/granton/portobello in rush hour...no thanks!

Team is as follows
iS needs tyres and a service- still churning 38-40mpg

320i- SORN'd until pennies available to make it the car it should be!

535i- Last tank was a huge improvement, but no trackdays

M8 Mazda- Still trundling along, but I've not got a fuel log for it as she puts in £10 her, £30 there etc..

[GRU]

Europe is still more efficient than US and Canada. Average car here transport 1-2 people and weighs probably 4000 lbs. Average car there transports more people and weighs about 2500 lbs. These are numbers i'm just guessing, not actual stats

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Or reduce the cents/mile cost. With the Insight, I'm running about 4.6 cents/mile. Even at $4/gal, I was still well under 6 cents/mile.

You have my gratitude if a vehicle proposed to lower the fuel cost can do the same work as the present one, with the same longevity and reliability with the same initial purchase price.

I agree that spec'ng the vehicle to the use, closely, is the most important consideration for a purchase. And a fifteen-year or 350k mile lifespan.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by slowmover

And a fifteen-year or 350k mile lifespan.

Well, I'm working on it :-) Currently at 155K and 8 years owned (it's a 2000 model bought used).

But I am having some serious problems: the driver's side floor mat has a hole in it, and today I noticed that the seat fabric is getting a bit threadbare.

[Frank Lee]

Only 15 years? I just realized I can put collector plates on my daily driver this year!

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by GRU

Europe is still more efficient than US and Canada. Average car here transport 1-2 people and weighs probably 4000 lbs. Average car there transports more people and weighs about 2500 lbs. These are numbers i'm just guessing, not actual stats

We have tended to build and buy smaller cars and also smaller engined / diesel engined versions of cars available in the US. e.g. I could get an Aveo here with a 1.2 engine whereas I think the US version starts with a 1.6, also the Yaris here comes with the option of a 1.0 3-pot, the US version starts with a 1.6. We also get a different Civic with a TDI competing 2.2 Diesel and several Diesel Toyotas.

Fuel cost is the main reason, but also taxation on cars used to be based on engine size (or at least total cylinder bore size), so 2-3 litres would be where large cars start. Thats why all those LBCs were so little.

Originally Posted by 320touring

As for driving past Leith/granton/portobello in rush hour...no thanks!

I used to work in Leith so I know the rat runs to the west, so it may work in my favour. Put up a video, you know it makes sense.

EDIT - Also I tried it the other way and had an average of 68 on the SG2, which then dropped to 55 on the short section of bypass from the A1.