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Old 11-11-2009, 04:00 PM   #33 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,534

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 57.73 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,082
Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts
No question the biggest gains usually come from driving technique... and anyone making big gains from technique alone deserves kudos.

But why leave the low-hanging fruit on the tree?

Unless you're just trying to establish a "personal best" from technique alone. You know, man against machine etc. (nothing wrong with that).

But in my opinion, not doing some of the easy, effective mods to your car is like choosing to ignore a poorly sealed door or window in your house. You could (A) turn up the heat, like the average Joe (waste energy!), (B) leave the heat down and do jumping jacks to stay warm inside when it's cold out (technique!), or (C) you could add/upgrade the weatherstripping (mod!).

OR... (D)you could upgrade the weatherstripping and continue to do jumping jacks so you could turn down the heat even further and save even more energy.

Just sayin'.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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