View Single Post
Old 12-10-2007, 03:56 PM   #24 (permalink)
MetroMPG
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

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

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldsmobile View Post
Lots of interesting ideas. I should mention, that some of the more radical ideas of re-shaping the body will probably backfire, as changing things completely will probably ad more weight.
Done properly, even additional weight is more than offset by the efficiency gains of drag reduction - unless of course you spend all your time below 20 mph.
  • Even adding a small partial Kammback, (Mighty Mira's car), while it adds a small amount of weight, will help.
The aerodynamic problem facing the Escort wagon (and any similarly shaped van or 2 box style car) is that the maximum projected (frontal) area happens very near the back of the car. If no body mods are planned, an Escort sedan would have been a better choice.

The wagon can be made better than the sedan. But you're right - it will have to be a radical change.

The problem as I see it isn't going to be added weight. A chopped/teardropped roof would actually remove weight, since there'd be both less glass and metal in the car.

The biggest problem is the sheer difficulty of a mod of that magnitude.

(Photoshop image coming, XFi...)
__________________
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
  Reply With Quote