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Old 04-20-2008, 01:20 AM   #11 (permalink)
trebuchet03
MechE
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,151

The Miata - '01 Mazda MX-5 Miata
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LostCause View Post
If the car averages 17mpg in daily driving, I think you could push it to 21mpg relatively easily if it's all highway mileage.

My number one suggestion is to slooow down. I realize interstates usually run at 70-80mph, but it is your legal right to drive 55mph. There should be no reason to feel unsafe as you are driving a fuel size pickup...big rigs will overtake. Your trip will take much longer, but you have several people driving so who cares?
That's the other gotcha.... We've got to average at least 60mph to make it in time.... Our final exams are this week, so we're leaving Thursday morning (early) to get there in time (which gives us a few hours of "trouble" time)... We can probably go a little slower if we drive a little longer... but I really want to sleep in a bed for a decent number of hours On the way home, we sure as hell will take it slow

Quote:
Originally Posted by LostCause View Post

You probably have leftover material, so start building some hasty aeromods. A grill block, rear wheel skirts, and an aeroshell made of composite supports and a scrounged plastic drop sheet would do nicely. Using a low-tack tape to stick everything together should prevent the paint from being damaged.
Duuude! That's an awesome idea... We've got something like 5 or 6 sheets of foam (4'x8') left plus some scrap wood! A few hours, we can have an foam aeroshell clamped to the bed and held together with 1x4's, 2x4's and tape! I'll have to ask the owner how he feels about it first, of course....

Quote:
Originally Posted by LostCause View Post
I like the jerry can idea, but it'll only work if you can get the cans free.
Ditto - I won't be buying any of these I'll ask everyone I know for whatever they've got.

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