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Old 05-12-2008, 05:03 PM   #29 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,532

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

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

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

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by monroe74 View Post
Conventional wisdom says lean burn is a very important part of how the VX does so well. I think lean burn in the VX can be very valuable, to certain drivers under certain conditions. But I also suspect that the optimal way to drive the VX is WOT, which means minimizing lean burn.
Here's my guess: at higher speeds, lean burn permits a VX to get better MPG than you could at the same average speed doing P&G. 60 mph, for example.

At medium/lower speeds, where the aero penalty during the glide is less, you're likely right: P&G in your VX is probably where the most extreme MPG numbers can be had.

But the beauty of lean burn is really good fuel economy without having to do the work. If I had a VX or Insight, I would probably just DWL at highway speeds for the convenience.
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Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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