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I'm a big fan of pulling the power-steering belt, if the design permits (and if your situation allows it). That can give you some instant gratification.
For crummy weather, I cycle the A/C on hills, with the recirc on -- on flat ground, the same can apply when starting from stops, lights, or during appreciable acceleration.
The bottom line -- if you love to drive or feel better after a spirited drive -- let the tank take it. You bought a 5-speed Mazda for a reason. There's nothing wrong with that. Lots of us here are converts from performance (and/or understand the time to be efficient, and the time to run for fun).
If you enjoy the EcoModding hobby, you can have fun with mods, experimenting, and perhaps use that manual to engine-off coast and bump start (for example).
Contrary to other sites (and many members here) I have a philosophy to let the mods and the car do the job over technique -- this way anyone can drive the car and get better mileage. But, it will almost always take that technique to break beyond that personal goal.
So, keep an eye on those tires -- squishy 17's will negate so many other efforts.
Anyway, we all start somewhere on this journey to FE, and it can take several failed tanks to make us humble, rely on that Scientific Method, and take us to those who understand to help us out.
Best FE to ya,
RH77
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“If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research” ― Albert Einstein
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