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Old 12-23-2007, 02:12 PM   #7 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,530

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 newtonsfirstlaw View Post
but if you gamble and lose, you pay even more
There's the key point.

If you throw in another pulse, and the light does in fact change to red, you're forced to brake (or run it, if you're igo ) - and probably brake pretty hard. Gas in --> brake dust out = FE nightmare.

If you keep gliding and the light does in fact change to red, you're far better off than if you had pulsed & braked (since in this scenario, I mentioned you would pretty much coast to a stop at the intersection anyway).

I really did face this situation a few drives back. As it turned out, the light *didn't* change to red on the approach, so I ended up re-applying power just as I got to the intersection (having almost coasted down to zero).

It's a completely bizarre, non-intuitive tactic to use. Green means go, right? Yet there I was, coasting nearly to a stop facing of a green light (NOTE! Not affecting any other drivers.) But if max mpg is the goal, only a predictable green means go.
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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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