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Old 04-12-2012, 09:39 PM   #9 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

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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How about...

Systematic desensitization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Start with a relatively small aeromod (something like 100% smooth wheel covers).

You'll be self-conscious about them for a while, just looking at the car will probably feel weird. Driving it, you may feel even a bit weirder. But eventually... eventually you'll desensitize to them. And likely nobody will comment on the moon eye look. (You might even get a compliment from someone who appreciates the old school Bonneville look.)

Next add something else that's small - how about body coloured partial grille block. Hardly anyone will notice that either. You may go back to being a bit self-conscious, but eventually, you'll acclimatize again.

Now add something a bit more "out there" - maybe rear wheel skirts. Somewhat more conspicuous, eh? Someone might even comment on them! (My first wheel skirts comment was shouted from a guy driving a UPS van - "what are those covers for??" Me: "better mileage on the highway" Him: "Oh! Cool - that's what I thought.")
You could write "45 mpg" (or whatever you're getting) on them so they're self-explanatory.

I've had all kinds of people point and chuckle at the mods I've put on my car(s). By the time you're at the "big" ones (kamm back, big-ass air dam, etc.), you probably won't be as self-conscious about the whole thing. And you may be surprised how many people "get it" and want to actually talk about it seriously with you.

Or you could just tint your windows and pull a ball cap low over your face when you walk to your car
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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



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