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Old 07-24-2012, 04:57 PM   #2 (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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"Unsafe" is so relative and dependent on the driver/driving environment as to be pretty difficult for anyone to offer you an answer that will really help!

EG: I'm quite happy with a car that does 0-60 in 15 seconds. Are you?

Keeping the engine in lean burn mode is key to saving fuel on the highway, as you know. If you load the engine up so much (through high speed or other high load condition - eg. possibly too much weight for the engine in a hilly area), there's not much point in doing the swap. How fast do you want to cruise on the freeway?

A VX owner who has driven with 2 big passengers on board could probably answer your question about power:weight effect on holding lean burn.

Aero mods will help reduce freeway engine load too, of course.
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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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