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Old 10-30-2012, 08:22 PM   #656 (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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Yeah - rusty Geo's suddenly "turn corners" with no driver input. You've got to watch out for punky control arm mount points - it's the achilles heels of these cars. (Search the web or this site for lots of examples - they can be fixed if you're handy with a welder).

The Metros also aren't particularly good at high speed (e.g. over 55 mph) MPG. Mine, in stock form, only achieved its 49 mpg EPA highway rating at just 60 mph in flat cruising (Speed kills: testing MPH vs. MPG in top gear - MetroMPG.com ) . (Whereas my parents' Camry can go 75+ MPH before it drops below its highway rating - http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...2-a-23818.html )

But when you gear them up, drop them down, swap the cam & aeromod them, it's not hard to boost the little cars' cruising efficiency. EG: with the boat tail 64 mpg @ 56 mph (level road, cool weather).
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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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