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Old 03-10-2013, 05:05 AM   #10 (permalink)
wmjinman
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Carson City, Nevada
Posts: 612

Jimmy - '00 GMC Jimmy SLT
90 day: 21.18 mpg (US)

The White Gnat - '99 Suzuki Swift
Team Suzuki
90 day: 51.87 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_Ben View Post
Considering most mini-vans are rated at 25 highway / 17 city and most of our driving will be highway what is a reasonable estimate of actual mpg without any modding and a reasonable estimate for mpg after modding?

Would a trip average of 28-30 mpg be an unreasonable goal?

While cost savings is an important factor I am also interested in seeing how far I can push the limit with cheap/temporary mods as well.
Define "reasonable". HAH!!! You could probably reach that goal with modding AND serious hypermiling driving (20 mph below the speed limit on the highway, engine off & coasting up to all stoplights, coasting down all hills in neutral or engine off, etc.)

My 2000 GMC Jimmy has a combined rating of 16, I think (18 highway). I can get the ScanGauge to read 30, but that's at 40 mph with the roof rack off, mirrors folded in, full grille block, and tires at 60 psi). It would be pretty "hard-core" to do a 10,000 mile trip like that!!! But by bumping the speed up to 50 mph, I can still get, like 26-27 mpg, so that might be a better compromize. With that car, folding both mirrors only yielded about 0.15 mpg. - and losing about half my rear visibility is a pretty big price to pay for that!!!!
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