Hi, David - welcome to the forum.
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Originally Posted by David Philips
I'd like to hear more manual shift strategies that work to beat EPA numbers. I have a 2000 Miata 6 speed that pretty easily beats the EPA numbers, at least in city/suburban driving in the 30-45mph range.
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As far as shifting strategies, get into the highest gear you can, as soon as you can. Next: coast in neutral rather than engine braking or using the friction brakes depending on how much deceleration you need. Those are the two major differences between how the transmission is used in the EPA tests, and how you can use it.
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I can get 33-36MPG in suburban driving doing this and short shifting. EPA is 24 city/29hwy.
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Sounds like you've got a decent handle on things in town driving already.
You could of course also investigate pulse & glide (engine on or off on the glide), but that's an advanced technique that is arguably mechanically harder on the car, bothersome to the driver/passenger, potentially dangerous (depending on your skill) or illegal (depending on jurisdiction), and may not be appropriate when driving in traffic. But there's no doubt it would raise fuel economy even more.
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A peculiar thing I notice at highway speed is that it gets better mileage around 70MPH than in the 55-65MPH range
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Colour me respectfully skeptical on that claim. I suspect other factors were affecting your results than cruising speed. This thread shows repeatedly for all types of cars that the slower you can cruise in top gear, the better. I doubt there's anything special about the Miata that makes it an exception to the rule:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...you-15182.html
cheers-
Darin