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Old 07-31-2017, 09:59 AM   #5 (permalink)
Ecky
Master EcoModder
 
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,077

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 39.72 mpg (US)

Oxygen Blue - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 54.69 mpg (US)
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Driving from Florida to Vermont with 500lbs+ of cargo in my Insight and pulling my trailer trailer with ~1000lbs in it, I averaged 57mpg driving through mountains, aiming for 60mph. I'm certain the trailer was not a net gain in aerodynamics, even though I cleaned it up pretty well. An empty car without the trailer probably could have achieved between 80 and 90mpg at those speeds.




Last fall when I picked up my tires, I averaged ~90mpg driving to get them (~50 miles) and got 54mpg on the way back, with speeds between 40 and 50mph.




So, really, doubling the weight of the car and pulling a relatively aero-clean trailer (which almost certainly still adds some drag) is worth a good bit less in terms of fuel economy loss than leaving the hatch open in the back.
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