You'll get a laugh from this: yesterday I installed an AM/FM stereo cassette player in the Blackfly - its first ever radio. It replaces the blank panel that has been in the center stack since the car popped radio-less out of its factory 11 years ago this month.
And it's probably going to hurt my mileage.
What?! Why and why?
1) Because I'm getting ready to go on a long-ish road trip. I've done plenty of short trips - say 4 hours tops - but I've always just brought along portable tunes/headphones (bud in one ear only - safety first!). But I'm looking at about 1600 km / 1000 miles. Plus, I thought news & weather would be good...
2) Why an AM/FM cassette player? Because I had one in my junk pile - inherited from my brother who swapped out the OEM radio in my mom's Integra 16 years ago. So my Firefly now has a little "HONDA" inside.
I guess the old lady who originally bought the car either didn't care for audio distraction, or planned to install a kick-a$$ sound system, but never got to because she fell ill not long after getting the car home from the dealer and hardly drove it.
The funny thing is, the car came from the factory with an antenna and 4 speakers pre-installed, wiring harness in place. But no radio.
3) My mileage is going to suffer!
- Added weight (OK, just kidding.)
- Distraction from the ScanGauge! Driving technique goes out the window!
- Added power consumption!
Unless of course I find some special, relaxing music to put me psychologically in the fuel economy zone...