100MPG at 50MPH target speed

[Ecky]

I've recently arrived in Vermont and now that it's warming up, I've had some seriously good trips - better than I would have imagined this time last year. The gently rolling hills, low speed limits, and relatively long distance to anything are practically ideal for eco-driving. I have aspirations for more, but for the first time I can honestly say I'm very, very happy with what I'm getting. My biggest complaint right now is that it takes so long to finish a tank and put it in my log.

Local drivers like to greatly exceed the speed limit (which is usually 50), and I feel bad about collecting a line of cars behind me by driving well below the limit. On a warm day after the car is warmed up, I've found that without EoC I'm getting about 85mpg, and with moderate EoC I can sometimes creep up to nearly 110mpg if I let my average speed drop just a bit below my target of 50. Generally I'm cruising between 48 and 50mph in lean burn, with EoC downhills, and arriving home from the longer trips with an average of around 95mpg depending on the weather. There have been as many cold and/or rainy days as not.


Aero mods:
100% upper grille block
75% lower grille block
100% belly pan
Antenna delete
Replacement (and probably improvement) of missing air deflector

Other mods:
Bridgestone Potenza RE92's in the front at max sidewall (45PSI)
Michelin Energy Savers in the rear at max sidewall (50PSI)
Engine kill switch, clutch toggle, brake toggle
Mild WAI
Electrical load reductions

Recently not in use: 12v tender, block heater

[Frank Lee]

Awesome!

You could almost do the Vetter challenge in with the bikes.

[cowmeat]

Looks like your belly pan is holding up pretty well! I was wondering how it was holding up since the move, looks pretty good still. I'm gonna put one on my new Insight eventually, I miss how quiet the car was when I had it on my old one.

[Daox]

Quite impressive!

I need to get me an insight...

[Ecky]

On a related note, my folks have a 2014 Prius that I've had opportunity to drive around. I'm highly impressed by it in a lot of ways, but the best I've been able to do in the same routes, so far, has been about 65mpg.

[MetroMPG]

Which, when you think of it, is still impressive for a 5-seater that weighs, what, about 1100 lbs more?

Congrats on the lofty numbers. I happened to have a ride in a 2001 Insight yesterday (formerly active EM member passing through town stopped in to say hi)... it sure made me wistful for mine.

[Insight for life]

Nice numbers! Keep it up!

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

Looks like your belly pan is holding up pretty well! I was wondering how it was holding up since the move, looks pretty good still. I'm gonna put one on my new Insight eventually, I miss how quiet the car was when I had it on my old one.

I actually have a rattle somewhere, when the car first starts up (and is vibrating a bit more). I think it might be the pan contacting something - maybe one of my screws fell out or backed out, or something shifted. Planning on looking up under it tomorrow.

[bikeprof]

GORSH! If I had this problem...
" My biggest complaint right now is that it takes so long to finish a tank and put it in my log. "

That is a GREAT job of ~100 MPG tanks, very nice...

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by bikeprof

GORSH! If I had this problem...
" My biggest complaint right now is that it takes so long to finish a tank and put it in my log. "

That is a GREAT job of ~100 MPG tanks, very nice...

Not tanks just yet. I expect this next tank to be closer to 80-85, because I'm teaching my sister-in-law how to drive stick. I'll be leaving the car with her for a year starting probably in August.