2004 Hyundai Accent

[icarus 402001]

Originally Posted by Nevyn

Mechanically, I agree.

I'll also curse the emptiness of internet communication - I bet this would be easier if we were all in the same room; I probably took too much the wrong way too fast - so my apologies there.

All I was really trying to get at was the point that maybe for Icarus, the cost-benefit analysis was that the extra time with his daughter was worth more than the money he could have saved by slowing down. So the overall trip sweet spot was found at a higher travel speed than what the mileage sweet spot is/was at.

Thanks, Nevyn.
I think I may be done here. You guys w/ your engineering degrees and a need to prove you know more than the other guy are too much.
Nevyn's right. If I REALLY wanted to save gas, I'd have told my daughter to stay @ school and we'll see her when she can get a ride home w/ someone else.
Everyone's idea of economizing is as individual as the person doing the economizing. Imagine how much money could be made in overtime by the guys building boat tails on their Metro's. I suspect they' get more enjoyment out of the actual building and testing than extra hours at work, though. That makes that effort worth it to them.
I'll go back to lurking and applying what fits ME in MY lifestyle.
Again, Thanks Nevyn.

[busypaws]

Welcome Icarus, I think my next project car is going to be an Accent. I keep checking Craigslist for a good deal on a 2000-2004 model.
My current car is a 97 Protege. I have the 1.5L manual and 200lbs lighter curb weight. I get around 40 on stop/go traffic and 45+ at 55mph.
Your slight heavier and 1.6L Auto should get close to my numbers with some minor changes in driving habits and a few modifications.
Welcome and good luck.

[SentraSE-R]

Yes, our communications would be better if we were all in the same room. There's more than a terminology difference. There's a major philosophical difference. Icarus is satisfied with hypomiling below his car's potential, because it does much better than his Camaro. I, at least, would urge him to change his habits to discover what his car is truly capable of

[SentraSE-R]

In fact, I wonder why someone who isn't interested in bettering the EPA estimated mpg for his car even bothers to visit a hypermiling site.

[MetroMPG]

These debates come up occasionally, and I find they're ultimately counter-productive.

See: glass houses, throwing of rocks, etc.

The use of the "sweet spot" terminolgy in the first post was a mistake, yes. (The term has a pretty specific meaning to the people who use this site regularly, and that wasn't it.) But I'm glad that icarus is getting a kick out of the improved mileage of a more efficient car, even if his MPG performance suffers by comparison to similar cars owned by more hard-core efficiency enthusiasts.

Maybe I'm too much of an optimist, but I tend to think that someone who gets a kick out of early results like icarus will probably try harder in the future when he judges that he has more time to spare/devote to his game.

Maybe he won't on a the multiple-hour journeys, but on the cross-town or shorter haul trips where an extra 5 minutes travel time isn't a big deal.

But we're not going to hear about it if he feels he's being jumped on and disappears.

[icarus 402001]

Did I just receive more support? Thanks. I was about to bail.
To everyone who thinks I'm not doing enough, it's true that I am just starting.
Also, there WILL be times when I may drive with the pack. At least I'm not one of thosePrius or Insight or even Smart Car owners that pass me on the highway EVERY morning.

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

In fact, I wonder why someone who isn't interested in bettering the EPA estimated mpg for his car even bothers to visit a hypermiling site.

I don't hypermile on a daily basis, and I'm glad this is not just a hypermiling site. It's an eco-modding site.

I drive PSL +9. I bought the Insight and I've been making aerodynamic improvements to it, so that I could get great gas mileage without slowing down. I'm still short of my goal of 70mpg overall while exceeding the speed limit, but I believe I'll get there.

Icarus, I'm glad to have you onboard, and maybe I'll pass you on the highway some time. Maybe while you're stopping for gas.

[user removed]

Occasionally I encounter circumstances where I have to join the 75 MPH conga line on I 64 here in eastern VA. Still managed 46 MPG, which is close to the new EPA highway rating.

Does that mean I should trash anyone else who thinks 38 MPG is great because its a significant percentage over EPA rating in a very inefficient car that they chose of their own free will.

Nah as Metro said, the purpose is to improve our own mileage, not play the "mine is longer" game with any other driver.

There ARE more important things than fuel mileage, especially time spent with those you love.

regards
Mech

[cfg83]

icarus 402001 -

Originally Posted by icarus 402001

Did I just receive more support? Thanks. I was about to bail.
To everyone who thinks I'm not doing enough, it's true that I am just starting.
Also, there WILL be times when I may drive with the pack. At least I'm not one of thosePrius or Insight or even Smart Car owners that pass me on the highway EVERY morning.

I apologize for not reading your post sooner. It is up to you to pick and choose what mods you want to use. The bottom line is, are the mods you adopt working? Is being a member of Ecomodder helping you to meet your goal? That goal could be any combination of economic and/or other personal benefit. When I say personal benefit, it may be an ethical reason, a hobby reason, a health reason, or a "for my family" reason, whatever.

I'll make you a deal. I'm one of those slow-pokes that want the national speed limit to be 55. On the other hand, I have NO problem with you doing 70 in the fast lanes, as long as you let me toodle along at 55 or lower in the slow lanes. How's that sound? Live and let live? 50-50, even-steven, ?

CarloSW2

[icarus 402001]

Originally Posted by cfg83

icarus 402001 -



I apologize for not reading your post sooner. It is up to you to pick and choose what mods you want to use. The bottom line is, are the mods you adopt working? Is being a member of Ecomodder helping you to meet your goal? That goal could be any combination of economic and/or other personal benefit. When I say personal benefit, it may be an ethical reason, a hobby reason, a health reason, or a "for my family" reason, whatever.

I'll make you a deal. I'm one of those slow-pokes that want the national speed limit to be 55. On the other hand, I have NO problem with you doing 70 in the fast lanes, as long as you let me toodle along at 55 or lower in the slow lanes. How's that sound? Live and let live? 50-50, even-steven, ?

CarloSW2

You got a deal. Thanks.