43 mpg on Ford Ranger

[99metro]

Very nice cons! I know this psychologist... j/k

I am impressed with the mileage you are getting. I have the same problem at work - some are convinced that cruise control is THE way to get the best fuel economy. The rest just say you get what you get and you can't change that. Maybe they'll start listening when gas gets up to $5 a gallon plus! Keep up the good work!

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by 99metro

some are convinced that cruise control is THE way to get the best fuel economy

I must say CC has been quite good to me.
I have a hard time matching the fuel economy I get with CC.

Surely I can do better on an incline by reducing speed, but dropping my already lowish speed much further is not always an option.

[SvdM]

I know a couple of people who's right-foot movements are quite unrefined. Getting a lift with them makes for a strange driving experience. One of my friends who drives like that actually said that he likes driving with us (friends with more refined right-feet), because we drive so smoothly. He's gotten better, but he's still quite jerky. I believe CC can actually help some people out there

[cons]

I agree, people with jerky feet need cc. Oftentimes they'll pull their foot off the accelerator to slow down, letting the engine brake instead of coast. I'm constantly pointing this out when I'm not the driver, "engine braking!". My truck doesn't have it, but I wished it did for that long road trip. I think it's a great thing for flat roads, less efficient than good driving on hilly roads.

[Frank Lee]

Jerky foot syndrome is rampant in N. America!!!

I live on the most perfectly level, straight street you will likely ever find, uninterrupted for substantial lengths by intersections or anything. While attempting to enjoy the front yard of my property, I can easily hear doofus after doofus after doofus doing sort of an abbrieviated P&G all the way down the street. I really do think many people are too dumb to live.

I have a few friends afflicted with jerky foot syndrome. WAAAAooooWAAAAAooooWAAAAoooo the WHOLE WAY. Yes, for them, cc would be a godsend... if only THEY'D USE IT.

I have inquired as to why they don't use their ccs but I just get some vague meaningless evasive answer so I guess they just aren't in the habit.

One of them asks me what mpg should I get with this vehicle or that one, and I tell him, and then he proceeds to never get anywhere near close to that. I did gently suggest the methods (not even hypermiling as we know it) but they went in one ear and out the other. Can't teach an old dog a new trick if he's not willing to learn... but even when he's the one who asked?

Same goes for motorcyclists- I've referred to their problem as Epileptic Wrist Seizure Disorder- for some reason it is almost universal to Hardley Abelson riders, but other marques can be infected to a lesser degree. I always wonder, why is it the Hardley Abelson needs to be goosed and revved constantly at stops- will it stall? Overheat? What? Does this individual with Epileptic Wrist Seizure Disorder constantly blip the throttle in his cage too?

[5speed5]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I live on the most perfectly level, straight street you will likely ever find, uninterrupted for substantial lengths by intersections or anything. While attempting to enjoy the front yard of my property, I can easily hear doofus after doofus after doofus doing sort of an abbrieviated P&G all the way down the street. I really do think many people are too dumb to live.

In general, people don't think in terms of fuel efficiency. There's this one spot on my commute which has a slight down grade to a stoplight that is almost always red. You can see it for at least a half a mile coming up to it. Still, so many times, when I'm coasting up to the red light, some doofus will floor it to pass me (because I'm going 5 under the speed limit at that point) and then brake the whole way to the light. There's good planning!

Same goes for motorcyclists- I've referred to their problem as Epileptic Wrist Seizure Disorder- for some reason it is almost universal to Hardley Abelson riders, but other marques can be infected to a lesser degree. I always wonder, why is it the Hardley Abelson needs to be goosed and revved constantly at stops- will it stall? Overheat? What? Does this individual with Epileptic Wrist Seizure Disorder constantly blip the throttle in his cage too?

I've wondered the same thing. Here's another question. If I had a broken muffler on my car (or otherwise modified exhaust), the cops could ticket me for "loud exhaust" even though it would be tens of decibels lower than your average Harley.

[wkumtrider]

NIce thread. I plan to purchase a Ranger with a 2.3L. Definitely will do some aeromods to it to get it in the 30s. Good stuff.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by 5speed5

In general, people don't think in terms of fuel efficiency. There's this one spot on my commute which has a slight down grade to a stoplight that is almost always red. You can see it for at least a half a mile coming up to it. Still, so many times, when I'm coasting up to the red light, some doofus will floor it to pass me (because I'm going 5 under the speed limit at that point) and then brake the whole way to the light. There's good planning!

On the more or less vacant HWY 41 stretch I drive, coming off onto the off ramp I tend to coast right up to the stop nice and perfect. Its 4 lanes on the HYW and 2 lanes up the ramp. I've had a couple people follow me for miles without any other traffic in the other lane doing 55mph, then I start EOC coast down as I precede up the ramp and then they decide to try to flip the minivan over passing me so they can slide through the red light

I cannot understand why people can't comprehend the fact that there is another empty lane that they can drive in and why if they go into that other lane they are required to violently turn the wheel while flooring the car on ice up to the stop.

The sad part is depending on how I time it I sometimes blow by them at the top as I am still goin 10-15mph and they conviently change the light for me.

Me putting along repeatedly passes certain cars as I drive through all green lights and they try to slide through every one in vain attempts to remove all rubber on their tires, Many times I end up way ahead of them on the set of double lights because I already am moving as the 1st turns green and I conviently slide through the 2nd yellow light as they are sitting there making smoke.

I am surprized by how many people cannot comprehend how lights work that they drive through every day.

[user removed]

Takes a rabbit to trip those lights .

regards
Mech

[SvdM]

@ rmay635703: LOL dude, that was so funny reading that. I see it all too often myself... People don't see the big score is in catching the green!