The 50 mpg+ Club (automatics, non-hybrids, non-diesels) - How did you do it?
 

I've been reading lots of back threads and it's easy to find folks who beat 50 in diesels, in manuals, and in hybrids, but the most exclusive club by far seems to be folks who beat 50 in automatics that weren't hybrids or diesel-powered. If you've managed this, I'd be interested in hearing about what you started with, what you did, and how you got there. For full disclosure, I've got an an auto '95 Tercel with a best tank of 40 mpg this month, and am hoping to break 50 by next summer.

I think it takes a lot of patience, skill and some aero mods. I hope to join the club someday too.

If you are able to achieve 40 mpg now, build a boattail and you will be very close to 50 mpg.

I'm in one of the excluded clubs (Diesel, 6-Speed, Manual) but I will watch to gain aero and other tips.

I wish you the best on your adventure though.

WooHoo, I'm finally in a club!
Escort ZX2 with ATX here. I started out, two years ago, at just below a 30mpg average on my commute and just this last summer I finally topped 50mpg on my commute. I can easily top 50mpg on pure highway. In fact, I believe I could get a low 60 in a pure highway summer drive and even better in a mpg contest.
That being said, it was a two year learning expirience. It takes time to squeeze high numbers out of a car without being able to EOC. Check my fuel log to see the progress.
Modifying your car to suit your commute is one key. I have a bunch of highway driving, so aeromods have been important. Changing my commute route has been very important and the mod that pushed me over the top was implementing a crude lean burn (not for the beginer)
My goal for next summer is to consistantly top 50mpg and get at least on week of commuting over 55mpg. This will not be easy.
I'm also planning to swap over to an MTX sometime soon, it's just soo much easier in an mtx...

yeah, i wouldnt suggest running the car lean, cause youll burn the exhaust valves right up.

LOL, no burned valves yet :) I know what I'm doing ;) That doesn't mean I won't kill this motor, but I don't have a problem with that.

I peaked at 55mpg on my cobalt on a stretch of highway in an hours worth of driving. I drove at 55mph with no aircon on either and didn't hit the brakes the entire trip.

I averaged 43.7 mpg over 3600 miles in a rental AT Kia Rio with 3 adults in the car last Spring. If I could throw out two tanks where I was fighting >40 mph crosswinds, my average would have been >45 mpg. My last two tanks on that trip were close to 50 mpg, 49+ IIRC. Basically, I did a gradual pulse and glide between 50 and 65 mph.

The year before, I averaged 42 mpg for three tanks in a rental Toyota Yaris with my 15 year old grandson riding along, doing the same P&G.

I'd bet money I could beat 50 mpg in a small AT car (Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit) by losing all passengers and lowering my speed, using either a 45-60 mph P&G, or driving steady state at about 45-50 mph.

It is a lot easier with MT. I've got ~11 tanks out of 54 with >50 mpg driving my xB.

Read up on the Efficiency mods :
65+ Vehicle modifications for better fuel economy - EcoModder.com
and the Hypermiling tips :
100+ Hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics for better mpg - EcoModder.com
and start applying as many as possible, as often as possible.
Many require only a change in driving habits, though you're probably already using a number of them to get those 40mpg.

After a while the new tricks become habits, and you can add a few other tricks.
From time to time I go over both lists to see what else I can do to further improve my FE.

It's not something that just happens the next day because you want it to.
It takes quite some time, practice, and effort.
It's really a work in progress. :cool:


What mods have you done, and what habits have you picked up already ?

If you're not doing so already, start a fuel log and keep note of changes you make to the car and your driving habits..