Any Festiva owners here?

[cowmeat]

I downsized from a 1998 Land Rover Dicsovery (12 mpg) about a year and a half ago to a 93 Festiva. I came out about a grand ahead in the swap, so I basically drove the Festiva free for a year. It's a 1.3L 5-spd manual with stock 12" tires & rims, everything's stock and manual, no frills here.
I have it registered at Fuelly ("Suck it,Hybrids!" is my car), and I have averaged a respectable 43.3 mpg over the last 17,000 miles. I drive it slow and easy, shift at low rpm, and I have the tires at max pressure, and that's about the only things I actively do to increase gas mileage.
I'm looking for the absolute cheapest ways to push it up towards to 50 mpg range. A/C is unhooked but still on the car, so I'm getting ready to remove it for the weight savings, planning on also removing the rear seat.
Anybody got any other free or super cheap ideas to kick it up a notch?

[nemo]

Welcome!

Quick look in the garage show about four active Festivas. Looks like your mileage is in same neighborhood as the others, great start. South Florida? Sure make it easier to get better mileage not fighting that snow or cold weather. What is your commute like highway, city or combination. Take a look at the 100+ Hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics for better mpg - EcoModder.com if you haven't.

Remember to add your car to the garage.

[ksa8907]

The festiva is a good eco car, but I would focus on aero mods. Its a very boxy car.

[cowmeat]

I'm in central Fl, between Tampa & Orlando so weather is not an issue.
I'm considering some aeromods since it's shaped like a brick, but I was wondering if anybody could steer me toward the lowest-cost but still high yield mods
I see a lot of grill blocking going on, I probably have some aluminum flashing in my shed for that!
Any other quick, dirty & cheap ideas?

[cowmeat]

Forgot to add that my commute is a mix of 2-lane county roads and city traffic. I-4 is right there on my doorstep, but the git-er-dones out on I-4 are averaging 85 mph so I'm too scared to even consider it.

[nemo]

I'd start with the grill block. Remember to watch engine tempature.

Kamback?

Look here for other ideas.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...iva-26957.html

[cowmeat]

I think you're right, I think I'll start with the grill block. I have an electric fan anyway, so thye heat shouldn't be a factor unless I get overly ambitious with it
Kambacks look goofy and hard to install (unless you use cardboard and duct tape of course), but I did see a post from a guy who ran a computer generated wind tunnel test on a Festiva using a detached rear wing that looked like it cut the rear resistance alot. I might try that out if I can find some kind of kit to do it

[ksa8907]

Grill block and air dam should be the best bang for your buck/time. Search around for rear wheel well covers.