Ecomodding my winter beater: a unicorn no-rust (*) 2000 Chevrolet Metro 1.0 5-spd

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Do you think this wheel skirt design is better than the traditional design? With it going down lower to the bottom of the side skirt and extending further back?

[MetroMPG]

The Metro's rear bumper design makes for a bad traditional fender skirt (one that s imply fills the wheel arch). The lower ~50% of the bumper cover is tucked in behind the rear tire, and it curves abruptly away (transitioning to the rear surface). Even with a smooth surface to that point, there's no chance flow is attached there.

So, yeah, a fender skirt that extends further aft and tapers more gradually should work better.

[MetroMPG]

66 MPG US average / 3.6 L/100 km.

That was on a 100 km / 62 mile round trip today, and that's the car's second best MPG performance.

And this time, there was a tailwind on only ONE leg of the trip! (Headwind on the way there.)

More of this trip was spent at the speed limit (80 km / h = 50 mph) than this weekend's 72 MPG result. And temps were cooler.

And it's still running on winter grade fuel.

[MetroMPG]

The Metro can stand to be lowered a bit more. Going to do that this weekend.

After that, coroplast versions of the fender skirts and Kammback.

[California98Civic]

Nice numbers, hey! Is it on adjustable springs?

[MetroMPG]

Thanks... it's kind of fun re-modding a car I've already modded before. Makikng plans to hack this one up a bit since the black one is the 'nice' car.

Springs: they're only adjustable in one direction. I'm trimming them. Go back in this thread to see the first trim, if you like.

[MetroMPG]

OK!

It's down another 1/3 to 1/2 inch.

The springs are obviously stiffer. But with both sway bars removed now, the ride is surprisingly not bad. It could be lowered even more (!) and not be harsh at all.

There's still way less body roll than a stock 2014/15 Mirage. (Admittedly, that's a low bar!)

And since I had the front wheels off, I re-greased the caliper pins/sliders. Anybody know if I can get those caliper springs for this car?

[California98Civic]

I found your spring cutting report in post #69. Nice photo. Thanks for that. I have thought quite a bit about this from time to time, but there is often repair work to do, so I have not gotten into it. Also, cutting... permanent unless replace. Still, 'tis free!

[MetroMPG]

Agreed - permanent is a bit scary.

I probably wouldn't have done this if not for the fact I had 2 extra sets of springs/struts in my junk pile from my ForkenSwift days. I actually have 3 sets, if I keep the ones from the FS shell, which I have yet to scrap.

I dropped the Firefly last year on dedicated lowering springs, and its ride is MUCH stiffer, although it's even lower. (And it also still has the sway bars on -- I will be removing those to see how much it helps).

So far, between the two, I much prefer the results of these trimmed springs & sway bar delete.

[Xist]

We need a camera app with aero filters. Tap. Lowered. Tap. Boat tail. Tap. Wheel skirts. None of this sepia nonsense and beauty garbage that make people look like aliens.