A frenchie here
 

Hello,
I've been driving on a daily basis since July 2010, making about 20.000+ miles a year. Since the fuel prices are very high here in France/Europe ($7.20 for diesel, up to $9 for gasoline) I've begun to hypermile. My father has been hypermiling since the fuel price peak in 2008 and he's been a source of inspiration for me.
My everyday commuting journeys basically consist of 70 km of highway/country roads with no obstacles except a few roundabouts and 2 traffic lights. I drive no faster than 80-90 km/h and take the roundabounts without braking at all by coasting up to 800 m before them. Same for the traffic lights. I do also some coasting in the descents (where I do not exceed 100 km/h so it's not dangerous) and do not try to keep my speed when the road goes up.
These techniques permitted me to achieve 65,5 MPG (3,59 L/100 km) with a 1991 Peugeot 205 turbo diesel and 74 MPG (3,18 L/100 km) with a 1999 Peugeot 106 diesel.
I have recently bought a 1995 Citroën AX for 800€. The car was once in the Guinness World Records book for being the most economical production car, consuming as less as 3,3 L/100 km.
I will tune the car to make it more economical, I expect to hit 85 MPG.

Welcome to ecomodder.

I'm looking forward to see what your experiments bring up.
You're already getting some highly respectable MPG :thumbup:

Welcome to EcoModder:)

How is your AX's fuel consumption doing? What engine does it have?

The AX is a good choice to start off with. I have seen the drag coefficients somewhere, and if I remember correctly (it's been a while) the figures are quite impressive for a car that looks so boxy.. What engine does it run? I believe most come with a 1.1 or 1.2L gasoline engine, right?

I don't drive with the AX yet. I've bought it recently and I'm changing the valvetrain belt + water pump. I'll be driving the 106 until May.

The drag coefficient is 0.31. I guess the hood/windshield angle is good. Compared to the 205 (0.34), I see the road much nearer.
My engine is a 1.5 diesel. There was also a first-generation 1.4 but it was not reliable (many head gasket problems) because the engine was designed too lightweight (all aluminium alloy).
Most come with a 1.0 or 1.1 gasoline, yes. There were some sportier versions like the GT which was not ridiculous at all, 95 hp and 730 kg.

Since you're working on the engine anyway, then maybe replace the water and vacuum pumps with electrical models? That's what I'd do to take a significant load off the engine, but the price is prohibitive:eek:

The AX, and especially the 106/Saxo, are cars I would love to test kammbacks on. I might even get a chance if we decide to buy a 106 for the Wife.

I don't think I'm going to consider this. I don't want to go into any expensive modifications. To begin with, I'm going to make simple and free changes : reducing weight (45 kg), reducing rolling resistance (hyperinflated green tires) and reducing frontal area/aero drag (removing right rear-view mirror and radio antenna). And maybe some wheel skirts later.

So, I've driven a few thousand km so far. I set two new personal records with this car :
-lowest consumption : 2,75 L/100 km average on 425 km
-highest number of km on a full tank : 1557,9 km (3,03 L/100 km which is quite dissapointing).

I think I reached the bottom limit. Don't see how I could improve without major changes.

Is that with the AX or the 106 ?

You might want to start a fuel log on ecomodder as well ;)

Impressionnant ! :thumbup:

I think aeromodding may be your only way to improve any further.

Amazing! Do you coast with your engine off?

Imagine what aeromods would give you. http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-pi...re2538-wow.gif