Greetings from Montreal, Quebec!

[CaptainRusty]

Actually, Laval, but we are in the greater Montreal region...

Anyways, been feeding the oil gods pretty heavily for the past 20 years or so. Last year, I decided that enough was enough. I had my mind on a fuel efficient car.
I looked at:

1) Honda Civics (in the 2005-2007 year range)

2) Geo Metros (most of them were projects, and need a daily driver)

3) Corollas (decent cars, but they are so blah, I actually owned a 1998 one for a while. Liked it, but was no fun.)

4) Mitsubishi Mirage (only available new around here, so I had to fork over $15-$16 K easily.

Ideally, I would have loved the Mirage, for it's fuel efficiency, but since none were available used, I will wait a few years to get one.

In the meantime I got myself a real nice 2007 Honda Fit. Not the best in it's class for fuel economy, but it will allow me to practice driving techniques aimed at saving fuel. Oh, and I got a manual transmission.

I don't do a lot of mileage, but the mileage that I do do is mostly in traffic and in the city.

I'm looking for some fuel efficient tires now for the Fit.

Anyways, nice to be a part of this super smart group. Wish I discovered this place years ago.

[Fat Charlie]

Welcome to the club! Lots of stuff to learn here, and you've got a good rig to work with.

[MetroMPG]

Salut, Laval!

Originally Posted by CaptainRusty

Ideally, I would have loved the Mirage, for it's fuel efficiency, but since none were available used, I will wait a few years to get one.

I think those cars are going to become quite popular around here when used ones start to become available. (I'm surprised at the number of people who are spending lots of money to get the loaded top of the line ones.)

In the meantime I got myself a real nice 2007 Honda Fit. Not the best in it's class for fuel economy, but it will allow me to practice driving techniques aimed at saving fuel. Oh, and I got a manual transmission.

Good choice! The Fit can actually do really well in sub/urban driving with the manual, depending on how advanced you want to go with driving techniques. (Have you seen Palemelanesian's Fit's fuel log?)

I see you've already got a digital fuel economy gauge - perfect. Makes economy driving a fun game.

Once you get your new tires, I'd look into what tire pressure you're comfortable with.

As for mods, one of the main ones that will help you in city driving is an engine kill switch.

Welcome to the forum!

[CaptainRusty]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Salut, Laval!



I think those cars are going to become quite popular around here when used ones start to become available. (I'm surprised at the number of people who are spending lots of money to get the loaded top of the line ones.)

Good choice! The Fit can actually do really well in sub/urban driving with the manual, depending on how advanced you want to go with driving techniques. (Have you seen Palemelanesian's Fit's fuel log?)

I see you've already got a digital fuel economy gauge - perfect. Makes economy driving a fun game.

Once you get your new tires, I'd look into what tire pressure you're comfortable with.

As for mods, one of the main ones that will help you in city driving is an engine kill switch.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks!

I'm actually MirageMPG from the Mitsubishi Mirage forum. I really had my mind set on a Mirage, but destiny chose otherwise. I did my calculations and was better off with an older Fit for now even though it netted worse fuel economy.

The engine kill switch is something I will have to look into. On my to-do list definitely!

Tomorrow I'm going to be looking at Yokohama ENVigor tires for the Fit. Dunno if it's a good choice, will have to do some more research.

Talk to you soon,

Rusty

[HyperMileQC]

The kill switch is a good idea, I will install mine at the end of May.

For the tires I put 50 Psi but I think I could go a little higher, like 55. I wouln't go higher because (you know it) of the pretty bad conditions of the roads here in Quebec.

There is an interesting correlation between ecomodder and Laval.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by CaptainRusty

Thanks!

I'm actually MirageMPG from the Mitsubishi Mirage forum. I really had my mind set on a Mirage, but destiny chose otherwise. I did my calculations and was better off with an older Fit for now even though it netted worse fuel economy.

Ha! It's a small internet.

I don't blame you at all for going that route. Law of diminishing returns often doesn't favour the brand new but more efficient vehicle.

I've only driven one Fit before (5mt) ... here: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post337338

Probably more fun to drive than a stock Mirage.



Darin