New guy from Houston ('94 Corolla 5-speed with 13k miles) - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

deathtrain · 03-20-2011, 02:42 PM

well since my 97 Dodge 1500 is about to die it was time to look for something. I was still getting 17mpg out of the old dodge but with my job and gas prices. Naturally I would look for something that gets better mpg. After looking around I wanted a Metro but they are hard to find. I was going to wait until I found one but as I was looking at one a 94 Toyota Corolla 5 speed was next to it. As I looked at it I ask what was wrong with it. Well we go back and forth on the car. come to find out they said the the odo does not work so no telling how many miles are on it. So I test drive it and notice that I see the odo moving... IT WORKS. the car only has 13k on it.

So I picked it up for 4k and now I am here. Looking at doing some of the mods that I have read up on but reluctant on some of the others. It gets very hot here. It will get in the 100's with 30% humidity. So I dont know about the grill blocks and the under pans.

But before I start doing any mods I am going to put a few tanks through it to get a base line. MPGuino is on the way already for better readings.

bertb · 03-20-2011, 03:49 PM

Its always a thrill to find a diamond hiding in plain site! I just sold my truck and bought a civic and all day yesterday and today I've just been going over the math on how much money its going to save me (even without the mods) not to mention the whole "foreign oil" politics of saving gas. I'm doing cartwheels on the inside.

deathtrain · 03-20-2011, 03:57 PM

well I'm keeping the truck. I am going to rebuild the motor and front end. Hay season is coming so I cant afford to miss it. I dont think that the corolla will do very good trying to pull an 18 foot trailer loaded down.

bertb · 03-20-2011, 04:02 PM

No, definitely not. I have a buddy who ranches and runs steam engine tractors and threshers (coal). He just decided to part his work truck at the ranch for work and drive his small car for in-town. I was just referring to my case I do about 300 miles a week and its nice to know I've at least halved that without doing any mods at all. We borrow a camper every once in a while now I'm going to have to borrow the truck to pull it as well but thats a small price to pay for us.

deathtrain · 03-20-2011, 04:41 PM

well I have a pay it forward cars list. I got the Corolla to save fuel cost. Fuel cost savings will go toward rebuilding the truck for hay season and other cash paying jobs. That money and gas money saved driving corolla in turn goes toward my 07 Charger to get paid off. After that I will be saving over 1k a month.

MetroMPG · 03-22-2011, 04:22 PM

Seriously, 13000 miles on a 1994 Corolla?

If that's true, that's awesome. And nabbing a 5-speed was a good find as well. Should be able to pull some decent numbers from that even before modding.

And.... welcome to the forum

deathtrain · 03-22-2011, 07:46 PM

well took it to my friend at the toyota dealer to look it over also. he says that everything he looked at says that it is in deed a 13k mile car. then he offered to buy it from me LOL.

deathtrain · 03-25-2011, 10:28 PM

well i put the first tank through it since i have bought it. according to the MPG tool on here its at 52MPG. the thing is that I might have been doing hypermiling the whole time. I have had a 4 cylinder 5 speed before. SO i just drove this car like i have in the past. Then I got to reading the tips on how to get more MPG. To me they where "really no $hit" but turns out I have tought myself unknowingly. now I dont EOC but i do go into neutral and cost. but its because I am very lazy and dont like shifting LOL. but like i said it only the first tank. only time will tell.

MetroMPG · 03-28-2011, 11:00 AM

Wow - very promising! Hope it keeps up.

euromodder · 03-28-2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathtrain

well i put the first tank through it since i have bought it. according to the MPG tool on here its at 52MPG.

I hate you

That's better than what my 11 years younger Volvo diesel usually does - and then I'm not even counting the additional energy in diesel fuel.

What body shape is the Corolla ?
My first car was a 1993 Corolla 1.6 S hatchback

In Lavender (purple) of all colours - darker than the light Lavender I've seen on US cars though.
Looked like this one :

Unfortunately it met an untimely end on a lamppost.

Back then I only got half your MPG out of it