Project Accent
 

To start things off, I bought this accent for $900 in an effort to save money on my 70 mile round trip to/from work. Now, after doing some reading on this and a few other forums I have decided to get the most bang for my $900 that I can.

As-Is MPG: 35
Intermediate Goal MPG: 40


The start: If you haven't noticed the front end of a 99 Accent has a big gaping hole in the lower front.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/...c116ac6000.jpg

Steps taken:
Removed Side window wind deflectors
Coroplast Covered the Center of the bumper
Bought HubCaps (going to mod them to the PizzaPan style this week)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/...ea62f018ec.jpg

Updates to come.

Your Opinions are welcome.

Sounds an interesting project!

Is it the 1.3 petrol engine?

They did do the later Accent with a 1.5 diesel here

best of luck!

Update
 

Aired up tires to 43 psi

It a gas (petrol) 1.5L

Its ugly, but I used the rest of the coroplast to cover the fog light holes.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/...aab612f526.jpg

Looks like a great start! Do you have a ScanGauge or similar to monitor you MPG? That alone took me from 32 to 40MPG :)

If you need ideas take a look at the wiki :)
Keep up the good work.

Seems like it would be less ugly and more aerodynamically efficient to use one wide piece of Coroplast across the whole lower bumper cover, smoothing airflow over the central lower hole and both outboard fog light holes with just one long horizontal panel.

Speaking of those fog light holes--that's a bad place to have other than smooth and proper contour, since that's where air flow is about as fast as anyplace on the car. When flow speed doubles, drag increases 8-fold in exponential fashion. So, smoothing surfaces with the highest airflow speed is the most critical area of any.

If you could find some of that black plastic lawn edging stuff from Lowe's or Home Depot in, say, 6-8" width, maybe use one continuous piece over the whole lower bumper cover. To support it where it covers the fog light holes, maybe use Great Stuff foam-in-a-can?

I had the same thought about 1 piece to cover the front, but only had the coroplast on hand. That will be replaced son enough. I did have a little time today to delete the passenger mirror and add some crude wheel skirts to the rear for testing.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/...53ef1e0756.jpg

x3
 

It must be driving habits, I can reach 40mpg np in my 96 accent... is it 5spd?
First fill at385mi. 9.5g, second 371mi. And 9 gallons if I can remember correctly. This platform should be 50mpg goal, that's where I'm at, focus on driving habits draft role, and engine off