Should I get another car?

[mavinwy]

We just call it a RAID

Redundant
Array of
Inexpensive
Drivers

Jim

[metromizer]

Originally Posted by mavinwy

We just call it a RAID

Redundant
Array of
Inexpensive
Drivers

Jim

I like it, Jim

After I married, the ratio was three older cars/two drivers. I've gotten older still, and have kids that drive (Only my 19yr old daughter will work on one) so having a spare car "loaded in the chamber and ready to go" works out great. Except dad is the head of the maintainence department

[dentprone]

Originally Posted by mavinwy

We just call it a RAID

Redundant
Array of
Inexpensive
Drivers

Jim

ROTFL

[ESmooth]

Nice numbers on the MPG and price. I picked up my 98 EX about 8 months ago for $3500 but just got into economic driving. Car came with new tires, clutch, timing belt, tinted windows and a mint interior and I got it from a good friend who i know took care of it, in fact I just broke 200K over the weekend with no major mechanical issues, just a small oil leak from the drain pan. 40MPG is my goal and now that I have my SGII Im sure I can reach it. Is your drive such that your 42MPG is pretty easy to get or do you have to work pretty hard to get it?

[Wonderboy]

Well, there are a number of assumptions I have to make given that you don't break 40 with the exact same car I drive (is yours a 5speed?) I'm going to guess probably. It's all in technique, I've found. I'm looking for more mileage myself, so if anyone sees any sore thumbs in what I say, please speak up!

-I hardly ever break 2000 rpms when accelerating or cruising unless I'm on the highway. I always shift before 2000 rpms, and sometimes closer to 1500. I go through gears 1-4 in a 30mph zone pretty quickly, even when accelerating slowly. I've seen discussions on this forum and the hypermiling forum about whether it's better to accelerate slloooowwwly, but have your foot spend more time on the throttle, or accelerate as quickly as possible given that you will never break 2000 rpms.... In everyone's answers and my own results, I've concluded that the difference in negligible - I couldn't even tell you which is slightly better. I go for the "accelerate reasonably quickly, and get to a coasting speed ASAP" plan.

-I use the pulse and glide method when I can, but I'm not a fanatic.

-I definitely use the turn-off method on big downhills (even on the highway) and long stoplights (over 8secs is the rule of thumb). I wouldn't advise this if you drive an automatic.

-I drive 55-60* on all highways and avoid cruise control except on flat areas.
*I will definitely break 60 and go however fast a steep hill will coast me up to about 80... but I hate to waste momentum. I will also speed up a little before uphills, then use the driving-with-load method, and try to end up going 50 by the time I reach the top of the hill.

Those are the most significant things.

In a nutshell, my goal is to keep my foot off the throttle as much as possible without being a safety hazard to other drivers. A minor annoyance is okay if I happen to force other drivers to go exactly the speed limit (boo-hoo!)

Also, with that particular car, make sure you keep oil in it - my old corolla burned a little oil, and I found that it was VERY important to my mileage to keep it filled up. I would check it every 1000 miles. Try a little lucas too, about a half a bottle into the engine along with the oil in your next oil change. I didn't see any significant increase in mileage while using it, but it certainly cannot hurt for its price.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM any very specific questions.

[ESmooth]

Sounds like were doing pretty much the same thing in terms of driving styles. I just got my SGII and havent even burned half a tank yet, but it says im on par to hit 40MPG for the tank. It seem like its dead on with the expected mileage with the actual mileage only off by .8 miles, just have to see what happens at the pump. Ive been experimenting with PnG on the freeway and have averaged about 44MPG per trip on my 11 mile commute without topping out ant just over 60MPH. Been trying to work between 57 and 62MPG since that seems to keep in the speed range the far right lane likes to go, not to mention I have a lot of drafting opportunities with all the trucks on the road. I find myself driving more than normal to practice the techniques and get used to wrking with the SGII so future tanks will probably be better. Thanks for the input though, good to get feedback from soemone with the exact same car, and yes, mine's a 5 spd.

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

Regarding your AC, sounds like it needs to be recharged ..... maybe because of a leak, but most older vehicles you can get away with a recharge once or twice a year.

There is a refrigerant called Duracool, fairly inexpensive and non ozone depleting , enviro friendly .... and is supposed to be up to 40% more efficient than R134a.

I've used it in a vehicle with a R134a system as a direct replacement and it sure felt like it blew alot cooler than R134a even when it was working properly.

[Wonderboy]

Well, you clever Canucks! First you get a kid who wins Canada's science fair by growing his own strain of bacteria that eats plastic bags...Then you've got this awesome refrigerant I've never heard of, but now must have. I'm surprised something so great is even allowed in the states. Thank you so much - everyone should check this stuff out! A new thread is in order.