Hypermiling driving position - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

wagonman76 · 04-09-2009, 12:49 PM

The wife is back with the Celeb, I reinstalled the aeromods and took it downstate last night. Before that I only drove it a few times this season before the snow hit again. I found it odd that my mileage was not where it should be, I only got 31.5 on the way to work, and was only getting 30s on the flats as I headed downstate. Then I bumped my seat back a notch and that made all the difference in the world, now I was getting 40s on the flats. It must be optimal to keep the natural position of your foot at least higher than the cruising position of the throttle. Got 39.5 there and 41.9 back. If it ever warms up outside I really want to do more to it, still only 30 degrees in the day.

brucepick · 04-11-2009, 05:07 PM

Good point.
This probably should go into a sticky somewhere here.

TestDrive · 04-11-2009, 05:50 PM

Natural Foot Position - At or Above Normal Cruise is a great tip and deserves to be in 100+ Hypermiling Tips.

However, for safety reasons, proper relation of the entire body to the steering wheel should be considered at the same time.

From Racing Schools - Driving Tips - Steering - RacingSchools.Com

Quote:

The driver should be close enough to the wheel to reach any place on the wheel with either hand and without lifting back or shoulder blades off the seat, but no closer. If you have to get closer than that to your steering wheel in order to reach the car's pedals, you should consider getting extensions for the pedals. Held into your seat by your seat belts, you have no reason to hang onto the wheel for support or to grip it tightly, both of which will wear you out and cause you to over-steer the car.

Ford Man · 04-13-2009, 07:25 PM

I think I'll start driving from the back seat. LOL

Matt Herring · 04-13-2009, 08:02 PM

I prefer to sit close to the steering wheel on my daily commute...I feel as if I'm "into" the drive a little more. Similar to a race car driver I am a little bit "up" on the wheel. Probably not the safest position in relation to the air bags but what I find to be the most efficient for me on a daily basis. For longer drives, however, I tend to sink into the seat a little more.