Two Possible Commute Routes - Which one to use?

[abell75]

Originally Posted by bluejoey

Keep in mind you can also get an Ultraguage for about $70 before rebate. And I agree that minimal fuel usage >> higher mpg.

bluejoey, you just saved me about $100! The ultragage looks like a better deal based on what I've read so far....

[vacationtime247]

Bet that hill has been fun in this snow The shorter route is how the way I'd go. But, how much time does it take each way? Traffic?
VT247

Originally Posted by abell75

I have a 28 mile commute. The first leg of the drive is getting to the freeway. There are two plausible ways to do this:

Hilly but short
4.1 miles, 9 minutes (based on Google). I have five spots on this route where I need to either stop or slow down at the bottom of hills. GRRR! The biggest hill is over 200' of elevation change in half a mile. I climb it in the morning and engine brake down it in the afternoon (2nd gear). Stop sign at the bottom.

Longer, but flat
7.2 miles, 15 minutes, three stop signs, quite flat.

My goal is lowest fuel consumption, not necessarily best mpg (the second route would obviously be better for that). What do you all think?

[abell75]

Traffic is similar both ways. People get right up behind me at the crests of hills, then fall back on the descents. I P&G at speed limit or below, but still stop to wait for people at the signs/lights. The people behind me have not figured out yet that they don't get where they are going any faster by going fast, then waiting longer at the stops I'd go slower, but I fear that I'd cause the 'gators to do an unsafe pass...

I've driven home the long way a couple times now and it takes a lot longer....I think the short route may be better now...

This morning I tried driving through STL on a 4 lane street with lights that goes straight to my destination (the I-55/I-44 combo was out of the way 7 miles). Similar time, 7 miles shorter, slower speed. FE might not be any better, but cost/consumption should go down. Yay!

[instarx]

I've always felt that GPS route planning (many GPS units will plot the shortest route between two points) is the most overlooked fuel saving resource out there. With all things being equal, one mile shaved off a ten mile trip gives 10% fuel savings.