Who are you more? (Ecomodder or hypermiler?)
 

There are two threads that are just amazing

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...r-if-3188.html

and

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...hen-19204.html

So I have a question to you, who are you more a hypermiller or ecomodder?

As I understand those terms hypermilles is more focussed on adjustint the nut behind the wheel, and ecomodder is doing so many strange things just to get better mpg at the same cruising speed.

I know most of us are both HM and EM, but if you have to choose which way is closer to your heart what would you say?

Waiting for your votes and comments. :)

Hypermiler. Part of it is that it's easy. You just get in your same car and drive, just drive a little differently. The other part is a bit of pride. It's not the car that's showing the results, it's ME.

I'm ditto with PaleM!!!!!

more on the Hypermiler side of life. Mods mostly to make that easier. Mods are stuck to one car, hypermiling is portable.

With my Neon I was more of a modder, with the VX I'm all hypermiler so far.

I should like to do modifications to my truck as the purpose of it is fairly well fixed. (The use of it; as when we discuss climate, terrain truck spec and use for matters of comparison). Spending money to save money, and when it also relates to greater reliability or longevity of the vehicle as a whole or its components is on the list.

But that will wait until I'm ahead of the maintenance/repair curve . . those, after all, are directly related to FE in minor & major ways. Hurts the wallet, initially, to treat systems as a whole (versus component by component replacement within a system), but really pays off long term.

So I suppose that makes me a hypermiler as, in owning a 7,950-lb pickup, the best way to lowest fuel burn is to run a few longer trips to achieve the ends of many short trips. And to drive the remaining miles with as high a skill level as possible. The goal, here, being to establish a new set of habits around use, not just driving. Smarter driving backed by smarter ownership.

When one looks at the climate, terrain, truck spec under which I operate, a random "other" can also probably achieve 18-mpg around town with only a few changes. But taking it to 23-mpg to achieve the same ends is where this forum makes quite a difference (with several contribuotrs experience prominent to my ends).

The EM side will be in analyzing total time spent at steady state highway speeds (not accel or decel, etc) to see how some aero mods may help. The other items under consideration have to do with, first, reducing warm-up time; and second, keeping fluid op temps high and the higher likelihood of a rear axle gear change. But playing carefully as the rig will be at 17k-lbs or higher with trailer in tow. Terrain & climate rear their heads. Etc. And so forth. A thread or three to be borne of these.

This thread a fun idea. Not sure it is a valid distinction, but I know I have learned a great deal (morale boosting, let's call it) from the EM specific threads!!

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Don't get me wrong, I have legs on both sides, but I'm a DIY person with a strong need to solve various technical issues. So I'm ecomodding my car because it's a lot of fun and it has very positive impact on the environment and my budget (in a long run of course). I've adjusted the nut behind the wheel I would say drastically, and I'm hypermilling any car I have to drive, but regarding Berta I just want to prove to everybody that Beemer that is in common opinion (at least in Poland) a guzzler, can be fuel efficient.
My goals are clear, my budget is low so it'll take a while to reach the destination, but I'm focused and determined to get there.

As slowmover suggests, I think the answer for most will depend on what type of driving is typically done (how the vehicle is typically used).

So I said both, for me. Mods permit me to hypermile at a higher average speed and still get great MPG.

Getting crazy high MPG numbers is challenging and fun, and I sometimes play the game. But since I predominantly use my car for highway driving, a low average speed isn't as practical.

I've always felt it's reasonable to "spend" a portion of the efficiency dividend gained through mods on a higher average speed - it's good to be able to go at the speed limit when there's traffic.

I love the look of my car, so it is hard to do mods that hurt the way she looks...
I feel it is equal, but if I had to chose, I would lean slightly towards my mobile mod-brain power.

Both, although the "modder" bit is diluted by the "wife approval" factpr, and car insurance limits for mods here in the UK. Its cheaper to go with no mods which affect insurance than mods that do but save fuel for the mileage I do.

I'd consider myself both, although I've found it interesting that most folks don't seems to go to "the extreme" in both departments--usually it's mostly one or the other. I've wondered why that is and haven't really come to any conclusions.

I'd love to put Pale in the Aerocivic, or something like that :D

I just like to hack things, build things, and learn things.

When I'm driving it's safety first, getting where I'm going with courtesy and efficiency (of time, distance and effort) second, and stuff like fuel savings after that. Though safe and transparent and time-efficient driving habits tend to be fuel efficient habits as well it seems, perhaps not quite as fuel efficient as hardcore hypermiler techniques.

I'm more into adjusting "the nut behind the steering wheel" than making eco-mods. 50% over EPA is enough to get my friends asking me what I've done. :)

Do both--and then when you tell them the mileage you're actually getting, they'll say you're full of it ;)

Hypermiling > Ecomodding

It's generally accepted that hypermiling nets the biggest gains in FE, so it follows that

Hypermilers > Ecomodders

Of course, Hypermodders = greatest

I too would love that! :D

I do both, and amuse myself by telling my co-workers that the most resent fuel price rise is of no consiquence.
"Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves"

I do both.

Started with HM techniques and over time have made a couple mods (kill switch, mirrors delete), but I am definitely looking at more radical modding like a boattail or extreme weight reduction, maybe. I need to get a grill block and belly pan in place, but I'm waiting for this political season to end :D Also, a PS delete is on the table, as well. Just need the time and motivation to do it.

I recently helped my sister-in-law empty her storage unit for her move to go back to U of M and as I was driving off, she was telling the other two guys that were there with us that I'd been getting 70 mpg by doing the things I have so far. One of the guys goes "I'd take my roof off if I could get that kind of mileage!" I laughed so hard about it when she told me later.

Both her and my wife were haters at the start of my hypermiling adventure and they've both stopped. My wife likes the extra money in our pockets, as do I. She still gives me crap about the way my car looks and refuses to ride in it, lol.

both, look at my car and you would have to be blind to not see the mods. but my first mod was tweaking the nut behind the wheel. mods help MPG only so much. how I drive makes the mods work for me. any idiot could make my car get EPA (29 MPG) with mods. it takes skill to use them to help me.

If i can mod a car to be extremely aerodynamic, regardless of FE, that is an otherworldly experience. It's a one form of effortless driving you can't buy.

Both for me. I was initially only interested in changing the car. Then I starting trying hypermiling techniques and couldn't believe the difference it made. Now I want every tank to be better than the last! :D

I used to be happy with 38 MPG, now I'm disappointed by a tank in the mid 50s.

I am more of a conservative. I see people purchasing a new (for instance) prius and thinking that they are saving the planet. What a crock. I am not picking on Prius as I might get one in 10 or 20 years.

One thing to remember is to teach your children so that they can teach their children. Don't be outbred by other less energy efficient people.