Em-Pee-Geez
Yesterday, I achieved 40 mpg on my commute home (okay, it dropped to 38.8 from 40.3 during the drive through my parking lot...) in my VW Passat Wagon. Despite the 1337 fuel econ heads recommending staying away from the cruise control, I find that if I set it at 55, I will get more fuel economy than *trying* to modulate the pedal myself, because there is a 99% chance I will develop leadfoot and zoom around in the left lane doing 80.
Those 40 miles per gallon came when I am about to get my car serviced, so the engine could use a slight tune, I need an oil change and a new air filter. My tires are set at a comfy 41 psi (max is 50). I was impressed that driving 55 got me such good mileage, especially since more than half of the time i'm behind the wheel, I'm crawling in traffic.
Today I drove to Haines Point for a training ride at lunch, and on my way home I drove 55. It seemed SOOOOO SLOW! I stayed in the right lane, riding the solid white line so people would get the hint that I'm intentionally driving 55. Still, I think it would be courteous of me and others who practice certain hypermiling tactics to get an MPG sticker for their car. Seriously, if I was in a rush and came upon someone doing that, I'd probably yell at them a little bit for driving like a snail. However, if I was shown a reason for their methods (i.e. "I was in a bad car wreck once"/"My car shimmies at certain highway speeds and this is the most comfortable speed to drive at right now"), I probably wouldn't default to sneering comments.
After I get her serviced, I'd like to do a highway trip at night to see what sort of mileage I can get at 50 psi/60 mph. Maybe do 55 on the way down and 60 on the way back?
Those 40 miles per gallon came when I am about to get my car serviced, so the engine could use a slight tune, I need an oil change and a new air filter. My tires are set at a comfy 41 psi (max is 50). I was impressed that driving 55 got me such good mileage, especially since more than half of the time i'm behind the wheel, I'm crawling in traffic.
Today I drove to Haines Point for a training ride at lunch, and on my way home I drove 55. It seemed SOOOOO SLOW! I stayed in the right lane, riding the solid white line so people would get the hint that I'm intentionally driving 55. Still, I think it would be courteous of me and others who practice certain hypermiling tactics to get an MPG sticker for their car. Seriously, if I was in a rush and came upon someone doing that, I'd probably yell at them a little bit for driving like a snail. However, if I was shown a reason for their methods (i.e. "I was in a bad car wreck once"/"My car shimmies at certain highway speeds and this is the most comfortable speed to drive at right now"), I probably wouldn't default to sneering comments.
After I get her serviced, I'd like to do a highway trip at night to see what sort of mileage I can get at 50 psi/60 mph. Maybe do 55 on the way down and 60 on the way back?