I have cut out most of my joy riding. I am on a very limited budget right now, so I try and only use my car for job hunting. So far it looks like Im gonna be on that budget for a while longer as all the unemployed adults are taking the usual college student summer jobs.

 

This means that whatever the final solution, one way or another it's going to cost us all more money still. Slower truck speeds mean less product shipped. So to get back to where we were we'll need more trucks on the road. And all that will mean more costs, which means higher retail prices on everything.

 

Even if there is a break even point, you have to consider all the wear that the constant starting and stopping puts on the car. Some cars do it automatically, but if yours doesnt it isnt worth it.

 

Here in the Mid-Atlantic region, are MINI Clubs are sponsoring another Guiness World Record Event. I'm almost certain by some of the responses here, that some who covered long distances last year may not be inclined to do so this year because of the added cost.

I have slowed down a good deal myself and have seen some improvements in distance per tank. I'll never let that little red low fuel warning light come on, so I don't know what an actual "FULL" tank costs.

As for trucks, I drive a 93 Ranger with a 4 cylinder and 5-speed. The MCS can't compare with it unfortunaely with similar driving habits. I don't like that anymore then anyone else, but hey, you do what you have to, to conserve. Besides, I don't think anyone has mentioned yet that we MINI owners need that high octane, Most Expensive gas sold (not deisel). That kinda sucks too.

 

The price of fuel has been effecting my driving style completely, ever since my return from Iraq.

I live 40 miles from work, in what is essentially a farming community. I plan all of my shopping during the week (on the way home from work), and rarely go driving around just to drive around. I've also curtailed my weekend activities, since one of the fields I use to go to is 30 miles away.

If I want to see a first run movie, it essentially cost me $10 just to get there, not counting the other movie essentials.

I noticed today I was down to two candy corns when I pulled out of the garage...damn, in the red again.

 

We attended the GWR event last year with 2 MCS's and will not go this year because of gas and time.

We have 3 cars:

• '04 MCS
• '06 MCSc
• '04 Honda Element

My MCS stays in storage and hardly gets driven now. My wife drives her MCSc to work and I drive the Element to either work or Metro. I actually did a little test last week. I take the Metro to work, but need to drive to the Metro. The Metro is about 10 miles and I use about 3/4 a week. Now, Metro costs:

• $4.75 parking
• $8 riding round trip

That is $63.75/week in Metro not including fuel for the Element, so lets say $20 on the conservative side. That is $83.75/week.

If I drive to work, I use a tank/week @ around $50 on the safe side.

So, if I take the Metro, which is supposed to save me $$, it is actually more expensive. This is so strange....

On the original topic, we don't do to many club runs anymore, and when we do, we just take one MINI now. Kinda sucks, but what can you do.

 

of course this business of driving "green" in a mini is not easy (at least not for me)

the little fella on my left shoulder says "cool! we're at 72 mph and 3k rpm with a very light throttle opening on this lovely gently curving highway almost empty of traffic - whoopee!"

then the little fella on my right shoulder says "hey, remember how the power builds from here until at 4k rpm and 90mph the car pulls like a little freight train on it's way up to 100 in two shakes of a lamb's tail? isn't that a blast?"

yesterday the 2nd little fella won. i've been ignoring him for a couple of weeks, but hey i'm human!

 

Yeah, the gas price affected my driving too and was one of the factors pushing me to sell my beloved Subaru WRX.
Doing 40 miles a day just commuting to work I was getting 18.5-19mpg in Subaru, now I'm getting 31-32mpg in the MINI. I basically fill up half as often as I used to in WRX but also drive less aggressively.

 

I'm with you... I try to drive conservatively as much as possible, but it's amazing how easily Sally can hit 90 without me even noticing...

 

So your little guys battle it out, too!? Whew. I thought I was the only one hearing those voices.

 

yes, it drive more in 6th gear now... I also stop random trips & motoring on the weekends. Sucks actually...

 

I've always been conservative with the fuel.

I did discover if I shift manually (it is auto) I get
about 5 mpg better, city.

I've been driving my honda to work some. The mpg
isnt **that** much better, but it uses regular.

For fun:
When filling up near SUV hum unrecognizable tune to myself
so they can hear how happy I am.
APPEAR to zip off at a light, but really don't when next
to a monster truck. 90% of the time billybob will floor it.
Which used to cost $0.10 now its like $8, but more importantly,
billybob's access to credit cards and home equity loans is now down,
so i figure, one more off the road soon enough.
I DO zip off the light with my honda. I confirmed long ago
that it gets 1 mpg less zipping than not zipping.

Billybob REALLY doesn't like it when the honda zips off.

Well, I can't afford to go anywhere, I have to get my entertainment
as I go along

 

Wow...you're kinda evil.