Today I had to rent a U-Haul and it had a neat little Go-Green Feature. It's a guage to tell you how you are saving fuel. At first I thought you have to be kidding me...after the first MILE I found myself constantly staring at the guage to see if I was IN THE RED.

As I drove more, I couldn't help but try to see if I could BURY the needle...Oh Yeah, I buried it! Then it became a challenge to see how well I was being GREEN. I have to say it really helped or actually FORCED me to feather the throttle and found myself driving easier to keep the needle in the green.

I just thought, this would be a perfect new addition to future MINI's

I snapped a picture so MINI executives can start planning future upgrades.

 

I am one of those that think this whole go green is a bunch of , well you know, that being said if you want something like that get a Garmin they have a eco feature on it..

 

It's a simple vacuum gauge with a fancy face. Neat idea, but it doesn't measure fuel consumption...just applied vacuum.

 

My Garmin 265T has a function like that.

 

I am one of those that thinks this whole go green is a good idea......for everyone else but me!

 

 

This will be good, it's now become a political thing.

It's just a quirky little guage like the openometor! Is it really useful...not really, but is it fun to watch...a little!

 

Just get one of these: http://www.autometer.com/ecometer/ It plugs into the OBD port, so it has an accurate read of exactly how much fuel is being pumped in and how it relates to the speed you're traveling. I have one, and it works really well for me. It's almost a little game with me to see how few lights I can have on.

 

Like 10Zero said, its a vacuum gauge. It can be helpful sometimes. I put one in my truck so I could keep taps on pedal position to prevent a surprise downshift of the trans when towing. Put on in the MINI to balance out the oil pressure gauge installation and for entertainment value.

 

We already have this with the OBC. Yes the OBC is digital rather a dial but it is the same idea.
Also if you want more accurate and more info for going green, get a ScanGuage II. Set your 4 readouts for all of the mileage info.

 

Agreed - the OBC does the same thing, without looking so cheesy.

In addition, this reminds me of the thing on the Prius that tells you when you are using fuel as opposed to stored electricity...and all the accidents that have come from people too busy watching the display to watch the roads

 

Hey it's the guy who invented the internet

Actually, in the early 80's, some VW's had a yellow light next to the speedo which when illuminated, meant it was the best time to shift for optimum fuel economy. If done, I would prefer that over that really uuuuuugly gauge. But thanks for sharing and good luck on that gauge/mpg thing. In a U-haul truck, it may just end up being a lesson in futility.

 

My folks old '79 Chevy Caprice had one....!

 

I sometimes hate the average MPG that already comes with the MINI.... it makes me feel guilty that I'm currently averaging 20 mpg because of the cold and I average 24mpg in the summer. So I would hate to have the constant reminder that I have a lead foot.

 

Super-charged, Turbo-Charged, nor any other positive boost induction systems need not apply for this Vacuum monitor. Guess that limits it to Justa's only.

 

I test drove a 370Z a couple months ago for kicks (didn't enjoy it at all), and was humorously surprised to find a digital eco-meter-type thing that constantly tells the drive if he/she is getting good fuel economy.....in a 370Z...a purpose built sports car with a 3.7L not-so-good-on-fuel V6. Makes sense

 

You beat me to it - this is not a new idea people many early '80s cars had these... (which were pretty useless then too!)

 

split personality? schizo?

I believe that we should continue to improve the health of our earth, however I do not believe in the Hockey stick... and Prius, just no... the whole process of making one and shipping it back to USA offsets its greenishness.


btw do any of you think that a cowboy hat for my MINI will minimize drag?

 

My friends '93 Benz had one of these, but it was ueless the way he drove that thing

 

Nope - sorry, but vacuum gauges won't work on a second generation JustaCooper either. The Valvetronic system controls the engine power output, not the throttle plate. From the Prince engine press kit:

So the ONLY way to get fuel consumption or engine load information is from the OBC or via the OBD port.

 

BMWs have had these for years. I assume they still do.

 

I wouldnt want it. I like to have fun in my car, not worry about gas. If it had that mine would almost always be in the red.

 

If this was in the middle of my dashboard when I was buying a mini, I would have walked out of the dealership..

Couldn't have been said any better.