Great 1st post Xyclone.

 

Hypermilers are the danger out there.
Driving below the posted limit will get ME killed because someone else jukes out of the slow path of a hypermiling fool.

Take it easy in 1st and 2nd gear. That's a savings right there.
Over 70 mph and your mileage goes into the crapper.

 

I'm averaging 5 MPH in NYC traffic during the Mornings & Afternoon.

 

Today I merged onto I-5 and saw a big white ford truck coming on the left lane in my rearview mirror. I thought, ' OK, this is my draft mobile....' then I saw a white 2006 Celica right behind the truck with no room for me in between. I laughed and said to myself "that guy figured out my secret as well!" I tucked in behind another large SUV instead.

 

So, when you pile into that moving billboard because you couldn't see what's up ahead, will you call yourself 'r28mini'?

 

With my 05 MC, we averages 31-33 mixed driving to around town. Our normal highway mpg is 36-37. Our last trip to Grandma's I got 42 mpg. Now, I did a lot of "momentum driving". On down hills I would shift to neutral if the hill was big enough to allow the car to gain speed. If the hill was not that big, I would use just enough gas to build my momentum for the next up hill. Uphill I would keep the throttle position steady and lose momentum/speed up the hill. I would try not to go over 80 mph down hills and try not to go below 60 uphill. By looking ahead and planning each hill, you can really start to save gas. Using the mpg computer allows you to see, just how much throttle you can get away with before you are just wasting gas. By "drafting" big rig it can help some, but I try not to get too close, though.

 

I'm getting 40 in 70/30 hwy/city just by keeping her to 65-70mph, lots of cruise control, and gentle acceleration.

Anyone have any Royal Purple testimonials? Does that stuff work for a 2% increase?

 

I can't believe I managed to get over 31 mpg city/hwy mixed with my wife's `01 325i. Truely amazing.

 

Fixed.

 

Drafting works well but you have to be right on their bumper. One time I was in my Jeep Wrangler coming back from Camp Jeep event in Pennsylvania and me and my buddy (driving a Cherokee) just got on the turnpike when we spotted a gravel hauler semi that was just haulin. So we got behind him, talked to him on the CB and let him know we'll be behind him and held on for the ride. This driver was crazy, the semi was in the left lane and never slowed down lower then 80. Everyone got out of his way when they saw him coming I hung on in his wake like 5' behind him & my buddy was behind me on my bumper for almost a full tank of gas worth, till we had to break off to refuel.

Long story short I got ~21mpg drafting a semi @80+ while my normal consumption is ~15-16 on the freeway, even less if I speed. It was a crazy bareknuckle drive through the mountains & the rain but we got same good damn MPG

 

You don't have to be right on thier bumper in a MINI to benefit from a draft. Next time you are out on the open road get behind a big rig. Position yourself where you feel safe and comfortable. Look at your consumption rate.

Then either switch lanes, or, go ahead and pass and then match your previous speed.

The rate will show a difference.


When I say draft, I aint talking NASCAR. Maybe I should say "running in your wake". The bigger you are and the faster your movin' makes it all the better for me.