The novelty of hypermiling warn off?

Something similar happend to me on a vacation in 2009 where I leased a (manual of course) Seat Leon Turbo Diesel. What a blast! Great mileage and performance.
Upon return to the US, I traded in my V8 Jeep GC, and drove home in a Jetta TDI. Not as light and nimble as the Seat, but still quite enjoyable until the problems began arising and finally died at 24k miles. It was under factory warranty, and I had to fight VW of America over a month to fix it. Once they did, I traded it in for my 2011 Model III and never looked back.
I am saying this because I believe the Gen III models have a larger engine and require less throttle to get them moving. I never run in Eco (nor power) mode, and it seems to keep up with most.

 

Between a vacation out of state, and a car wreck I was involved in I have been driving a great many vehicles lately.

For me, the $2500 a year not sent to the gas companies and the Middle East has not worn off, the gadgets have not worn off, the feeling of being the cleanest gas powered car has not worn off.

Your mileage may vary. (downward, I bet)

 

For the reasons and more that Jimbo listed the "hypermiling" joy will never wear off.

Because I lowered my car and put different wheels on it I can easily play around in the twisties if I need a little more excitement. Unless you just need shear HP/TQ to have fun I think the Prius can fit the bill for both economy and driving fun.

 

Double efficiency and you cut cost by one-half. Who does not want to cut cost?! I enjoy hyperklicking (kilometers) and keep track of fuel use and every tank.

 

Actually, you would be suprised by the people that pass up savings.

Probably the most common reason people don't hypermile is they start too late. After that it goes to the senseless ones upmanship.

Not that infrequently I catch up or get in the rear view mirror of a racer...many people in a hurry don't know how to save time.

 

I am not a MPG extremist but I do try to get the highest MPG. After 5.5 years, I am still in it.

 

I still can't do it. Anyone in Chicagoland have the time to teach me on city streets with stoplights and stop signs?

 

40 (winter) and 45 (summer) is good enough for me.

TCO, my personal time not wasted doing oil changes and tune-ups, are more important.

The thing I liked most in the G3 was the increased horse power. I miss my big screen though, navigating MP3 cd's was much easier in the G2.

 

I live in Brooklyn and totally agree with Ken. I read about the MPGs people get and am totally shocked. Between the reg lights and stop signs on just about every corner I'm excited to get 35 mpg.

 

You removed your spare tire just to hypermile light. LOL that's hard core.

 

I spent a week driving around France with an Astra manual which had the most persnickety 1st gear I've ever seen - it was way worse than my son's Scion (so it wasn't all me) and the manuals I drove 20 years ago. Wasn't so much fun driving a high speeds as I expected either....the Scion is much better.

Came back to my Prius (and 65-70 mpg summer, 55 winter - in MA) with nothing but relief.

We'll see what a new set of Michelin MXV4 tires (which should drop my MPG by several, according to posters here) does to my desire to get high MPG.

 

When swapping to 17s I find it hard to get excited about hypermiling or even trying really hard. When you go from 53mpg-55mpg with trying too hard down to 46mpg it makes all the effort you put in feel like a waste. On the less gloomy side, if I didn't try for good mpg then I would drops even further to low 40mpg. Eek!

 

I have really enjoyed reading these posts!

I purchased my 1991 Honda CRX HF new. It is a 5sp manual, 1.4L, but can't get out of its own way on its best day. However, on its best day, it did get 61mpg going to Pittsburgh (that is, from one end of the PA turnpike to the other!) and it hugs the little windy twisty road I live on at 60+mph. It has always been a joy to drive. At 280K miles, it's time for my little kick @ss CRX to be converted to all electric, even though it still gets in the 40mpg local runnin' and in the 50mpg's highway.

Our 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid is also a 5sp manual (1.3L). We drive it for optimal MPG's as well and when I take it from SE PA to north NJ, I get 55mpg at 54mph (2000rpm) - that is its "happy place". It also gets in the 40mpg's locally.

While we're waiting delivery on our Nissan Leaf (late!), we're driving our newly purchased 2004 Salsa Red Prius w/47K miles. For two people who far prefer manuals, we are adapting to the Prius' CVT and I suppose it is readying us for our Leaf.

It's been over 20 years since I bought my first gas-miser and, at this point, I doubt I will ever tire of actively driving for optimal miles per gallon!

 

That's a nice little stable you have there.

Short of a manual transmission, the eCVT is the next best thing for efficiency although many people complain about the lack of shifting feel or the "slipping clutch" feeling. Having driven race cars with very high stall (3000-4400rpm) converters for almost 20yrs I am not bothered by that feeling.

This thread reminded me of my experiences and love/hate relationship with my two sets of wheels. I regularly switch back and forth between them for different reasons and I can never truly be happy with either. Sometimes I like to go for max mpg and I generally feel good as long as I am above 50mpg average. At other times I long for the looks and handling of the 17s. I really wish the mpg hit wasn't so large with the larger/wider tires so I could have the best of everything. Someday I suppose....

Oh back to my point for posting. If you get the Leaf I would highly suggest you research your tire options when it comes time to replace them. So much energy is wasted with non-LRR tires and this becomes critical when you are relying on a battery to get you where you are going.

I can't wait until a full electric car/truck becomes and option for me and my lifestyle. I would love to hypermile to conserve electricity. With all of the informational gauges on the Leaf I imagine it would be a total blast to drive!

 

Sometimes, I grow tired of hypermiling...getting tailgated by a$$clowns and what not. I always return to the thought of our men and women (and a few buddies) overseas securing our oil interests and then get right back to it

 

I had the original '84 HF (my first new car!) and although I never got as good as your results I could drive the p*ss out of it around town and still get mid-40's. My personal best was 54mpg hwy. IIRC, 3rd-5th gears were ALL overdrive! I drove it for a period of about 2 years without working instrument panel lights (it was the dimmer control) and used the overhead dome light to periodically check my speedometer on the highway. It was almost always at 62mph; car loved that speed.