View Single Post
Old Jun 30, 2010 | 09:36 AM
  #31 (permalink)  
Loren's Avatar
Loren
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 0
Default

Yeah, in the Yaris. 32 mpg with an average road-trip speed of 65 mph over about 160 miles. (if you've ever paid attention to average speed while road-tripping, you know how fast you have to drive to maintain an average of 65 with stops and a good portion of your route being non-interstate!)

My favorite MPG-monitoring mode is trip average. For the typical trip, you'll spend your first 3-5 miles recovering from the cold start and trying to just get your MPG up to somewhere around EPA. From there, if you keep at it, you can just keep taking a tenth or two improvement wherever you can get it, and try to be light enough on the throttle when accelerating that you don't lose what you've gained. If you do the same on a per-tank basis, by the time you've used the first quarter tank, you don't get enough feedback to see your improvements and get that "instant gratification".

Instantaneous MPG is good for teaching yourself what works and what doesn't, but it's not a good tool for monitoring your average FE.

Just took my wife out for lunch. About 4 miles out and 4 miles back. Managed 35 mpg on the way there and 35.5 on the way back. Not bad for a short trip. (EPA City on my car is 29) Could have easily done 38-40 with less throttle and more coasting, but with lunchtime traffic, I try not to be so slow as to be in anyone's way.
__________________