Before you discard those plastic wheel covers

[darelldd]

Originally Posted by Tourezrick

Been more than a few posts about loss of mileage with the wheel covers removed.

Sure there have been posts on this. There have been people who claim that removing the passenger seat was good for about 5 mpg increase. I heard people talk about several mpg decrease when they added splash guards. There are those who claim that the extra weight (and drag) of a trailer hitch will decrease mileage. There are those who think the permament rack mounts I put on my roof will destroy my mileage, and there's no question it impacts the mileage. There are those who think that I'm crazy for carrying bikes and kayaks and cargo on my roof because it destroys my mileage, and there's no question that it impacts my mileage. There are those who tell me not to tow anything. People worry about having the car full of people and gear because THAT kills the mileage.

If I add up all the terrible things I do to destroy my mileage, my car would make a Hummer look like a bicycle. I carry crap on the roof, off the back, on a trailer. I have roof racks, I have splash guards and a trailer hitch. I sometimes drive with the windows down. I always drive with the car at or beyond the maximum gross weight. And the best part: I have the trim rings removed. *gasp* My lifetime mileage after almost 30,000 miles is... drum roll please... 50.1 mpg.

I'd think that is more important to most owners than how 'cool' the car looks. But, to each, his (her) own, I guess.

So yeah. What's most important to me is NOT the utility of the car... but definitely how it looks.

Yikes. This is the ugliest car I've ever owned. I don't really care all that much about the looks. But I see NO reason to leave the stupid trim rings on.