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How does getting 73 miles per gallon sound?

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by splashback, May 11, 2007.

  1. splashback

    splashback New Member

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    May 11, 2007
    By Kim Janssen sun-times news group

    The last time Browning Mitchell bought gas, there was still ice on the roads.

    By the time he fills up again, it could cost $4 a gallon.

    Mitchell, of Chicago's Mount Greenwood community, doesn't hide his car in the garage. He drives it at least 38 miles a day to and from his city hall job as an engineer with the Chicago Fire Department.

    He eats Cheerios for breakfast, not muesli, and displays no outward sign of meanness.

    But getting the industry-leading 60 miles per gallon in the city from his 2004 Toyota Prius just isn't good enough for him and a small but growing band of "hypermilers" -- motorists committed to squeezing the maximum use out of every drop of gas.

    http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldn...EAGE_S1.article
     
    #1 splashback, May 11, 2007
  2. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(splashback @ May 11 2007, 08:04 AM) [snapback]439827[/snapback]</div>
    Wonder if this person is a PCer?
     
    #2 burritos, May 11, 2007
  3. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ May 11 2007, 12:36 PM) [snapback]440058[/snapback]</div>
    Probably on greenhybrids.com, I think the true hypermilers spend more time there. Most of us here are just "supermilers". This guy spends about $1.50/day on gasoline, I think he should donate some of his savings to the NJ Hummer owner... :p
     
    #3 nerfer, May 11, 2007
  4. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    He is indeed one of us. See here.
     
    #4 JimboK, May 11, 2007
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ May 11 2007, 02:21 PM) [snapback]440096[/snapback]</div>
    Funny thing is, GM says their VOLT will get that kind of mpg. . . . . you know . . . SOMEDAY :p
    So, they're bragging about doing someday, what some of us do, already. :rolleyes:
     
    #5 hill, May 11, 2007
  6. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

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    Autographs and pictures will be free at the ChicagoPriusGroup meet-up on May 20th.

    I'd rather not, upsets my tummy. But I have a better carrot, if anyone at the meet-up with at least 100 miles on their tank comes within 10% of my MPG, I'll go next door to Shell station and get them a $25 gas card (this offer excludes Honda Insight owners).

    Actually the interview was fun and I think the article fairly well written. I think it helped that the reporter is a recent British import driving a new Honda Fit 5 speed above the EPA himself, so the Eco-Driving thing is not totally new to him. Could not imagine if a Big 3 SUV driving reporter did the interview! And as always what was written was not necessarily what I said, this reporter had been hanging out at CleanMPG lurking for a while. For instance, I did have Cheerio's for breakfast but I do like muesli.

    I took the reporter and photographer for a 4 mile spin on some 4 and 2 lane city streets around the neighborhood. I wasn't the fastest or slowest, 3 five minute bars of 50, 75, 99MPG. They were sort of "impressed".

    Wayne

    For the record my tires are pumped to #*@^ PSI.
     
    #6 FireEngineer, May 11, 2007
  7. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ May 11 2007, 02:30 PM) [snapback]440102[/snapback]</div>
    Well, acutally, GM says that the Volt will use no gas for 40 miles, and then get 70+ MPG.
    Is that what you are doing today with your Prius? <_<
     
    #7 Marlin, May 11, 2007
  8. douglas001001

    douglas001001 smug doug

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FireEngineer @ May 11 2007, 01:41 PM) [snapback]440112[/snapback]</div>
    I'm filling up on monday, so I'm up for the challenge, the hard part will be the unfamiliar route to the meet-up.

    Oh, do you take any of your cleanmpg merch to the meetups? I am looking for license plate holder things and was going to get one or two of yours.
     
    #8 douglas001001, May 11, 2007
  9. spideyman

    spideyman Junior Member

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    WOW!! Best I have gotten is 48 mpg, and have been averaging 45, but then again, I prefer the comfort of AC when it's hot and heat when it's cold. :lol:
     
    #9 spideyman, May 11, 2007
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Once again, Wayne makes an excellent showing. Way to go!

    So you're saying that if I show up with at least 7.3 MPG you'll give me $25? Oh gee, I'll try.
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, May 12, 2007
  11. kayemarschke2

    kayemarschke2 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ May 11 2007, 01:30 PM) [snapback]440102[/snapback]</div>
    This from the people that killed the electric car!! How ironic
     
    #11 kayemarschke2, May 12, 2007
  12. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    Does he only pack the front grill with foam during winter months or all the time? I have been hovering around 57 mpg (drops to 51 during the winter - partly due to winter fuel I think). I could probably get higher if I changed my driving habits a little but that would also probably annoy fellow commuters. As it is, I get annoyed looks for driving the speed limit. :p
     
    #12 Tadashi, May 12, 2007
  13. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I remove my grill block when temps average 50ºF or higher. A couple weekends ago, he and I were having lunch and with temps in the high 60s to low 70s he still had his blocked.

    Browning(Wayne) has a ScanGauge and knows exactly what his engine coolant temperature is at all times. He knows the upper temp limits and even knows exactly at what temperature the cooling fans kick in. I know him well enough to know that he will not do anything he feels is detrimental to his vehicle. I know his wife well enough to know how upset he would be if he did.

    So, in the end, I'm willing to bet that if you wanted to block your grill when the temps are in the 50s and even 60s there is no harm.
     
    #13 TonyPSchaefer, May 12, 2007
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