HyperMiling

I conducted an experiment this morning.  I drove to work 5 Mph slower to see how much gas I would save.  I was impressed by the difference.   I didn’t have a real accurate way to measure the actual gas mileage.  I had to go by the gas gauge itself.  It usually takes me almost a 1/4 of a tank one way in Amy’s Hyundai Santa Fe.  It gets about 20 MPG on average.  This is thanks to the AWD option which is great in the rain but hell on gas.  This morning I did the trip on 1/8th of a tank.  It was half, or almost half the gas, I would normally burn at 75 mph.

This got me thinking some more about the idea of hypermiling.  Now the guys who go out and buy a Nascar ice vest so they never have to turn on the AC are ridorkculous.   Everyone was talking about their gas mileage when we hit $4 a gallon.  Now it’s back under $2 and no one cares.  I have the cheapest gas in Wake county 4 miles from my house at $1.38 as of this AM.  With a commute of 42 miles one way, I still care.  I spend no less than $48 a week on gas even at $1.40 or less.   I reached a high of $130 a week at the price peak in the ol’ F150.  Never again.  My goal is a preemptive strike against possible rising gas prices.  I’ve resolved to monitor my gas mileage while trying not to become obsessive about it.

I will start by making sure I buy the right car.  This has become a challenge lately since I’m trying to avoid financing with a bank and all the used econo cars got sucked up during the $4 a gallon era.  I tried to buy a 2004 Civic.   It was salt corroded beyond hope.   I’ll still look for one but I’m starting to set my eyes on some others, specifically the Mazda Protege5, the Toyota Matrix, and Mazda3.  All three are gas sippers and are suppose to hold up under heavy mileage.  I need to make my decision and a purchase by no later than January 15th.  I have to travel down to Manning, SC that weekend and can’t leave Amy without a car.