With all this talk about increasing your automobile's fuel efficiency, and it being an aviation message board, it got me to thinking, what if car's were to have a performance section in their owner's manuals just like in a POH? Even if it were very basic and just showed the fuel consumption under certain common driving conditions, i.e average city driving at 35 mph, or highway driving at 55mph, 60mph, 65mph, 70mph, 75mph, etc.

I'd appreciate seeing something more detailed than just a city and highway mpg figure. Plus it might be a bit of a wake up call for some people to see the fuel savings that would come at the sacrifice of only a few minutes on their drives.

Just some food for thought.

 

Interesting idea, but, what percentage of people do you honestly think have ever even opened their owner's manual?

 

the F-150 that I used to own had that in the manual. They gave tips on how to save fuel, like slowing down far before a red light to give it a chance to turn green and then you won't have to start from a complete stop, driving at certain speeds, etc..

The best way to save money is to buy a small engined motorcycle, but that might not be the best thing for pilots carrying lots of stuff.

 

Sure they do... How do you think they learned how to set the clock?

 

An older light touring bike works well. Something like the Honda PC800 Pacific Coast or GL500 Silver Wing (the original Silver Wing). Both get milages around 50 mpg, have tons of room, and are inexpensive to buy.

A friend has a roll aboard designed for a sissy bar/back rest. It slides over the bar while riding. He has had it for a few years and uses it daily.

 

No car for 18 years, by choice. Motorcycles and bicycles. I get to the airport, with luggage, too. Rain or shine. I stay dry and warm. heated grips, decent rain gear.

Bicycle = zero fuel cost. Annual consumables & maintenance about $30-50.

Motorcycle #1. (Now my primary means of transport)
1981 Honda C70 Passport - 70cc. 3 speed semi-auto. Change the oil, is about it. Last MPG: 124.7 I paid $700 for this bike 4 years ago, in primo shape..it had 700 miles on it, like new. Carries two full grocery bags, or my flight bag and a shoulder bag. $60 a year to insure. It is also really fun to ride.

Motorcycle #2 1991 BMW K75S (when I need a freeway/highway or extended. trips). Engines will go 300,000 miles, shaft drive. 50-55 MPG. (Prius mileage) Detachable hard luggage. Paid $3500 for it 4 years ago, when it had 16,000 miles on it. Not as fun to ride as #1 Motorcycle.

I usually find free parking everywhere, and exactly where I want.
A motorcycles primary higher maintenance cost is only in tires and valve adjustments.

No interest in a car, especially when I ride by the gas station each day and see the price go up 5 cents a gallon, everyday.

 

Don't assume because it is a motorcycle it gets great gas mileage. It will do pretty good so to speak compared to a car, but I averaged only 40mpg on my Honda Nighthawk 750 over three years time. You can buy a lot of gas for the cost of a new or used motorcycle. My guess is all these Harleys you see on the street don't even break 40mpg.

 

True, many of the high powered or large displacement bikes get relatively poor mileage. (in-line 4's of 1000cc get 37-43, Harley's, 40ish, if you're not on the gas). Fuel injection helps, and the fewer cylinders, the better. The insurance on sport bikes and large displacement bikes can be astronomical if you have low experience, low age, or both, enough to negate or debit deeply into any fuel savings. Any bike that gets 50 mpg will still have a reasonable exchange between performance and economy. Enough, I feel, to make up for some of the less than convenient aspects of a motorcycle. Of course, somewhere in that equation is the issue of road rash...or worse.

Smart cars are now being sold where I live. It is a pretty intriguing vehicle, but still "only" 50-55 mpg. You would expect more.

 

And how many ppl have ever engaged the 4WD system on their 4WD .
Still do not understand the SUV deal as there is nothing sporty about them really.

 

SUV is Newspeak for Station Wagon

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