It's not what you drive
Yesterday I drove from Waterloo to the border of Ontario and Quebec and then back to Hanover. That's 1300 Kilometers, or about 800 Miles. We piloted the Ford Focus carefully because we were making a point - a 46.7 MPG point. According to the EPA the Focus gets 28 MPG on the highway, we squeezed 80% more out of it.
It meant driving at 100km/h on the 401, using the slow lane a lot, and being gentle pulling away from stoplights when they happened to stop you. I say 'when they stop you' because most of the time you can plan far enough ahead to avoid actually stopping. Seriously, that's all there is to it.
Top Gear pitted a Prius against a BMW M3 recently and guess who won? The M3. Besides being a knock to the pride of all Toyota engineers, this should be a wake up call to everyone. "It's not what you drive, it's how you drive it".
It's still no excuse good enough for driving a Hummer, or any Dodge vehicle (because they're all ugly). This also invalidates all arguments that gas is too expensive.
Jun 30, 2008
1:56 am
I agree with you 100% that if you can change your driving habits that you'll probably get at least 50% better fuel efficiency. Although, on a drive that's over a couple hundred kilometers I think its well worth the extra few bucks to drive a little faster and shave off some time traveling. But as for your theory on stopping, I do that all the time and there are more benefits then just saving on gas. You'll actually be able to continue through the lights quicker if you don't come to a complete stop (assuming you know the timing on the lights) and you'll also be lighter on your brakes which I assume will prolong the life of your brakes (and tires if you brake too hard/accelerate too fast). All in all, changing your driving habits can save you lots of money in both gas and your regular car maintenance. Now with that all being said, when are you buying a car Terrill?
Jun 30, 2008
11:12 am
I've heard that some people spend as much on brakes as they do on gas, but its a more hidden cost. I can believe it too, watching the way people go around town. Sheesh! lol
Jul 18, 2008
7:17 am
Please tell us you HAD to make this journey, and that you didn't just wake up one morning and decided to prove a point...
Jul 20, 2008
10:42 am
Yeah, we had good reason for the trip: picking up an aircraft engine that had been shipped in from Australia. It was beautiful, carved from a single block of aluminum. It was all we could do to fit it into the station wagon with the accompanying exhaust and other parts.
Jul 20, 2008
4:19 pm
Aircraft engine? What for?BTW, I just discovered your blog, didn't realize you had an interest in design and CS, thought you were a pure mathie. ;)
Jul 21, 2008
2:38 am
Yeah T, what are you doing with aircraft engines? I drive a Toyota 4Runner and I'm averaging 38km/litre at this point. It's only a 60 litre tank, and the truck is almost 3/4 of a ton in weight. I fill up every 2 and a half weeks. I drive it slowly and sparingly. So it just goes to show that once again, it's not the vehicle that is going to save you money, it's the individual driving it!
Jul 21, 2008
11:13 pm
My uncle, who I live with back home is building an airplane. He bought the plans and 18 sheets of metal. Small 2 seater, nothing too exotic, but pretty nice. It's coming along nicely. Maybe I can get some photos of it next weekend (and the engine too if you're lucky).
Jul 22, 2008
12:26 am
Ultralight?
Jul 28, 2008
12:44 pm
speaking of fuel efficiency how is the plane coming along?
Aug 12, 2008
10:16 am
This is why I drive standard. I can 'brake' without touching the breaks. The fuel efficiency is also a lot better when you know how to drive properly. It really bothers me when people /race/ up to the stop light and slam on the breaks - clearly they can't plan ahead very well.