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JT Moderator	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2011 12:01:01 AM Ignore JT Report Abuse When conditions allow, how often do you use special driving techniques to get the best fuel economy? I drive without considering fuel economy Occasionally I drive for economy I'm careful about half the time I usually try to drive efficiently I’m a full-time hypermiler I don't drive / NA Post your thoughts about this poll below.

Moderator

Message Posted: Jul 31, 2011 12:01:01 AM

Ignore JT Report Abuse

When conditions allow, how often do you use special driving techniques to get the best fuel economy?
I drive without considering fuel economy
Occasionally I drive for economy
I'm careful about half the time
I usually try to drive efficiently
I’m a full-time hypermiler
I don't drive / NA

Post your thoughts about this poll below.

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achung53 Veteran Author Orange County Posts:487 Points:85,225 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2012 11:46:53 AM Ignore achung53 Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently
Sumflow Rookie Author Honolulu Posts:65 Points:400 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:25:46 AM Ignore Sumflow Report Abuse Maintaining momentum is the key to it. But when I need to get on it, or press a passenger back against the seat. I just hit it, and don't give economy a thought.
trugasCA Champion Author California Posts:3,900 Points:161,130 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 16, 2011 6:42:15 PM Ignore trugasCA Report Abuse l recently started turning off my engine at signals that l know are long. Of course l now have a reliable car that will start when l turn on the ignition. l also start up slower from the signal and don't race to the next red light.
pcprof Champion Author Austin Posts:9,811 Points:2,459,720 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2011 1:42:16 AM Ignore pcprof Report Abuse I drive without considering fuel economy
jmp1970 Rookie Author Atlanta Posts:30 Points:48,370 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Nov 23, 2011 1:28:42 AM Ignore jmp1970 Report Abuse I'm careful about half the time..
pcprof Champion Author Austin Posts:9,811 Points:2,459,720 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2011 1:55:09 AM Ignore pcprof Report Abuse Never
Geo1002 Rookie Author Twin Cities Posts:99 Points:2,425,925 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Sep 18, 2011 7:53:42 PM Ignore Geo1002 Report Abuse whenever I can.
bja0030 Champion Author New Mexico Posts:3,194 Points:535,930 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 30, 2011 11:32:21 AM Ignore bja0030 Report Abuse i don't
ed1real Veteran Author Tucson Posts:481 Points:164,260 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2011 4:22:11 AM Ignore ed1real Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently makeing trips all at the same time, and doing errands that are as close as possible both to the house and to one another.
pcprof Champion Author Austin Posts:9,811 Points:2,459,720 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2011 10:37:28 AM Ignore pcprof Report Abuse Never
95Vette Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,525 Points:634,905 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2011 8:53:16 AM Ignore 95Vette Report Abuse Unfortunately my right foot doesn't seem to understand fuel economy! LOL
eagle33PA Rookie Author Pennsylvania Posts:73 Points:15,680 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2011 8:02:43 PM Ignore eagle33PA Report Abuse I try to most of the times
RusticRest Rookie Author Tampa Posts:28 Points:660 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2011 4:36:00 PM Ignore RusticRest Report Abuse I try all the time, to drive as efficiently as I possibly can. Sometimes the higher speed highways, you can't drive as effectively as you would like. You would get run down. I still drive a 1993 Ford Festiva in all kinds of road conditions and speeds, that is in cities and highways combined and so far from May 1st to the present, I have averaged just under 55 miles per Canadian gallon. This figure has been calculated by the GasBuddy fuel used page with figures taken from my gas receipts. [Edited by: RusticRest at 8/18/2011 4:37:27 PM EST]
CrackedLCD Champion Author Alabama Posts:9,046 Points:1,757,750 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2011 1:40:16 AM Ignore CrackedLCD Report Abuse I also usually try to drive efficiently.
skb69sa Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,502 Points:714,300 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2011 8:47:39 PM Ignore skb69sa Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently
estroh Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,624 Points:733,725 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2011 12:04:05 AM Ignore estroh Report Abuse I’m a full-time hypermiler
yort50 Rookie Author California Posts:2 Points:240 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2011 9:45:52 PM Ignore yort50 Report Abuse when ever i can i use my cruse control to save fuel.
yodudebc Champion Author Vancouver Posts:5,616 Points:546,750 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2011 7:57:30 PM Ignore yodudebc Report Abuse When safe, I often drive 10 kph above the posted limit of 50 kph and do it in 4th gear. Highway 1 and 99 North are posted at 80 or 90, but long sections are safe at 100 kph, which allows me to slip into 5th gear. There is an apparent police tolerance of 10 kph above the posted limit here in Canada's Left Coast, probably because the Horsemen catch enough fish going way faster than that. I don't coast in neutral because of safety concerns, and I don't need to jackrabbit. I will gear down and coast to a slow when coming up to a light so I can accelerate while still moving, however.
kygal777 Rookie Author Kentucky Posts:1 Points:475 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 12, 2011 5:38:57 PM Ignore kygal777 Report Abuse I do the speed limit and when going down a hill put my car (standard) in neutral.
robin41 Rookie Author Ohio Posts:10 Points:2,860 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 10, 2011 3:05:09 PM Ignore robin41 Report Abuse Usually use cruise control.
SWITCHMAN Veteran Author Missouri Posts:311 Points:1,968,700 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 10, 2011 1:37:32 PM Ignore SWITCHMAN Report Abuse I drive 5-mph below posted limit.
R_L_T Rookie Author Dallas Posts:5 Points:124,480 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 10, 2011 1:01:50 PM Ignore R_L_T Report Abuse I'm careful about half the time
OldsmobileOwner Rookie Author Michigan Posts:1 Points:1,820 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 10, 2011 3:47:17 AM Ignore OldsmobileOwner Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently, however, my dad's 2005 Chevy Malibu Maxx car gas mileage went from 23mpg to 12mpg (worse than both my mom's 1999 GMC Safari and my 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue). I only drive a few miles to approx 10 miles a day hence I save my hard earned money to put gas in my car, my mom's van, and my dad's POS car. My dad's car literally needs a tune up; whenever you punch the gas pedal to start the car (doesn't start up after driving 3 inches until the 8th time), you can smell burning gas and bad spark plugs. His car has over 120,000 miles (approx at most 31,320 miles closer to my mom's van miles); my car has only over 76,500 miles on it, and I think my gas mileage went up a smidge (approx 1-2 mpg) since I put fuel injector, carburetor, and valve intake cleaners in my gas tank every 10,000 or so miles. I'm planning to get a Chevy Cruze Eco with a 6-speed manual tranny since the car gets up to 42 highway mpg; 28 mpg for the city; combined 33 mpg & a 12.6 gallon tank (352.8 miles - city 28MPG, 529.2 miles - highway 42MPG; 415.8 miles - combined 33MPG); so that I can save money on gas since the Chevy Volts are on back-order because of the sickest gas mileage.
CrackedLCD Champion Author Alabama Posts:9,046 Points:1,757,750 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 9, 2011 2:52:02 AM Ignore CrackedLCD Report Abuse I almost always try to drive efficiently, but it's hard when everyone else around you is in big lumbering beasts with thirsty but powerful V8s who think every green light is for racing to the next stoplight. I want to drive efficiently, but I also don't want to be a slowpoke holding everyone up! Despite my efforts, my mileage has plunged in the last several tanks. I don't think anything is wrong with the car, but it's really getting scary low. I hope it's just the fact I've been hauling a lot of people around and it's been very, very hot lately. But to go from a high of 52 mpg in May to 39 at the end of July is disconcerting. But then, that's one of the oddities of a high mileage car. What might make a big vehicle go 19-18-17 mpg makes a MUCH bigger difference when you're in the high 30s or better. [Edited by: CrackedLCD at 8/9/2011 2:54:10 AM EST]
pcprof Champion Author Austin Posts:9,811 Points:2,459,720 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2011 7:09:47 PM Ignore pcprof Report Abuse Never
ean12967 Rookie Author St. Louis Posts:13 Points:420 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2011 12:03:04 PM Ignore ean12967 Report Abuse I set the cruise control on 61 and go from there. No sense on waisting gas just to get to work 2 minutes earlier.
renee6 Rookie Author Kansas Posts:59 Points:70,815 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2011 9:38:20 AM Ignore renee6 Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently and pray that the two children I have driving will learn & practice the same.
peapaw Champion Author Ohio Posts:4,056 Points:691,695 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2011 8:39:24 AM Ignore peapaw Report Abuse Reasonable starts, stay off the brakes and coast as much as possible.
piach Rookie Author Maine Posts:87 Points:10,855 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 12:22:41 PM Ignore piach Report Abuse always try to drive no more than 55 miles per hour and you'll get the best fuel economy out of your car.
piach Rookie Author Maine Posts:87 Points:10,855 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 12:21:16 PM Ignore piach Report Abuse .
estroh Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,624 Points:733,725 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 10:08:23 AM Ignore estroh Report Abuse I’m a full-time hypermiler
kegga_99 All-Star Author Maryland Posts:880 Points:268,800 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 3:26:25 AM Ignore kegga_99 Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently.
CrackedLCD Champion Author Alabama Posts:9,046 Points:1,757,750 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 1:32:09 AM Ignore CrackedLCD Report Abuse I'd use the A/C sparingly, but when it's a heat index of 115°+ for weeks in a row, it's kinda hard. Just this evening I waited in the car while my passengers did some shopping, and even though it was 11 pm I was covered in sweat in less than 30 minutes. Yuck! :(
WWUvikings Rookie Author Washington Posts:25 Points:60,930 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 1:18:45 AM Ignore WWUvikings Report Abuse I like to drive somewhat efficiently. I use the AC sparingly, I let up on the gas going up hills or coast a little extra when I'm coming to a stop. Most importantly, I'll set my cruise control on the freeway to prevent myself from speeding too much (and thus burning more gas). I have to admit, its fun to drive fast and wastefully every once in a while!
chui Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,907 Points:2,369,405 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 12:05:29 AM Ignore chui Report Abuse all the time........
BigJohnson1 Rookie Author Greenville Posts:1 Points:400 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2011 12:01:23 AM Ignore BigJohnson1 Report Abuse Normally I try to take the route with the fewest traffic lights, and also leave early enough to not be in a hurry for work.
CapNC Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:393 Points:364,280 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 8:42:05 PM Ignore CapNC Report Abuse I try to drive efficiently most of time, run all my errands at once, don't make extra unnecessary trips, use the cruise control, etc. When prices get really high try to drive the old economy car rather than the SUV.
Blackfeet Rookie Author Providence Posts:52 Points:20,495 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 8:15:11 PM Ignore Blackfeet Report Abuse Usually, I try to drive efficiently. I even position my car to drive on the inside lane of any curve. The outside lane takes more distance to complete and more speed to keep pace with the car on the inside curve. I do not accelerate when coming down a hill. I rarely use the A/C, I prefer to open the windows, and safe on gas consumption. [Edited by: Blackfeet at 8/6/2011 8:22:37 PM EST]
johnnyg1200 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,202 Points:647,970 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 8:10:18 PM Ignore johnnyg1200 Report Abuse The driving technique I use is simple. If the weather permits I park the 17mpg truck and ride the 50mpg motor cycle.
Bonanza Champion Author Boston Posts:12,105 Points:2,553,930 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 7:43:52 PM Ignore Bonanza Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently
Bonanza Champion Author Boston Posts:12,105 Points:2,553,930 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 7:43:37 PM Ignore Bonanza Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently
SuperMoto Champion Author Connecticut Posts:1,011 Points:1,581,140 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 6:12:19 PM Ignore SuperMoto Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently unless I'm running late for work.
Pizzaslut Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,354 Points:751,390 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 5:24:00 PM Ignore Pizzaslut Report Abuse My technique is to drive from one side of the highway to the other and back again, over and over. It saves one ounce of gas every 600 miles. Cool.
zacksnanny Champion Author New Brunswick Posts:1,639 Points:2,205,345 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 1:42:54 PM Ignore zacksnanny Report Abuse I usually try to drive efficiently
snowball12 Champion Author Orange County Posts:162,880 Points:102,900 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 1:37:59 PM Ignore snowball12 Report Abuse I drive the way I do because race car
SavinOnFuel Champion Author Gary Posts:1,966 Points:1,259,910 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 12:48:19 PM Ignore SavinOnFuel Report Abuse I like rocksnobster's answer :D
RAE344 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:3,081 Points:664,445 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 11:45:44 AM Ignore RAE344 Report Abuse My first priority is safety first. Driving "efficiently" means nothing when you crash your vehicle. Second is consideration, no point in provoking someone to go into a road rage incident. I really hate those people who think that they are driving "efficiently" but end up making it worse for eveybody. If I drive "efficiently" it is not by design.
Rocksnobster Champion Author Albany Posts:12,911 Points:213,790 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 11:32:49 AM Ignore Rocksnobster Report Abuse I'm using my technique right now. I close my eyes as I put my car into a spin and as I text this message out. I hope things turn out OK, they usually do.
seansaw Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,916 Points:680,775 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 9:13:51 AM Ignore seansaw Report Abuse I wish people that drive "efficiently" would get out of my way, when I'm driving I'm always in a rush. If I weren't, I'd be walking.
OKRifle Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:10,424 Points:1,813,210 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Aug 6, 2011 8:16:26 AM Ignore OKRifle Report Abuse Most often!