All ways to get better gas mileage

[FestYboy]

Data source?

comming from "New Directions In Race Car Aerodynamics, Designing for Speed", Joseph Katz.
pub. Robert Bently. in the rear is a list of several cars and their Cd, A[m2] and CdA.

i used the first gen 323, and nissan Sunny as compairitive vehicals.

[Pu241]

Great!
Now we are getting somewhere.
Anyway to scan/copy that?
Joseph Katz, name sounds familar.
Is he known for anything?

[thirdman]

As with all things, keep in mind what your purpose is. If you are trying to save money, remember that if you increase your MPG from 40 to 50, and gas is $4.50/gal, and you drive 15,000 miles a year, you are saving a whopping $338 annually.

Going from 40mpg to 60mpg will save you $563 annually.

Just make sure your mods don't cost more than you save!

[Pu241]

thirdman,
Sound advice but, I drive 40,000+ a year!
So based on your calculations.
I can save $900 and $1,500 going from 40 to 50 to 60 MPG!

But 2 things to keep in mind!
1) This assumes gas stays the same price (probably a poor bet)
2) This is for a single year.
I plan to drive my various festivas for a large number of years!
I've already been running one for 230,000 miles.

[91blufestiva]

My dad's cousin knows how to convert any car into hydrogen, and can do it for less than $100 and he says he's been getting about 10-12 more mpg. I've been thinking about putting it on my festiva that already gets 50mpg.

[Pu241]

91blufestiva,
No offense intended, but we've been this route before!
We have as yet to have any proof by anyone here that it actually works!
Please give it a try and let us know!
Otherwise, let this go the way of the gas line magnets and other snake oil cures for poor MPG.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12027&highlight=hydrogen

[ejp2fast]

From a Metro guy online:

http://metroxfi.com/2008/05/geo-metro-modification-list-for-mileage/

[1fast68]

To the origanial poster....I figured up (just to work and back) the milage you drive per year - at 34mpg - and your spending less than $400 per year on gas (at $4 per gal). If you were to get 45mpg you will still spend $298ish per year on gas (at $4 per gal). I suggest you keep your auto until it quits, then put a 5 speed in it. Depending on what you pay for it, you'll have to drive it with the 5 speed for a couple years just to recover the cost (if you install it yourself) and don't put a new clutch in it, or have to buy a flywheel. You may drive a lot away from work.....if so, it would take less time to recover the cost of the swap.
If you don't already:
Take your lunch to work and don't drive anywhere at lunch time, pay extra on any loans you may have, or something similar. That's where, in the long run you will see more money in your pocket.

[ejp2fast]

To the origanial poster....I figured up (just to work and back) the milage you drive per year - at 34mpg - and your spending less than $400 per year on gas (at $4 per gal). If you were to get 45mpg you will still spend $298ish per year on gas (at $4 per gal). I suggest you keep your auto until it quits, then put a 5 speed in it. Depending on what you pay for it, you'll have to drive it with the 5 speed for a couple years just to recover the cost (if you install it yourself) and don't put a new clutch in it, or have to buy a flywheel. You may drive a lot away from work.....if so, it would take less time to recover the cost of the swap.
If you don't already:
Take your lunch to work and don't drive anywhere at lunch time, pay extra on any loans you may have, or something similar. That's where, in the long run you will see more money in your pocket.

Actually, I just got a 5spd at a JY and all the components for just over $100 (1/2 off day at JY) 1 month ago.... haven't got it installed yet though.. everything is paid off exept house (3.5 years to go!) AND I am getting 35-37 avg now that my engine is broke in.

[1fast68]

Sounds like your doing good then.