Mustang GT Owners - Increase Your MPG
9/26/05, 09:48 PM
#21
Originally posted by azoufan@September 26, 2005, 10:50 PM
You're kidding! I've been looking for a reason to buy one of those. Tell me it's true!!!
Sean
You're kidding! I've been looking for a reason to buy one of those. Tell me it's true!!!
Sean
9/26/05, 09:51 PM
#22
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Ok I read the article. And I have to say, mostly common-sense and common-known stuff.
I disagree - vehemently - with the cruise control saving that much gas. They varied their speed purposefully 10MPH up and down to compare to what cruise will do for you. A good, aware driver is able to keep a much steadier foot and monitor speed changes much much better than that. It'll still save some, but that was a bit far-fetched.
Plus, if they want to measure impact of A/C, they need to try it on vehicles that don't have nice torquey motors. I remember a VW Rabbit I had to drive once that dropped 15 MPH the minute you turned the A/C on!
Finally, short runs like they did are not real-world. Heck I got 26.9 MPG once on a nice long leg of a trip. I'll hardly ever see it again though. What matters is how far you get out of a full tank, from day-to-day conditions, including idling at stoplights, warming up the car, etc, since that's where it hits your wallet. Our vehicles specifically get much better MPG as the average MPH goes up - so one item to think about is changing your commute times to get out of the thick of it. Get your speed anywhere from 50 to 70 and you'll do one heck of a lot better than coming home averaging 35!
I disagree - vehemently - with the cruise control saving that much gas. They varied their speed purposefully 10MPH up and down to compare to what cruise will do for you. A good, aware driver is able to keep a much steadier foot and monitor speed changes much much better than that. It'll still save some, but that was a bit far-fetched.
Plus, if they want to measure impact of A/C, they need to try it on vehicles that don't have nice torquey motors. I remember a VW Rabbit I had to drive once that dropped 15 MPH the minute you turned the A/C on!
Finally, short runs like they did are not real-world. Heck I got 26.9 MPG once on a nice long leg of a trip. I'll hardly ever see it again though. What matters is how far you get out of a full tank, from day-to-day conditions, including idling at stoplights, warming up the car, etc, since that's where it hits your wallet. Our vehicles specifically get much better MPG as the average MPH goes up - so one item to think about is changing your commute times to get out of the thick of it. Get your speed anywhere from 50 to 70 and you'll do one heck of a lot better than coming home averaging 35!
9/26/05, 11:32 PM
#23
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Originally posted by GhostGT@September 26, 2005, 7:59 PM
With a lead foot you get 18.1mpg? Wow...I think I probably have a titanium foot.
12mpg here...
With a lead foot you get 18.1mpg? Wow...I think I probably have a titanium foot.
12mpg here...
9/27/05, 07:33 AM
#25
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The A/C impact does vary greatly from car to car. It may not make much of an impact on this car in normal driving.
My automatic Neon dies once the A/C is turned on. Wanting to downshift more often and all. It costs me about 4 MPG or so on normal driving.
My automatic Neon dies once the A/C is turned on. Wanting to downshift more often and all. It costs me about 4 MPG or so on normal driving.
9/27/05, 07:48 AM
#26
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9/27/05, 07:59 AM
#27
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I do not believe their A/C off and windows down statistics.
In my area, speeds are down, so drag should not be an issue. With A/C on in traffic, my car gets poor gas economy, around 13 mpg. Any built up metro area would be the same. NY, L A, Washington DC, San Fran all have bad traffic. We all should ride with A/C off and windows down. I have owned my car almost one year and only have had the AC on for about 3 tanks of gas. I notice my fuel gauge falling like a rock and turn off the darn AC and wind down the windows. On a very hot day I run my ac when I am stopped only. When moving it is not so bad. My mpg is up around 21-22 with my current driving habits.
In my area, speeds are down, so drag should not be an issue. With A/C on in traffic, my car gets poor gas economy, around 13 mpg. Any built up metro area would be the same. NY, L A, Washington DC, San Fran all have bad traffic. We all should ride with A/C off and windows down. I have owned my car almost one year and only have had the AC on for about 3 tanks of gas. I notice my fuel gauge falling like a rock and turn off the darn AC and wind down the windows. On a very hot day I run my ac when I am stopped only. When moving it is not so bad. My mpg is up around 21-22 with my current driving habits.
9/27/05, 11:14 AM
#28
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Originally posted by Dan@September 26, 2005, 3:43 PM
If you're in high enough a gear you aren't saving much. Plus, if you ever need to gas it, you're screwed. I'm not a fan of "neutral-driving".
If you're in high enough a gear you aren't saving much. Plus, if you ever need to gas it, you're screwed. I'm not a fan of "neutral-driving".
9/27/05, 11:17 AM
#29
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Originally posted by clockworks+September 26, 2005, 1:53 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clockworks @ September 26, 2005, 1:53 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-money.cnn.edmunds.com
We found that if you slowed your 0-to-60 time down to 20 seconds from a normal city driving pace of 10 to 15 seconds, you'll feel the savings immediately.
We found that if you slowed your 0-to-60 time down to 20 seconds from a normal city driving pace of 10 to 15 seconds, you'll feel the savings immediately.
[/b][/quote]
It may be possible for a Mustang, but not for ME.
9/27/05, 02:30 PM
#30
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9/27/05, 04:26 PM
#31
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Hmmmm, 2006 Mustang GT driven on German Autobahns. Thinking the "Feather Foot Driving" is out the window. darn, wait, windows open at 130mph not good. 
Also, majority of cruise controls don't work above 75mph. Anyone tested it with an 05/06? I can let you know in about a month... 
Also, majority of cruise controls don't work above 75mph. Anyone tested it with an 05/06? I can let you know in about a month...
9/27/05, 06:27 PM
#32
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Originally posted by 6505pony@September 27, 2005, 7:36 AM
The A/C impact does vary greatly from car to car. It may not make much of an impact on this car in normal driving.
My automatic Neon dies once the A/C is turned on. Wanting to downshift more often and all. It costs me about 4 MPG or so on normal driving.
The A/C impact does vary greatly from car to car. It may not make much of an impact on this car in normal driving.
My automatic Neon dies once the A/C is turned on. Wanting to downshift more often and all. It costs me about 4 MPG or so on normal driving.
It may not affect power much, but it does MPG. I was driving home from Dallas (approx. 100 mi from home) on evening and decided to test it. It had been my second trip to Dallas in a week and I had been getting just under 25 mpg w/AC at about 72 mph with cruise control both times. I turned the AC off and my MPG started climbing. It got to almost 27 MPG before the humidity started to get to me so I turned the AC back on. So IMO for it to make such a sudden leap it had to be getting close to 30 MPG. As far as cruise control I can do as well and maybe a little better by myself. I've noticed that on much of an incline the cpu doesn't want to lose any speed and will really give it some throttle. Anyways it's not scientific just my observations.
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