How are you trying to save gas?
Since the price of gas is simply outrageous, I’ve been trying to change my driving habits to get better gas mileage. I watched a special report on The Early Show this morning as they were doing an experiment showing how you can get better gas mileage by simply changes a few driving habits. They used a Toyota Prius but the expert said that anyone could save in any car.
In one 10 minute stint on the highway, the correspondent was asked to drive how she normally would, it was determined that she had gotten 42 mpg which was about 5 mpg under what Toyota says should be the minimum mpg.
The second go at it, the correspondent was told to stay at a steady speed, do not tap brakes, coast down hills and gradually accelerate when needed. She joked that she was passed by everyone including a school bus but in the end she ended up getting 77 mpg and it was only a difference of 4 minutes.
So, I tried it this morning. I don’t even know what I get per gallon right now but I know a full tank of gas lasts me one week if I do not do any extra driving. It was hard to go a lot slower than I normally do and watch everyone pass me but I wasn’t the only one in the slow lane and I didn’t notice a huge difference in time either.
I scoured the internet for other gas-saving tips and have started to compile a list of tips with links.
May 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Dr. Corny now takes my car to work, which eats a lot less gas then his. His guzzler is in the garage if I need to go out. I try not to, besides, its no fun going out with 2 under 2.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
First thing I did is buy a car that gets better MPG. Second, I drive kind of like you mentioned in your post. I used to race between stops (doesn’t make sense, MPG or not). There is a noticeable increase in MPG if you just drive smarter. Third, I try to consolidate and/or plan trips. So instead of stopping somewhere at lunch today, then somewhere else on the way home from work, and then again the next day, maybe make all stops on the way home from work, rather then back and forth to work, etc. Just some things I do.
Jim
May 19th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I’m getting a moped
May 21st, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I’m just sad that I have to think about it. I don’t want to say no to Happy Meals for my new little ones when I think I bought every Happy Meal toy from 1995 with my oldest. (Not that it was the greatest nutritional choice, but you get what I mean). I’m a racer…fast, slam on the brakes, floor it…always in a hurry in my big green van (15- passenger…we have eight kids so I don’t have many options). Thanks for the advice. I’m going to go slow and steady. I figure it takes me eight dollars to go to baseball practice every night of the week. Now I have to add in football, soccer and trips to the park. If I can save a few gallons I’d better do it. (Oh, my pump was $3.95 today….stops at $75 and I’m only a little over half a tank. How sad is that!).