Hi everyone; I left 3 days ago for my journey to Hybridfest in Madison, WI. Today I arrived at a friend's house north of Chicago. It was a great drive, going over the Rockies then through the midwest. I stopped in Laramie, WY and visited the U of WY campus. The football stadium is elevation 7230 feet.
I have driven 2021 miles, and averaged 107.8 mpg. The Insight 5-speed is amazing, with the lean-burn capabilities. And, I did not really push it for economy. What I mean is, I did NO excessively slow driving, no drafting (don't want rock chips on front end) no pulse & glide, and did not have the benefit of tailwinds. I just had the car properly preparred (Mobil 1 oil, tires to 55 lbs, relatively light weight) and had the patience to NOT be in a big hurry.
Techniques used were FAS on the downhill slopes when possible, mostly keeping in lean burn mode, and staying away from using electric assist. In fact, here's a tip for you: what is the best speed for ascending hills and mountains? Answer: as fast as you can go without using any assist. In most cases, it was about 44 mph in 3rd gear. This works because the engine does not need to labor to recharge the pack, during the downhill slope.
On flat terrain I drove 52-55 mph or so. Much of the time the speed limit was only 60 or 55, so It was no trouble for other traffic. Anyway, it was a fun drive. Looking forward to this weekend......
__________________
2005 Red 5 spd, color video cam w/5' monitor instead of outside mirrors, no rear wiper, tint, clear-coated & highly polished, car shows on weekends, LMPG 89.5
When driving on flat terrain, you in 5th or 4th gear?
I've got a large trip coming up (~2500 to 2800 miles all together). Kinda curious if I can bump up my overall mileage (62.9 mpg at 101,000 miles) a few ticks.
....Just arrived back home. I was rather in a hurry on the drive back; had to be at work this morning. Wow, even driving between 62-68 mph, the car still averaged 91 mpg. What nice cars, these Insights!
The MPG challenge event at Hybridfest was fun, During the several interviews, I specifically said that I used a technique (P&G) that is NOT practical for everyday driving, but just for this competition to show what the car is capable of. Actually, 168 mpg is not too difficult if you have enough time to drive slow, and do lots of engine-off coasting. It DOES take some practice, however, to get good at subtleties like lane positioning, handling other traffic, and estimating how much pulse is needed to get just over the next hump in the road, etc.
I'm pleased to be home safely, and with no flat tires, accidents, or incidents. (except a couple of times my new Rostra cruise control ran away uncontrolably with my engine rpm, I had to shut it off with the key)
__________________
2005 Red 5 spd, color video cam w/5' monitor instead of outside mirrors, no rear wiper, tint, clear-coated & highly polished, car shows on weekends, LMPG 89.5
....My road trip mpg's are verified using GPS, fuel receipts, Scangauge II, and the experience from lots of miles. In the MPG challenge event, each vehicle's own display was used.
__________________
2005 Red 5 spd, color video cam w/5' monitor instead of outside mirrors, no rear wiper, tint, clear-coated & highly polished, car shows on weekends, LMPG 89.5
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Just arrived in Chicago!
That's amazing!
