Comments on: Extreme Personal Finance: The Most Fuel-Efficient Driver in the World http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/ personal finance that makes cents Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:31:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: robert barnard http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-134806 robert barnard Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:38:12 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-134806 i started hypermiling in my 2008 yaris. not a hybrid like my mother's prius. and i went from 29/36 mpg to 65/72 mpg. double! and i dont draft big trucks to do it. the trick is knowing your route and knowing when to cut the engine and when to accelerate. you dont have to perform illegal rolling stops to save money. just leave the engine off till it is safe to go. another thing to do is accelerate to the speed limit and cut the engine alowing it to slow down about 10 mph and accelerating. it is especially easy to do in my car because it is has a manual transmission. for the people knocking it and comming up with excuses like a starter costs "$500" Where the heck are you buying your starter, i need to go into the starter business!!! a starter for my 2008 yaris costs $217. if it goes out in a year and i save $1500 in gas, oh well its under warranty for five years anyway!! pardon my spelling but if a hick from texas like me can do it on the road with all these jacked up 4x4 trucks on the road racing up and down the streets ... you can do it too. and at 3.79 to 4 bucks a gallon... it adds up quick in a years time what you can save on gas. so call us "misers" or penny pinchers or whatever, but when the money i save on gas puts my son through college... what will your excuse be to your children why they can't have this or that? gas? please!!!! i started hypermiling in my 2008 yaris. not a hybrid like my mother’s prius. and i went from 29/36 mpg to 65/72 mpg. double! and i dont draft big trucks to do it. the trick is knowing your route and knowing when to cut the engine and when to accelerate. you dont have to perform illegal rolling stops to save money. just leave the engine off till it is safe to go. another thing to do is accelerate to the speed limit and cut the engine alowing it to slow down about 10 mph and accelerating. it is especially easy to do in my car because it is has a manual transmission. for the people knocking it and comming up with excuses like a starter costs “$500″ Where the heck are you buying your starter, i need to go into the starter business!!! a starter for my 2008 yaris costs $217. if it goes out in a year and i save $1500 in gas, oh well its under warranty for five years anyway!! pardon my spelling but if a hick from texas like me can do it on the road with all these jacked up 4×4 trucks on the road racing up and down the streets … you can do it too. and at 3.79 to 4 bucks a gallon… it adds up quick in a years time what you can save on gas. so call us “misers” or penny pinchers or whatever, but when the money i save on gas puts my son through college… what will your excuse be to your children why they can’t have this or that? gas? please!!!!

]]> By: rolling seance » midweek thoughts http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-134210 rolling seance » midweek thoughts Thu, 29 May 2008 04:20:31 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-134210 [...] to squeeze an extra 5mpg out of my car (oooh up to 26. sad.) using basic and mostly safe and legal hypermiling techniques. Sweet. Consuming [...] [...] to squeeze an extra 5mpg out of my car (oooh up to 26. sad.) using basic and mostly safe and legal hypermiling techniques. Sweet. Consuming [...]

]]> By: Rob Madrid http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-120185 Rob Madrid Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:28:45 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-120185 It's alot easier to do if you have a standard, depending on the route I take I can coast as much as half the way, why waste gas driving downhill. I always turn the car off at stoplights etc. It saves me about 5% on a tank of gas. One thing I won't do is turn the engine off while driving, I might turn it off and coast to a stop, but never on the highway. As a note most accidents are caused by speeding and aggressive driving. It’s alot easier to do if you have a standard, depending on the route I take I can coast as much as half the way, why waste gas driving downhill. I always turn the car off at stoplights etc. It saves me about 5% on a tank of gas.

One thing I won’t do is turn the engine off while driving, I might turn it off and coast to a stop, but never on the highway.

As a note most accidents are caused by speeding and aggressive driving.

]]> By: BillinDetroit http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-118115 BillinDetroit Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:16:21 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-118115 Truckers know how to deal with people like him. Eventually one of them will. I don't know about where that driver lives, but in Michigan, the law says you have to stay a safe stopping distance behind other vehicles. If you don't, the accident is your fault and your next of kin may never collect a dime. BTW, JD, I Stumbled in here. -- Bill Truckers know how to deal with people like him. Eventually one of them will.

I don’t know about where that driver lives, but in Michigan, the law says you have to stay a safe stopping distance behind other vehicles. If you don’t, the accident is your fault and your next of kin may never collect a dime.

BTW, JD, I Stumbled in here. — Bill

]]> By: Ian http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-117010 Ian Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:12:50 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-117010 Wayne never advocates dangerous driving. He's only showing us the possibilities. Ian Wayne never advocates dangerous driving. He’s only showing us the possibilities.

Ian

]]> By: Liz http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-116820 Liz Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:30:57 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-116820 He'll be lucky if it's just his car that's totalled. By driving that close to a truck he guarantees 2 things: to be completely in the blind spot, and to have no visibility for conditions or traffic ahead. I'd rather pay more for gas and drive safely. He’ll be lucky if it’s just his car that’s totalled.

By driving that close to a truck he guarantees 2 things: to be completely in the blind spot, and to have no visibility for conditions or traffic ahead.

I’d rather pay more for gas and drive safely.

]]> By: Flounder http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-91206 Flounder Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:39:53 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-91206 See how much money he saves when he has to replace his totaled car for rear ending a semi. Or fuel when he is broadsided doing a California roll (not stop thus the sushi) and breaks open his gas tank. See how much money he saves when he has to replace his totaled car for rear ending a semi. Or fuel when he is broadsided doing a California roll (not stop thus the sushi) and breaks open his gas tank.

]]> By: Consumerist http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-83475 Consumerist Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:18:21 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-83475 <strong>Potentially Insane Ways To Increase Your Fuel Efficiency...</strong> Wayne, the world's most fuel-efficient driver, really hates wasting gas. From MotherJones: Wayne doesn't get high mpg marks by tinkering with engines or using funky fuels or even, most days, by driving a hybrid. He gets them by driving consciously...... Potentially Insane Ways To Increase Your Fuel Efficiency…

Wayne, the world’s most fuel-efficient driver, really hates wasting gas. From MotherJones: Wayne doesn’t get high mpg marks by tinkering with engines or using funky fuels or even, most days, by driving a hybrid. He gets them by driving consciously……

]]> By: Gwyn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-81047 Gwyn Mon, 12 Mar 2007 21:57:26 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-81047 The way I see it, he's more of a kind of high-performance athlete. Someone like Michael Schumacher or Andre Agassi would be willing to go to much greater lengths to achieve their chosen goal (ie. winning races or achieving higher gas mileage than anyone would have thought possible or reasonable). You might not think he's "technically savvy" but clearly his techniques are working. If you read to the end of the article, in the hi-milers competition he recorded a mileage figure of 180mpg. The way I see it, he’s more of a kind of high-performance athlete. Someone like Michael Schumacher or Andre Agassi would be willing to go to much greater lengths to achieve their chosen goal (ie. winning races or achieving higher gas mileage than anyone would have thought possible or reasonable). You might not think he’s “technically savvy” but clearly his techniques are working. If you read to the end of the article, in the hi-milers competition he recorded a mileage figure of 180mpg.

]]> By: Jenn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80760 Jenn Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:42:49 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80760 Since he's willing to break the law to save money on gas, why doesn't he just steal it? Seems a little easier than what he's doing now. In all seriousness, I would be afraid to be on the road with this guy. He's risking his life and others just to save a few pennies. He's going to end up under a semi one of these days. Since he’s willing to break the law to save money on gas, why doesn’t he just steal it? Seems a little easier than what he’s doing now.

In all seriousness, I would be afraid to be on the road with this guy. He’s risking his life and others just to save a few pennies. He’s going to end up under a semi one of these days.

]]> By: Ian http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80688 Ian Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:00:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80688 Starting your car 50 times a day isn't frugal. You'll end up replacing starters and batteries at a much higher rate, at probably $75 for a battery and $500 for a starter. The guy's also not really that technically savvy- the article mentions him doing a turn in an Insight instead of braking to slow down. The man way that hybrids get their efficiency is by recovering braking energy. Doing a turn to slow down instead of using the brakes is a zero sum game in a non-hybrid, and just stupid in a hybrid. Same issue with "The death turn" - he burns a lot of his energy up squealing the tires, when, in a hybrid, he'd be better to slow down with the electric brakes, put the energy into the batteries, and then use it later. Starting your car 50 times a day isn’t frugal. You’ll end up replacing starters and batteries at a much higher rate, at probably $75 for a battery and $500 for a starter.

The guy’s also not really that technically savvy- the article mentions him doing a turn in an Insight instead of braking to slow down. The man way that hybrids get their efficiency is by recovering braking energy. Doing a turn to slow down instead of using the brakes is a zero sum game in a non-hybrid, and just stupid in a hybrid.

Same issue with “The death turn” - he burns a lot of his energy up squealing the tires, when, in a hybrid, he’d be better to slow down with the electric brakes, put the energy into the batteries, and then use it later.

]]> By: icup http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80623 icup Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:32:07 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80623 hehe "California Stop". We call it "The South Philly Slide". This guy reminds me of my dad. I think there's a fine line between being frugal and being cheap. My dad goes so far as to turn off all the electricity in the house except for the room he's using (he lives alone) at the circuit breaker. This includes the hot water heater, so taking a shower in his house requires you to get his permission, turn on the hot water heater, wait until the water heats up, then turning the heater off, then bathing with what's in the tank. He pays like $100 for *yearly* electricity. I want to be frugal, but not at the cost of modern convenience. For my part, I have resolved to drive close to the speed limit to and from work. Its odd to see people blowing by me like I'm standing still. Since my commoute is like 6 miles, it really makes no difference time-wise to me. We'll see if I notice any kind of gas mileage improvement. hehe “California Stop”. We call it “The South Philly Slide”.

This guy reminds me of my dad. I think there’s a fine line between being frugal and being cheap. My dad goes so far as to turn off all the electricity in the house except for the room he’s using (he lives alone) at the circuit breaker. This includes the hot water heater, so taking a shower in his house requires you to get his permission, turn on the hot water heater, wait until the water heats up, then turning the heater off, then bathing with what’s in the tank.

He pays like $100 for *yearly* electricity.

I want to be frugal, but not at the cost of modern convenience. For my part, I have resolved to drive close to the speed limit to and from work. Its odd to see people blowing by me like I’m standing still. Since my commoute is like 6 miles, it really makes no difference time-wise to me. We’ll see if I notice any kind of gas mileage improvement.

]]> By: Melsky http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80619 Melsky Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:55:57 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80619 This is yet another area where losing weight helps you save money. This is yet another area where losing weight helps you save money.

]]> By: Israel http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80609 Israel Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:40 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80609 NOTE: Do not inflate your tires to the max at all. Think of it like this, inflate a balloon to about 2 inches in size, and place it on a piece of glass, see how much of the balloon touches the glass. Now inflate it to 12 inches, and see how it touches the glass. Notice how its less now. Thats called the contact patch, and all tires have such a patch where the rubber meets the road. When you inflate more than you need to you subtract from the contact patch. Believe me, you need to grip the road. Look on the Drivers Door Jamb there should be a plate that tells you the recommended tire size and pressure. NOTE: Do not inflate your tires to the max at all.

Think of it like this, inflate a balloon to about 2 inches in size, and place it on a piece of glass, see how much of the balloon touches the glass. Now inflate it to 12 inches, and see how it touches the glass. Notice how its less now.

Thats called the contact patch, and all tires have such a patch where the rubber meets the road. When you inflate more than you need to you subtract from the contact patch.

Believe me, you need to grip the road. Look on the Drivers Door Jamb there should be a plate that tells you the recommended tire size and pressure.

]]> By: Foo Barz http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80608 Foo Barz Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:25:22 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80608 "Maybe I’m missing something obvious, but wouldn’t that require you to back into the spot? Thus using reverse?" I assume he was referring to a large open lot where you can pull around the "other side" of a parking slot open at both ends and position yourself so that you're facing outwards. From the article: "If you’re comfortable with it (because it is illegal), use a rolling stop." Nice way to encourage people to put themselves at risk for tickets. A $150+ fine plus maybe traffic school will more than eat up any minuscule savings you get using the "California stop" technique. And I speak from personal experience on this having been dinged twice in a relatively short period of time for rolling through stop signs. :( “Maybe I’m missing something obvious, but wouldn’t that require you to back into the spot? Thus using reverse?”

I assume he was referring to a large open lot where you can pull around the “other side” of a parking slot open at both ends and position yourself so that you’re facing outwards.

From the article: “If you’re comfortable with it (because it is illegal), use a rolling stop.”

Nice way to encourage people to put themselves at risk for tickets. A $150+ fine plus maybe traffic school will more than eat up any minuscule savings you get using the “California stop” technique. And I speak from personal experience on this having been dinged twice in a relatively short period of time for rolling through stop signs. :(

]]> By: Chris http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80592 Chris Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:53:31 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80592 I agree with Roy... this guy should probably be arrested for some of the things that he does. I'd rather be safe than save a few bucks on gas. I think there is a lot that all of us can learn about driving more efficiently, but this guy takes it to a dangerous extreme. I agree with Roy… this guy should probably be arrested for some of the things that he does. I’d rather be safe than save a few bucks on gas. I think there is a lot that all of us can learn about driving more efficiently, but this guy takes it to a dangerous extreme.

]]> By: Roy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80589 Roy Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:10:08 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80589 I read the whole article. Great he gets all that mileage, bad he drives so unsafely. I don't want to be anywhere near this guy. I read the whole article. Great he gets all that mileage, bad he drives so unsafely. I don’t want to be anywhere near this guy.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80576 Andrew Tue, 06 Mar 2007 03:14:47 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80576 "In parking lots, don’t use reverse. Pull into a spot so that you’re facing out." Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but wouldn't that require you to back into the spot? Thus using reverse? “In parking lots, don’t use reverse. Pull into a spot so that you’re facing out.”

Maybe I’m missing something obvious, but wouldn’t that require you to back into the spot? Thus using reverse?

]]> By: Allie http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80570 Allie Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:32:19 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80570 I can get great gas mileage out of any car I drive. The same trip over the same roads when my husband drives uses 2 to 3 times as much gas as when I drive. I can get great gas mileage out of any car I drive. The same trip over the same roads when my husband drives uses 2 to 3 times as much gas as when I drive.

]]> By: Jonaham http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80569 Jonaham Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:18:44 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80569 One of the reasons that VW TDI's were/are so popular is the outstanding mileage. At the annual TDIClub.com meeting, they have mileage runs. I thought I was doing great with my 71 mpg, but got schooled with several participants getting well over 130 mpg, on biodiesel, in '96 passats. Insane. My best was a trip from Cleveland to Woods Hole, MA on a little over 7 gallons of diesel. Now I'm happy with 40 mpg in my gasser passat. One of the reasons that VW TDI’s were/are so popular is the outstanding mileage. At the annual TDIClub.com meeting, they have mileage runs. I thought I was doing great with my 71 mpg, but got schooled with several participants getting well over 130 mpg, on biodiesel, in ‘96 passats. Insane.

My best was a trip from Cleveland to Woods Hole, MA on a little over 7 gallons of diesel.

Now I’m happy with 40 mpg in my gasser passat.

]]> By: The Technocrat http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80568 The Technocrat Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:03:45 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80568 I got him beat by ~66mp"g". http://geeklimit.com/2006/05/09/i-drive-a-30k-80mph-166mpg-suv/ :-) I got him beat by ~66mp”g”.

http://geeklimit.com/2006/05/09/i-drive-a-30k-80mph-166mpg-suv/

:-)

]]> By: courtney http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80565 courtney Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:50:54 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/05/extreme-personal-finance-the-most-fuel-efficient-driver-in-the-world/#comment-80565 Because you live in PDX you will appreciate this. My grandfather would drive from Portland to Seaside about twice a week. He worked the drive from PDX to the coast so he could coast once he started the descent. It is 32 miles. Because you live in PDX you will appreciate this. My grandfather would drive from Portland to Seaside about twice a week. He worked the drive from PDX to the coast so he could coast once he started the descent. It is 32 miles.

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