its a good discussion we have going here.
Interesting to note no-ones really mentioned engine re-mapping yet though. no computer wizzkids in here? It really does work...
Someone else also mentioned gear ratios, which is extremely effective. You can actually plan the ratios around what type of driving you do as well, if your a real fanatic. tends to be an expensive way to go though... but even an auto can be driven economically similar to a manual. The new auto boxes arent slush boxes anymore and using the "manual" section lets you get to a higher gear faster. Lower rpm's = less fuel consumption.
Personally I think the biggest contributor to poor fuel economy, in NZ especially, is the idiots who design the traffic light systems here. They dont design traffic to flow, you bounce from one red light to the next, to the next, to the next... you get the idea. and whoever thought it was a good idea to put 7 traffic lights along 2km stretch of road with that type of system?
It was kind of amusing to notice that there was much less traffic backed up when the light at a motorway onramp wasnt working...
They just dont seem to understand that traffic simply behaves like water. If you have two streams joining into one, you have to do one of two things to keep water flowing and not backing up. Either increase the speed of the larger flow, or make it wider to increase capacity so the speed can stay the same.
Having said all this, while its fun to go through all this as a brain teaser as well as do our bit to save the planet, I thoroughly enjoyed turning traction control off in the wet last night, putting the hammer down and listening to Pirelli P6000's try and hang on! (and still got 8.2L/100km on the trip from Howick to city!) Oh the Joy! Almost rivals Beethoven's 9th Symphony....
Dont worry guys, fuel prices will drop again!! either that or we all buy scooters...
