Rant of the Month
#131
Re: Rant of the Month
I imagine this would vary, depending on the person, how much they are concentrating on the task, and their car's particular dash/guage setup.
#132
Re: Rant of the Month
Not me, either. Other than the inherent dangers of the trek (on the road, in traffic at rush hour), I find the commute enjoyable. It's not drudgery for me to concentrate (just a little bit) on keeping my speed down and keeping distance between vehicles so I can adapt to changing traffic speeds without using the brakes and accelerator as often. My commute is pretty flat, so that makes it easier.
#133
Re: Rant of the Month
I don't ever feel tired after driving in my hybrid. Granted, I am not a great hypermiler, but really, I feel a lot is just about adjusting your driving habits and being attentive. I drive slower now, leave more distance in front of me, and don't "gun it" from a red light. I actually arrive at my destination much more relaxed and feel less stress. Then I realize, that really, I haven't become a hypermiles, just began following some of the rules of the road. They tell you to drive the speed limit (check), leave atleast 2 secs of space between you and the car in front of you (check). The rest just falls into the "attentiveness" category and you can easily get 40+ MPG (still a 50% increase from my 03 civic) without even trying to hypermile.
#136
Re: Rant of the Month
Just to add: I also had an '04 Accord EX for a while, and the HCH is smoother, handles better, quieter and has better seats. Go figure.
#137
Re: Rant of the Month
However, for "hypermiling" to work effectively you must be comfortable with each technique and understand its place. If a technique is applied correctly the rewards are undeniable and immediate... and that is what keeps the enthusiasm levels high and the "fatigue/frustration" factor away.
So, I would suggest taking it one step at a time and simply find what works for you and what does not; and then stick with the techniques that offer you the highest reward.
If we labor too hard in trying to improve our mileage then I suspect I too would get tired and even frustrated with the entire affair. So I say, start small and gradually then it will all become instinctive, relaxing and who knows... even fun.
Cheers;
MSantos
#139
Re: Rant of the Month
Quite the opposite.
To me, hypermiling is about taking it easy.
Rushing and tailgating would be fatiguing to me.
#140
Re: Rant of the Month
You have mellowed. And yet, you never had a "Rant of the Month" topic on Benzworld.org, which I find interesting. Does this performance anxiety compensate for the relief of dumping the troubled ML?