So since ordering the car, I've moved to the next little town over from my office. So door to door it's about 5 miles. About 4.5 of those is a standard, 55mph highway.

Am I going to lose FE on the short commute? The engine in my compact car warms up to operating temp in the first .5 mile...

 

Your gas mileage will be lower, but your fuel efficiency is greater.

 

Ah ok, as long as there is no detrimental effect to the IMA system (batteries etc) then thats ok.

 

I used to have a 6 mile commute and now have a 10 mile commute. My mileage increased with the longer distance, but the car and driver were also breaking in, and the temps increased so it's difficult to quantify how much it increased. BTW, that .5 mile warm up will take about 2 miles in the winter.

To noflash's point though, you will be burning less gas so who cars if your mileage drops a little right?

Do you have any interest in bike commuting? I used to do it a couple of times during the summer months at my old job, but the 20 mile round trip is a little further than I want to ride.

 

I have considered biking! When I mention it to the people here at work, though - they all tell me not to ride on the highway coming in to town (the only way to get here without at least a 10 mile detour) so I'm not sure its the safest way to go. Whenever we go into Salem though, it'll be at least a 25 mile trip there and back so maybe I will make up for the small trips a little bit.

Very true though that I'll be burning though much much less than my 36 mile commute with the old car!

Can't wait! It's been 20 days! Come on!

 

It's all about the margins--if they are wide, you would probably be safe. If they are not, it is NOT worth the gamble. I've been hit by a car before and now try to confine my bike related "accidents" to rocks and trees!

 

I have a 7 mile commute door to door over standard 40-45 mph surface streets with stoplights. Winters will just kill your gas mileage down to the 30's if you're freezing or lower. Summers I get around 50mpg but I don't use A/C. Office is kept so dang cold I can just barely make it to home without sweating. I do make an attempt at hypermiling, if you just drive it like a normal car knock about 5-7 mpg off the numbers.

 

I have been practicing hypermiling, which I'm pretty sure is why I'm getting close to 35mpg in the 03 Elantra. I can get more than that in our 98 Neon too.

 

I wouldn't care about any mild mpg hit. You are driving less, and that's the biggest factor.