Adjusting your driving to become more fuel efficient

[BadgerBadger]

Its a 54 plate, so possibly the same shape, although not necessarily the same engine. (1.9 Diesel)

 

The 70mpg is rare, but on my daily Basingstoke to Portsmouth commute I usually get low to mid 60's. I don't necessarily drive slowly all the time either, just don't welly it to overtake, and sit at around 60mph. It adds 5 mins to the journey, but saves me about 15% on fuel costs, which when you do 100 miles a day commuting soon adds up.

 

You also have to bear in mind that the 70mpg comes from the dashboard computer, so is not 100% accurate, although using an Android app (Free - Fuel Friend Lite) I am averaging 57.15mpg for all journeys at a cost of 11p a mile. That is actually about the same cost per mile that I had with a petrol vectra about 10 years ago.

 

Got the same motor and regularly get 65mpg on my trip to work, mostly motorway and 120 mile round trip, keeping it below 65mph and utilising coaches which do cira 65mph but have to shut the cabin air off due to diesel fumes.. I too have hit over 70mpg when sitting behind artics. Saves me a packet.

 

Gunning it only saves me 15 mins but costs a fortune.

[Johnny Bognor]

I often employ the good old 'switch on my lights for a split second' ploy. Instinctively the bumper rider thinks I'm braking and pulls back.

 

I employ a similar tactic, which is easier to do with an auto.

 

Simply 'touch' the break pedal with your left foot (which is enough for the break lights to come on) and simultaneously floor your right foot on the accelerator. They slow down (thinking you are breaking) whilst you are actually accelerating. Not that I deliberately go out of my way to wind people up.

[dune]

Driving down to London on the A1 will be fun this afternoon. All those lorry drivers i'm gonna **** off. I may even time my overtaking right so that it takes me two miles to overtake a lorry and hold another one back behind me. They do this deliberately all the time. C/nts.

 

That said on the way back I won't be driving fuel efficiently as i've got work in the morning.

[angelman]

I employ a similar tactic, which is easier to do with an auto.

 

Simply 'touch' the break pedal with your left foot (which is enough for the break lights to come on) and simultaneously floor your right foot on the accelerator. They slow down (thinking you are breaking) whilst you are actually accelerating. Not that I deliberately go out of my way to wind people up.

 

In one of my first cars, you used to be able to slip the gear leaver over to reverse (without pushing up to engage) which would turn on the reverse lights, while you coasted in neutral. Confused a few people.

 

As for braking, not really worthwhile. I just do the sensible thing of slowing down to make sure that there is a big braking gap in front of me (as need one if someone is up your jacksie). If I am bored then I will drive at the same speed as the vehicle in side of me and the person up me behind can drive as close as he wants for as long as he wants. I have been driving long enough not to be intimidated by this sort of behaviour.

 

Having said that, remember doing the proscribed 50mph on the M42 thru the roadworks (favourite place for the OB to pull you for speeding) in the middle lane, when an artic comes and sits on my bumper trying to barge me out the way. Then self preservation kicked in, I overtook the car in front of me, slowed down to 50 ish and let the car behind take the trucker up his rear end.