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I posted a thread at www.fordexp.com about my 59.2 mpg fuel economy and now they are having a hypermiling competition.

http://www.fordexp.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2070

They are calling it an, "economy contest". The Hypervirus is spreading.

God I haven't seen an EXP in many years. I really thought Ford had a potential winner with that model and it's successor the ZX2. To me it was the mini-Mustang for those who couldn't afford a Mustang. I see you also have a Fiero. Such a shame Pontiac had the right design but just couldn't get the right package together until near the end of it's run. Had they kept the body virtually the same, improved the suspension, and put in a little better 4 and 6 cylinder (or turbo 4) engine that car would have sold like hotcakes.

They got the suspension right in 88 but stopped short on the engine. Mine will eventually get a 3800 supercharged V6. The mileage will go from 30 mpg highway to around 35 due to better gearing and fuel mapping. Two and a half times then power will be nice too. -Good for mid-13 second quarter mile runs.

I wasn't satisfied with the stock suspension so I removed everything. It now has poly bushings, a thicker front swaybar, installed the old stock front bar on the back, and KYB shocks and struts.

Its nothing like the stock ride anymore but good luck following me on a twisty road. :) Its not exactly intended for commuting anymore.

www.expiowa.homestead.com/87fiero.html

Checked it out. Nice custom job without being gaudy. GM had the right design and I bet the engineers and designers had a great engine and suspension before the bean counters got their hands on the car. Same with the EXP. It had the right design but not the right engine with the possible exception for the turbo model.

Thanks, a lot of hours of work went into it. I am making it the car that it should have been.

The EXP was pretty good from the factory but there are four things that I would have changed. The 1.9L, HO. cars have equivalent power to the turbo 1.6L but could use a stronger head gaskets. (Changed mine last year). It also begs for a stiffer rear sway bar. A more reliable AC, and a sixth gear to bring the revs down to around 2,100 - 2,200 rpms at 70 mph would have been great. It currently runs nearly 3,000 rpm in 5th. Another gear would probably have given it five more mpg at highway speeds.

I hope to win the competition at the EXP forum. I have achieved the best mileage of the group so far when we compared notes in another thread. Wish me luck.