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I see on here a lot of very useful ideas and some that, for me, are over the top.
In the interest of learning how far gas mileage can be pushed, extreme measures are worthwhile.
But I don't aspire to use _every possible_ method to get the absolute maximum MPG from my car. (heresy!!!)

My aim is to lower my footprint in as many ways as I can without going to extremes.
I know there are others who will make different choices than I do, but here is a thumbnail sketch of my current thinking.

I am willing to;
-pay a little more and choose an efficient vehicle that meets my needs.
-learn more about hypermiling and modify my car (some) to conserve fuel.
-turn down the thermostat and choose an energy efficient house.
-put on a sweater instead of turning it up.
-take the time to gather and sort (most of) the recyclables I handle during my work. (I'm a handyman so that includes a lot of scrap metal that would often goes unrecycled)
-teach others about conservation
....

I am unwilling to;
-not use my car radio because of it's electrical load.
-forego the AC when I just got done working and am dirty and sweating hard.
-Freeze my toes off on the way to a job to save an extra few MPG.
....

I feel most of us are this way, except when trying to set records.

I for one cannot arrive at work pre-sweaty. But I'm perfectly willing to drive a car a few degrees colder than what I consider to be outside of any kind of comfortable, but if I start shivering it hurts FE so some kind of heat must be used, see my post: "I'm a fanatic." (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17132)

Ya, I am not giving up the radio. :D

Everything has it’s price. Radio may be costing a tinny bit of a hit to my FE, but I willing to pay that one.

I would say my “unwilling to use” technique list is constantly changing.
AC/Heat changes depending on what I will be doing and who is in the car.
Speed I am willing to do will change with traffic conditions.
Speed can also change depending on who is in the car.
I will minimize using FAS when passengers are not comfortable with the use of FAS.
Shoe off driving I thought would never be on my list, is now OK for me on long trips, in light traffic.

I did a bit of sock driving but it was one of my Granfather's few requests for my Mother, and myself (that we not do that) he made regularly before he passed away.

I've seen the gains to be had by it but when I miss it I wear thinner shoes until I find whatever I thought I'd learn from sock driving. It was fun but I was always thinking how he'd be disappointed if he got a call that I was in an accident and he rushed out only to find me without shoes, he's the one who did most of my driver's training and took me to get my license.

The few MPGs I might miss out on are a small price, he was very supportive when I told him about a few of the techniques I'd heard Wayne used and even helped me practice some of them safely.


Now I've seem to upset myself. Lets get back to talking about driving cars, he and I were always talking about cars and he was the only one in the family who'd put up with my obsession with all things Prius, Insight, and HCHI.

TheFridge,

Stay around a littlle longer - is everyone here going for broke on ultimate fuel economy? I hardly think that's the case. Not only do members vary on who many things the do to strech a gallon, the same members will vary on road conditions.

I can't not have the radio on. In fact it's on at all times when I'm driving. No heat or A/C though. Sweat or DWG as necessary, but don't throw away that fuel.

There are excellent tips on this site for anyone to easily, immediately increase their MPG 25-30%. (It's as though you changed out to a diesel.)

There is a natural tendency toward "MPG-at-any-cost" (football scoring) and a focus on "consumer running costs", which mask the practical limits of MPG and true costs of vehicle production and use (sustainability).

But, even with light consideration of the costs of reaching 'high' MPG with today's tech and the 'dust-to-dust' cost concept, it's a great site to assemble some of your own answers.

People have really weird preconceived notions about shoes,
don't they...
.
_H*

Car heater in the winter is a non-issue for me. I simply have none. The engine never gets warm enough, so DWG is all I can do. ;)

On http://www.gasbuddy.com (gasbuddy) there is a trip calculator http://www.akrongasprices.com/tripcalculator.aspx whose results include the carbon footprint for the trip. You enter your vehicle, and can alter the MPG the calculator assumes if you like. The trip results summary includes gas, cost, and carbon footprint. Since seeing that, I have, as much as possible, tried to make my total driving as "green" as I possibly can.

People have really weird preconceived notions about shoes,
don't they...
.
_H*

I've heard stories about you and shoes. :)

I've heard stories about you and shoes. :)

Or lack thereof :rolleyes:

It was the story about the one time he was seen in public in shoes.