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Hello from Alaska!
Yes it's still cold, but this winter I've been getting better mpg than ever.

I drive a 2006 scion xB with a 5speed manual. I used to own a chevy zr2 s-10 pickup. The reason being was that I fly radio control airplanes and I needed the cargo space to haul my larger planes, oh and trucks are cool ;) . Then one day, I decided I was sick of getting 15mpg. So I took one of my rc planes to the scion dealership since I had heard how the seats fold completely flat and decided that if my planes could fit, I'd consider buying one. The rated 31mpg sounded awesome to me. And turns out, with the seats folded down I had more room to carry planes than I had in the pickup bed! 95 inches from dash to rear, not to mention the vertical volume too!

So I started off getting 30-32mpg and within a month got a scangauge. Like many, that was what made the biggest difference for me. I was regularly getting 35mpg in town from then on except in the winter. So this winter I worked on improving my driving and have been getting 35mpg+ regularly. Hasn't been easy, this winter has been cold and I was having 2-3 cold starts a day, all city traffic with short commutes 8-10miles. Winter tires with studs since we have allot of freeze thaw cycles and icey roads.

I have to share what my last tank was like. I had read on the scionlife.com forum several members who were trying to maximize their mpg. So I figured I'd give it a shot to find out what the car and I were capable of. I got a k&n filter, took out the snorkel for the intake (yet to see if it really helps) and pumped up to 45psi, and we're off. I planned my routes and adjusted my errands to accomodate max mileage. Previously my best "trip" had been about 43mpg. This last tank I averaged for the whole tank 46mpg and had a best trip of 54mpg!! Funny thing is, I just read that epa re-rated the scion xB to 28mpg. Someone on the scion forum commented that I am a hypermiler, so I started "googling" hypermiler and came across this forum, so here I am!

Honestly, I would not call myself a greenie, nor will I probably try to maintin a 46mpg average. However I like to consider myself practical in someways, and that's why I bought the car I bought, functional and economical. I guess I came here to share and hopefully learn even more. I'm sure I'll average at least over 35mpg consistanly though. If toyota would have made a hybrid version of my car that was affordable, I'd be all over it. I can't wait to get my summer tires back on!

Congrats for joining. I knew you would like to see what this site has to offer. It's nice to have another scion xb here. I see you on scionlife.com/ I'm TheRealBoxster there. :purplebananna:

Welcome

That kinda mpg with snow tires is great! I bet you knock the bottom out come summer.

psy

Welcome to CleanMPG akxb! It already sounds like were going to be hearing of some big numbers from you as the weather warms up.

Thanks. Actually I'm not sure I can regularly post that kind of mpg. Or I should say I'm not sure I want to try to all the time. I know already in the past year my driving habits have changed dramatically. I used to be the one that always had to get to the stop light first! The summer will actually be a challenge as well. On one hand the temps are favorable, so are the summer tires and my light weight alloys. However, in the summer I start to get some highway miles driving 100miles round trip to fly rc planes about once a week or sometimes more. Most cars are great for getting hwy miles if you keep it at 55mpg. However, pushing my ice box through the air, the mileage starts to drop a little sooner than most cars I bet. Aerodynamics are not my friend. I can usually get better mileage in city than on the hwy, kinda like some hybrids but for a different reason. I do think I'll at least challenge my self maybe one tank in the summer to shoot for 50mpg. Overall I drive the scion less in the summer though, as when it's nice out, I'll be on the motorcycle or '65 vw bug.

Being here in Alaska, this is truck land! Many people notice across the country more and more suvs and trucks are on the roads, but here in Alaska, it's even more because people think it's such a rugged place and that you need 4X4. That being said, it's hard to go down the highway at 50-55mpg with two lanes because some people just have to let you know how much they think you suck for being in the right lane going slow. :Banane29:

Any tips for highway driving? I'm hoping to improve in this area of my driving.

Welcome to CleanMPG. I may be in Southern Alaska in the next few years. Heading up to Glacier Bay while my family is still up there.

11011011

Hi Dan,
I live in Anchorage. About 480miles northeast of Glacier Bay as the eagle flies. Don't think you can drive there. Would be cool to have another hypermiler in Alaska. Alothough I'm sure there are more, as I once saw an Insight that had a licence plate that said 72mpg.

Welcome to CleanMPG!

I've always thought the Scion xB was cool. :cool:

BTW he is the link to pictures in the "my ride" section...

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3938