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Hi, I am new here, and am interested in getting better fuel economy. I just switched vehicles. I had been driving a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. My new ride is a 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS.

I am mainly an in town driver. Many small trips back and forth across town. Errands, bills, bringing kids here and there, groceries, etc.

Can someone like me, who doesn't drive many highway miles, but, drives many in town stop and go miles, gain anything from hypermiling? Can I use any of hypermiling's techniques to improve in town driving gas mileage?

Where to start? How to keep records?

Let me know!
Thanks,
Cindy

Hi, I am new here, and am interested in getting better fuel economy. I just switched vehicles. I had been driving a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. My new ride is a 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS.

I am mainly an in town driver. Many small trips back and forth across town. Errands, bills, bringing kids here and there, groceries, etc.

Can someone like me, who doesn't drive many highway miles, but, drives many in town stop and go miles, gain anything from hypermiling? Can I use any of hypermiling's techniques to improve in town driving gas mileage?

Where to start? How to keep records?

Let me know!
Thanks,
Cindy
First of all, welcome to CleanMPG. And yes, you can use hypermiling techniques to improve your in-town mileage. Keep an eye on traffic signals and start coasting when you first see them turn red and don't run up to the while still on the gas. Sometimes you can end up hitting the light green and not have to stop at all. If you do end up stopping, turn off the engine instead of letting it idle. When taking off from a stop, accelerate at a slow to moderate pace. Try to get the car into the highest gear possible as quickly as possible without lugging the engine.

To keep records, go into the mileage logs and enter the information for your car(year, make model, transmission, etc.) then add the data from your fill ups. Do lots of reading and ask us lots of questions and you will be on the way to better city mpg.

I forgot to add, if you live anywhere near Coon Rapids, MN to get in touch with Sean(Right Lane Cruiser) and set up a clinic with him. You will be glad you did.