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I'm so giddy. My "I heart Hypermiling" CleanMPG license plate holder just got here along with my 60MPG Euro Sticker. Now fellow forum members will be able say hello if they see me. My husband and I are total Mac fiends with no kids, so instead of the stickers that are little stick people representing each person in the family we are going to use Apple logos representing each of our highly used and loved toys. :bananalama:

What have you done to your car to make it unique? Any hybrid specific goodies? Any interesting bumper stickers or whatnot? Do share!

What have I done to my car to make it unique? Lets see, where do I begin? A boattail, reshaped nose/grill block, reshaped windshield, wheel well skirts, underbody paneling (not that very many people see this). I would get less attention on the road if I were driving a Lamborghini, since to many non-car folks, a Lambo is just another variant on the sports car theme, whereas my car is an example of "Now for something completely different". Some of these goodies must be hybrid specific since so many people ask me if my car is a hybrid. But they must also be EV specific since many have asked me if it was an EV.

I've thought about putting on signs saying "Extreme mileage test vehicle" and listing the Cd, average MPG, and MPG at 70mph, but figured I have enough problems with gawkers wandering in the lanes next to me without giving them something to try to read as well as stare at.

My car is pretty nondescript. I don't like bumper stickers because of what they do to the paint. I would consider a window cling, but only something small on a non-rolling window that doesn't obscure vision.

I guess I'm just kinda dull. ;)

What have I done to my car to make it unique? Lets see, where do I begin? A boattail, reshaped nose/grill block, reshaped windshield, wheel well skirts, underbody paneling (not that very many people see this). I would get less attention on the road if I were driving a Lamborghini, since to many non-car folks, a Lambo is just another variant on the sports car theme, whereas my car is an example of "Now for something completely different". Some of these goodies must be hybrid specific since so many people ask me if my car is a hybrid. But they must also be EV specific since many have asked me if it was an EV.


Holy cow! It seems as though this topic was meant specifically for you! :D Call it a hybrid Lambo, and see what happens then. :eek:

My car is pretty nondescript. I don't like bumper stickers because of what they do to the paint. I would consider a window cling, but only something small on a non-rolling window that doesn't obscure vision.

I guess I'm just kinda dull. ;)

I'm with you on the paint issue. None of my stickers are on paint, only on windows.

All my visible changes are little and designed around MPG, safety and/or comfort.

1) Seat covers
2) Seat belt pads
3) Steering wheel cover
4) SGII
5) Window tint
6) Sun shade
7) EBH
8) Grounding kit
9) Door edge guards
10) Armrest (the Yaris LB does not come with none)
11) Mudflaps (Canadian Yarii seem to get these but most American ones didn't)
12) DIY PCV catch can (captures about 5ml:1000 miles)
13) "I <heart> hypermiling" bumper sticker (my bumpers are color-matched plastic)
14) "CleanMPG.com" bumper sticker
15) TerraPass bumper sticker, windshield sticker and window decals
16) "YarisWorld.com" window graphic
17) 12V Solar trickle charger mounted inside the windshield
18) Nevada license plate "LIL GAS"
19) Window deflectors

My car is pretty nondescript. I don't like bumper stickers because of what they do to the paint. I would consider a window cling, but only something small on a non-rolling window that doesn't obscure vision.

I guess I'm just kinda dull. ;)

That would make two of us. I can't stand having stickers and similar on my car. Here in Europe, each county has a round sticker with a country code on it (Great Britain = GB, Germany = D, Slovenia = SLO, etc.), which is manditory for driving your car abroad. Anyway, I even got rid of that and now have a magnetic one which I put on whenever I go abroad with my car.

Outside? Nothing. Inside? Analog tachometer, XM radio, and working an a few more goodies that may or may not pan out.

Two green bumper stickers .......
Try ECO driving,
not EGO driving.
and
Slow Driving Saves Gas
And Annoys Big Oil
and
my Terrapass decal is on a side window.

window tint
small round 60MPG sticker
various plate frames, depending on my mood.......one for i get 60MPG. YOU? from green hybrid, and one i had made that says
HYBRID MATH, 55MPH=55MPG
for a while i had a bumper sticker in the back window that read "we all live downstream"
custom plate: BEGREEN, though i would like to change it to something like SAVNGAS, or INOHURY or SIPSGAS......

Lets see.

Took the door moldings off.
Took off the 2.3 on each door.
Took off the 3 on the back.
Painted the front and back "m" and Mazda badges.
CleanMPG lic. plate frame. With CleanMPG on top and zoom-zoom on bottom.
Infinity Bass Link in trunk.
Pulled resonator from intake filter box.

No bumper stickers. There just flat out tacky as hell.

I put my bumper stickers on magnets and stick them on the trunk. I have the "Slow Driving Saves Gas And Annoys Big Oil" and "Hypermiler" ones. I don't know if they'll stay, though. They seem to just piss people even more.

On the back of my Insight: www.cleanmpg.com (http://www.cleanmpg.com)

Yesterday I've experminted with one of those flashing LED lights joggers use - it's next to the left tailight. Gut feeling is the flashing settings are too annoying - kind of like the blinking font on some webpages. Going to try to find a setting that moderates it a bit.

...and there is MIMA.

I put my bumper stickers on magnets and stick them on the trunk. I have the "Slow Driving Saves Gas And Annoys Big Oil" and "Hypermiler" ones. .... They seem to just piss people even more.

Being told they're wrong does that to some people. In my line of work they are the ones that get you killed, so I try to stay away from them. It's a little hard to stay away from them on the highway though....

There aren't any stickers on my truck.

In my line of work they are the ones that get you killed, so I try to stay away from them.

What line is that? The only things I quickly came up with are officer & road work, but I'm sure there are many others.

What line is that? The only things I quickly came up with are officer & road work, but I'm sure there are many others.

I'm a little bit of a jack-of-all-trades at work, probably the most stressful bit I do is field supervision of hazardous waste remediation--mostly excavations cleaning up leaking underground storage tanks. I'm the one who tells project mangers/regulators if what they want is too dangerous based on field conditions. It's interesting and worthwhile work that requires special safety training.

My mother doesn't let me tell her stories about my work.:)

I'm a little bit of a jack-of-all-trades at work, probably the most stressful bit I do is field supervision of hazardous waste remediation

That does make hypermiling seem comparatively safe. Your involved in cleaning up America in all kinds of good ways. Bravo! :flag:

Unfortunately, I had to put on a UT Tyler parking sticker. They said it comes off without a residue, but I'm a little skeptical.

I'm too much of a neat freak with my cars to ever put stickers on.

Hi All:

___I Love Hypermiling – CleanMPG and This vehicle’s CO2 is offset with Terrapass on the Accord.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I know I can't think of all of the items on my car offhand, but some include terrapass decal, MilwaukeeHybridGroup.com vinyl letters on rear window, both Hybridfest clings, 2 Stop Idling window clings, 2 UW La Crosse decals plus the parking sticker that will ruin my tint if I try to remove it, and a Hybridcenter.org cling that says "Cool Car, Cool Planet" which Wayne complimented at the Last Madison Hybrid Group meet. Plus the GreenHybrid.com plate frame on the front: "Go Green, Go Hybrid", and the CleanMPG Plate frame on the back that says "First one to the red light loses". I told myself that I wasn't going to put any stickers on the Insight when I got it, but that really didn't last long.

My old Plymouth Reliant was covered in stickers and magnets, over 27 at one point. The only bad thing is the Insight isn't magnetic. They are all residing either on the van that just sits, or my dorm fridge.

Unfortunately, I had to put on a UT Tyler parking sticker. They said it comes off without a residue, but I'm a little skeptical.

I'm too much of a neat freak with my cars to ever put stickers on.UT - Tyler where I got my Computer Science degree! Unfornately, the head of the department had to step down over some cheating allegations...ironically the UT - Tyler mascot is the Patriots. :p

I haven't really done anything to promote the car's fuel economy -- most people around here already seem to know what TDI means in terms of fuel economy. I added some larger fuel injectors for more power and slightly better economy as long as I don't make use of the extra power too often. I made the car more unique by switching its original front end with that of a Jetta (see pictures). Also added a couple safety-related items: a rear fog light, and the high mounted stop light now flashes with turn signals. The rear fog light is very bright so it also works at getting tailgaters off my back at night.

Original front end:
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~umsefton/Car/golf360300.jpg

New front end:
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~umsefton/Car/jolf400221.jpg

High mount turn signals:
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~umsefton/Car/BrakeTurn/small/Left.jpg
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~umsefton/Car/BrakeTurn/small/Right.jpg
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~umsefton/Car/BrakeTurn/small/BrakeRight.jpg

I have an alumni license plate frame from my school, and a back window cling from my daughter's school.

The plate frame was a present from the family and rather expensive otherwise I'd change it for a cmpg frame. But if Tom ever gets a deal on window clings (hint, hint) I've got a spot reserved for it. :)

And I have 3 HOV stickers (one got stolen). I requested a set of replacement stickers thinking when I DO use the carpool lane I could get stopped for having only 3. But the DMV said no, I have to send them a police report and the remaining stickers, and can't use the carpool lane till I get the replacements. I guess hybrid owners are real scammers, reselling the replacement stickers or something...

I've taped a few aero appliances to my metro :D. My kammback, part of the grill block, and wheel skirts are taped on with clear packing tape and the airdam, rear undertray, and lower part of the grill block are screwed on.
http://www.gassavers.org/garage_images/jo2z3sllpccfc8wg83q8.jpg

I did have a little sign saying something like "CAUTION! fuel efficiency testing underway" and one that showed my best tank mpg. I have since removed both for no good reason.

A bit of Coroplast behind the lower grille and under the front bumper, basically bone stock in appearance. I do my best to blend in and be utterly forgettable -- Corvettes are a lot more likely to get tickets than old Beetles, and not just because they're faster.

I'm kind of tempted to remove the logos to make it even more nondescript; the rear one is in bad shape anyway.

Two main bumper stickers along the bottom of the back window:
http://www.northernsun.com/images/thumb/5115.jpg
http://images.cafepress.com/product/157506299v3_240x240_Front.jpg

There's usually a political bumper sticker too, which I will omit from this discussion in the interest of neutrality. The current one is unrelated to hypermiling and has been in my back window for 3 years as a response to the 2004 election. It will probably start rotating as the political season heats up next year. 'Nuff said about that.

Other exterior changes: Crater Lake vanity plate (GN BIKN), removed the rear air deflector, installed a trailer hitch and bike rack in back (just last week), Sirius antenna on top. In the winter I switch to a studless snow/ice tire and wheel setup: currently running Nokian Hakkapeliitta Qs, but will switch to the LRR Michelin X-Ice once those wear out.

Mechanical changes: Crappy/noisy aftermarket muffler dictated by insurance company after my big crash, Brembo front brakes. I just picked up my new Optima battery today (yellow top D35) and am installing it tonight! Woo-hoo!

Interior changes: Alarm system, bottom of the line Sirius-capable Kenwood stereo, iPod charger/input jack (installed 2wks ago).

Non-stock stuff I carry around with me: toddler seat, DeLorme seatback pocket with Thomas guide and OR and WA atlases, first aid kit, headlamp/lithium batteries, full size spare, minimalist tool kit, jumper cables, tow strap, cargo straps for lashing stuff to the roof. Have also been carrying a backup battery/starter, but may start leaving that at home once I put in the new Optima. In winter I also carry chains, a couple pounds of traction gravel, a blanket, shovel and a couple hats and pairs of gloves.

Upcoming changes to be done before winter: Install kill switch. Convert non-blinking parking and tail lights to LEDs. Consider replacing headlight lenses with ones that actually let light pass through.

I've enjoyed reading what everyone else has done. I will keep my eyes out for everyone on the road!

I haven't really done anything to promote the car's fuel economy -- most people around here already seem to know what TDI means in terms of fuel economy. I added some larger fuel injectors for more power and slightly better economy as long as I don't make use of the extra power too often. I made the car more unique by switching its original front end with that of a Jetta (see pictures). Also added a couple safety-related items: a rear fog light, and the high mounted stop light now flashes with turn signals. The rear fog light is very bright so it also works at getting tailgaters off my back at night.

Oh man, I'm jeaouls of the TDI. We got an 07 GTI 4/door in November of last year and would have loved to have a TDI option available here in the states. Good for you!

WI sesquicentennial license plate: MEWSICL - reflecting 2 of my favorite things in life :) :)

One of those ribbon magnets, blue, that says "Public employees do it BETTER" - I've worked for the state of WI for 20+ years now :)

Red bumper sticker that says: "I'm not CRAZY, I'm VOCALIZING!" - because if I'm alone in my car, I'm usually singing :) :) :) (This bumper sticker came with a cd of vocal warm-up exercises.)

My license plate frame is from Elkhorn Motors, where I bought my FEH, because they were the only dealer willing to tell me the price of the car straight out. (And the salesman was really terrific, & they gave me a great trade-in allowance on my 6-year-old SL1 :) )