Week of April 30th - May 6th, 2012 (Nat Avg $3.83)

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Welcome back!! It is the very last day of April and the national average for a gallon of regular gas has dropped a full 10 cents since last Monday.

It was messy on the way in this morning with constant drizzle and very wet roads. Hopefully it clears up before I head home today!

45F, 4mph cross/headwind from the SE, raining with lots of standing water:

• 105.7mpg for 15.0mi (Home to work)

The tank is steady at 107.3mpg over 784.2mi with 7 of 20 bars remaining on the fuel gauge.

[frv]

Hi Sean

My turn for the commute this week so 2 pickups this morning. It was sunny but colder, 41°F and took 8 miles for engine to warm up . I didn't do my normal FAS to first pickup and left engine running outside his house as I was concerned with battery level again.
It took maybe 10 turns to start the engine and there was a strange clicking sound coming from the dash and some lights flashing while turning the key. When I checked during a FAS to some traffic lights it was only 11.7V. It's done this few times over the last couple of months and always when I haven't used the car for a few days.
I turned the engine off at the second pickup 2.3 miles into trip and it started fine there (he always takes longer to arrive so engine has got to be off).

I had the battery checked at a garage 2 months ago and they said it was fine - I'm thinking it's toast - 6+ years old.

Lowest inbound commute since December:
43.0 / 22.9

It's 59°F now so should do better going home later.

Tank down 0.5 to 53.4 / 597.1 / DTE221 Fuel gauge at 3+/14

[PaleMelanesian]

I started off poorly - down 10 mpg from normal at my 3-mile checkpoint. I worked hard and brought it up to a good finish.

85.1 mpg / 13.0 miles to school and work. 73F.

The tank is steady at 80.5 / 652 miles and almost down to 1/2.

[basjoos]

Drove from Hodges, SC to Augusta, GA and back (73 miles each way), getting 79mpg going and 78mpg coming back. Temps 60's and 70's F going, 80's F coming back. Speed mostly 55mph with some 65mph on the interstate.

[aaronl]

I rented a car for the first time yesterday, and was given a choice between a Fiesta and a Versa. I chose the Fiesta, and that turned out to be a great choice, especially since the Fiesta turned out to be brand new with 1300 miles on it.

I think the Fiesta had the dual-clutch transmission. I've been interested in those for awhile, and never thought I'd get a chance to drive one so soon. Most people wouldn't notice many differences from conventional automatics, but I picked up on a few things. The car barely moves at all while the engine is idling, presumably because the clutch can only engage very slightly with so little engine torque. There were a few times when I eased up on the throttle while starting from a stop and the car felt like it was about to stall (but of course, it didn't). Also, the shifts were extremely smooth. According to the tach, they took much longer than with a conventional automatic transmission, but I couldn't tell whether that was really the case or if the tach needle was lowpassing the action significantly.

Then of course there's FE. I wasn't trying to set any records; just driving on the highway at 65 MPH with AC on part of the time. I was pleasantly surprised when filling the tank after driving 80 miles that the pump stopped after 1.767 gallons, which would be 45.2 MPG. I have no idea whether that tiny amount of gasoline is an accurate measure, but it seems like a good sign.

I'm glad I got rid of my car. Yesterday's rental only cost $31, which beats the price of maintaining, insuring, and parking even an old car for very occasional use. Also, it's nice to be able to rent various newer and more interesting cars. It's fortunate that the only rental office in the city that allows after-hours returns is 2.5 blocks from my apartment.

[Die2self]

You shame me Kirk with your string of over 50's. I have 3 in a row right now from having some tanks in the higher 40's at the end of last year

Friday:
work - school pickup
- 47.2 / 11.6 miles (82F S@28 Gusting to 38) grrr that wind sucks.
School to home:
- 74.4 / 1.2 miles
FCD at 54.8

Saturday:
out to recycling yard to drop of a load of cardboard, paper, plastics and tin cans. (Gorg, yes I love all the space to put stuff in the Fit/Jazz when the seats are down. This was one if the selling points for me )
- 56.1 / 4.5 miles (71F S@14)
back home:
- 53.8 / 4.5 miles (75F S@14) into the wind for half the trip.
FCD steady at 54.8

0.65 gals left with 35 mile to empty (SG reporting)

This morning:
school drop off and on to work:
- 50.7 / 13.1 miles (61F ESE@7 with very wet roads) grrrrrr

Tank:
gals used: 10.21
miles driven: 539.5 (20.9 miles to done.)
- I should be able to make with with plenty left to the gas station on the way home.
Needle is buried well below the E line now (I will trust my guages, I will trust my guages...)

[frv]

Originally Posted by Die2self

Gord, yes I love all the space to put stuff in the Fit/Jazz when the seats are down. This was one if the selling points for me.

Brilliant isn't it! For a small car I think it's very versatile.

Originally Posted by Die2self

Needle is buried well below the E line now (I will trust my guages, I will trust my guages...)

We'd fill up way earlier if we trusted the guess gauge!

[FSUspectra]

I won't have numbers for my car until late this week. Car is finally in the shop getting the 2 driver's side doors repaired!

On a side note, taking wife's car down to Ocala tomorrow with a friend so he can drive a new-to-him motorcycle home.

Still need to make that new-to-me car thread...

And awesome numbers, everyone!

[diamondlarry]

Looks like day 6 Sean. Weather was against me today. I started out with 46F and a full blown thunderstorm; lightning heavy rain and of course, the obligatory 20+ mph headwind. This afternoon it was 63F with light to moderate rain oh and let's not forget headwind (that's both ways for today).
98.2 11.8-to work
103.6 11.8-back home

Day Total: 100.8mpg over 23.6 miles. The tank is down to 112.0 over 380.8 miles with 17 of 20 bars on the gauge.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Sorry to hear that, Larry -- thought sure you'd have me this time!!

58F, 7mph tailwind from the S, overcast with heavy traffic:

• 114.4mpg for 15.4mi (Work to home)

The tank is now back up to 107.6mpg over 799.6mi with 7 of 20 bars remaining on the fuel gauge.

Day Total: 109.9mpg over 30.4mi