Date:         Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:32:51 -0500
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: MPG Question
Comments: To: robert shawn feller <feller@CARBONCOW.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000001c65504$58b1b830$7900000a@SNOWTRAILS.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

A real world story. Mostly, I agree with you, but driving habits DO
make a difference.

The state of Maryland has many distinct geographical areas. The
heavily populated central section is in what is called the Piedmont.
An area of modest rolling hills. The Eastern section of the state is
on the coastal plain, and the eastern shore (east of the Chesapeake
Bay) is very flat. In previous years the speed limits on the eastern
shore were also lower than in the central section of the state.

I have a Corrado. An Automatic Corrado with the VR6 engine. In normal
(mostly freeway) driving, in the central section of the state and
northern Virginia, I would typically get about 22mpg. Didn't much
matter if it was mostly city driving or highway driving.

On a trip to Ocean City (eastern shore) I got 30 mpg, on several
consecutive tanks of gas. Just because the wind was calm, and speeds
were steady at just below 50mph. Optimum fuel economy.

With a different vehicle (Nissan Sentra) I got 47 mpg. I thought
something had to be wrong when I was getting gas that time. Filled up
the tank to overflowing, as I was convinced I MUST have used more gas.

Syncro Vanagons don't get as good fuel mileage as 2wd ones. Westys
don't do as well as passenger vans.  But other conditions do affect
your mileage (I drove across Ohio last November into a 40 mph
headwind and my fuel economy sucked big time.)


On Mar 31, 2006, at 3:47 PM, robert shawn feller wrote:

I hate to call anyone a liar but I'm so skeptical!