tsullivan- youre correct I can listen to satalite or wclo each day where I prob wouldnt if I didnt drive so far. I am afraid youre wrong about the windows down though saving on gas because the air isnt on. Coefficient drag I think they call it. less aerodynamics more mpg.

A commute can be tough because of gas prices, but it also has benefits: You can unwind; jam tunes; call an old friend; or check out the height of the corn.

Cranking down the windows and feeling the breeze also saves gas by not pumping the air conditioner.

Besides, who doesn't love a good ol' rural drive?

I just bought a Chevy Cobalt, 32mpg, made in Ohio. It's a fine replacement for that 6000lb monster pickup or SUV. The Aveo on the other hand is actually a Korean Daewoo with a Chevy emblem stuck on the grill. So if your looking for a replacement car for around the 15K mark, the Cobalt should be considered.

LOL

gazettefan- Ty and with his gun at the stoplight

So in WWII the German's had vehicles that could get 38mpg and 70 years later we can't do it?..what a crock....American ingenuity is better than that, unless it is being suppressed....jmo..peace

LOL

And to clarify: Yes, on hills, up and down, cruise control is not good. But on the usual stretches of flat or relatively flat highway cruise is a fuel efficient feature. When cruise is off, minor decelerations and accelerations needlessly burn more fuel.

And the speed limit is 55 on most roads and highways, but somehow I get the feeling that most people think that it is 65. I hope that all the jerks passing me get a chance to learn the hard way as I did. "Thank you, officer, for choosing me above all of the thousands of other worthy contestants."

Cruise control makes some bad fuel conservation decisions when there are steep hills on the route. There is something about that in most user manuals (at least there used to be).

I must have missed that... on purpose! ;-)

I don't understand why the government doesn't just reduce the speed limit back to 55 MPH, if it would reduce fuel consumption?

It's just a matter of time before Ty Bollerud goes in front of the city council and requests a moratorium on red lights and stop signs until gas goes back down to two bucks a gallon.

Thanks, Hannah.

And, I disagree that cruise control is bad for gas mileage. Overall, you're decelerating and accelerating many times during long stretches. This causes extra fuel usage.

And cruise is great when you want to jump in the back seat for a nice nap.

I've noticed that compared to the people who talk to themselves in Chicago, the ones who talk to themselves in Madison are a lot more polite.

mark77- what he is saying is true. more conservetive on the BIG numbers shown on ALL Mulrooney labels all 08 and newer on ALL brands. the fuel econony hasnt changed. Just the way people drive compared to other people and now showing this reflection on the stickers.

Someone mentioned "cruise control"..
....actually, its bad for gas mileage as it automatically "mashes down" on the gas when you otherwise might not if you were controlling the gas yourself.

oldtimer, you are aware that GM owns the Korean automaker Daewoo, aren't you?
.
In addition to Daewoo, South Korea has four other major automakers. This may account for the limited import market of only 5% as much as anything else (such as the much higher cost of European and American cars when imported).

Be aware that the EPA Economy rating system changed with the 2008 models. They do the tests a little differently and they claim more "real world" driving conditions. This can make an identical 2008 model appear to get poorer mileage than, for example, a 2006, even though it's the same vehicle. Besides, in's a lot more dependent upon how you drive than the initial rating.

Oh, and here's a secret...you will get more mileage if you wear your seatbelts....or at least you will live to drive longer. {:>)

gayprimer- gfan said oops wrong blog incase you missed it.

I use this link to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ , which I find very helpful when look at the fuel economy of various automobiles. The site also has other useful tools. Just click on the link, “Find and Compare Cars.”

I hear you, mwisniewski, any information on possible car pooling scenerios you're aware of would be greatly appreciated!!!

When I came from Milwaukee to work at the Gazette two and a half years ago, I had planned on living in Madison, too. But the gas prices even back then (~ $2.20/gal.) were too much for me. So instead I rented an apartment three blocks from work and it took me four minutes to get to the office every day...on foot.

Also, my old car broke after five months, and I would have been in big trouble if I had been living in Madison.

And gazettefan: Thanks for making me laugh out loud. :-)

You know, your comments would sound more authoritative if you posted them on the right page. This way you sound like one of those guys on State Street that walk around talking to themselves. :-)

Opps! wrong blog. I hope Al and Jesse drive cars that are fuel efficient.

Sharpton and Jackson are known as poverty pimps. Their goal is to make black people feel more like victims than they already are (and victims black people are as the effects of slavery and racism continue to resonate to this day). Without Sharpton and Jackson's chronic indoctrination of "victim"hood they, Sharpton and Jackson, would have to get jobs.

mwisniewski, I hear ya. I drive from Franklin to Elkhorn everyday, bout 70 miles a day.

I get 35 MPG on my Dodge Neon. Here's a list on how to save on gas:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabi...

You think you're feeling the gas-pump squeeze, I have to drive from Madison and back everyday.

I'm suprised you only get 27 with a civic, most civics should be mid 30's if driving conservatively. I have a 95civic vx that I picked up last year before the gas craze, I get about 62mpg during the summer months. Low 50's during the winter. And that is NOT a hybrid, take that prius!

Thank you for the correction. So a mesh tailgate is the most fuel efficient configuration for a pickup.

And learn some manners!!!

oldtimer, American cars are not banned in Korea. Blame the GM executives (the smartest guys in the room) and Americans who need to buy ridiculous gas guzzlers for the auto industry's employment problems.

Get a grip on the real source of the problem.

They just had that old episode on the other day because viewers were suggesting other ways of testing this. Below is the link for the episode proving the myth.

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode64

mileage

I don't remember that they took the tailgate completely off. With the tailgate up, a vortex is created in the bed, and the rest of the air flows smoothly over the vortex and doesn't hit the tailgate. With the tailgate down, there is no vortex, and the air gets very turbulent in the bed after it passes over the roof, which creates drag. Using a mesh tailgate doesn't help gas milage.

lakekennedy- I have heard of open windows can reduce mpg. I believe it is because you lost the aerodynamics of the car.

Yes also tire pressure should be correct. My jeep individual tire monitors and some CDJ cars have a monitor light.

Kia is a decent car but dont expect any trade in value for it in a couple years. The resale on the is quite bad. sorry.

Zoom: I actually just watched that episode the other day and they had on there that driving with the tail gate down makes your gas mileage worse actually than driving with it up. If you take the tail gate off, that improves it, or taking it off and using a mesh backing improves it as well.

Yes, driving with your windows open at high speed may reduce gas milage, compared to keeping the windows up and running the A/C.

Also, driving a pick-up with the tailgate down won't necessarily reduce drag. I think Mythbusters proved that.

oldtimer: I said: "They also buy a lot of our exports and we have a good trade balance with that country". I did not say "automobiles". I'm sorry that I did not specify what goods the get from us. I know that they do not import automobiles from the US, but they do import many other goods.
Fortunately, the US and Wisconsin produces a lot of other products besides GM cars in Janesville.

And no, I'm not a Kia dealer. I work in high tech manufacturing in Southern Wisconsin and we have exported a number of our $1+ million projects to Korea and other Asian countries.

(By the way, where was the computer that you are using manufactured?)

Source: Asian Development Bank
In 2007, Korean trade continued to grow. According to Korea's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE), Korea's exports reached US$371.8 billion, and imports were at US$356.7 billion, registering increases of 14.2% and 15.3% respectively from 2006. Exports of general machinery, liquid crystal devices and ships drove the growth. Imports growth was driven by raw materials, capital goods and consumer goods.

South Korea's Trade (in billions of US$)
2002 2003 2004 2005 2007
Exports 162 193 253 284 325
Imports 152 178 224 261 309

I would love to own a car that I could only fill up with $27 of gas!!! That would be a dream come true for me!!

Unfortunately, I am much like this guys fiancée in that it costs me about $40 a week if I fill up from a quarter tank. The other catch is I also drive about 70 miles a day to and from work. I generally try and put about 350 miles on my tank before I fill up. I work in Elkhorn and will take 43 all the way to work. So I'm doing about 98% hwy driving and average 64 mph. Slowing down from 70 (which I used to do to keep up with other drivers!) has saved me a lot of money. I can average roughly 34 mpg with my 98 Lumina. I would love to downsize my car, but financially I cannot afford it. I just learn to live with high gas prices (I live over by Milwaukee now and gas over here generally averages 20 cents more than JVL) and I cut back on other things. Smart shopping at the grocery store also helps out a bunch.

As for the windows thing, yes it is true driving with your windows up and NO A/C will help out your gas mileage a lot. With it being summer time, it's not always easy to go without the A/C, so what I do sometimes is just leave it on the lowest vent setting and try and not keep it at the coldest level. Whether that does anything or not, I'm unsure, but it doesn't really change my gas mileage much.

Also, using cruise control will help out a lot as you are not always hitting the gas. Though it can suck if you drive over a lot of hills as the engine is trying to keep the speed the same. Just my two cents worth of information. If anyone has anything for me, as I drive a far distance for work five days a week, please feel free to add! Thanks.

I used to drive 60 mph to jefferson in my HEMI jeep. Now I drive 55 mph. It saves 2-3 mpg.

mark707, I know why our troops are in So Korea, They should be brought home immediately and let So Korea take care of themselves. I beg to differ with you they only buy and drive Kia's, are you a Kia dealer?????

Good Call, oldtimer, GM didn't just put a lot of Janesvillians out of work, did they?

Anyways...
I have an alero and have to drive to Madison everyday for school. I was wondering, is there any truth behind "rolling down your windows on the interstate/highway causes your vehicle to use more gas"? Also, if I'm taking Highway 14 at 55mph, how much gas do you suppose would be saved if I drove 50mph instead?

oldtimer: you need to do a little reading and discover the difference between North Korea and South Korea. US troops fought to keep S.K. from becoming Communist, and the troops that are still there continue to protect that freedom. South Korea has been our friend, just as have Germany, Belgium, Japan, and lots of other countries.
The South Koreans are protesting our beef because of possible antibiotics, growth hormones, and mad cow disease. They do not hate our country, just some of our farming practices.
They also buy a lot of our exports and we have a good trade balance with that country.

so oldtimer, everything you own is American made, right?

I drive a Chevy Corsica and it doesn't do too badly on gas if I only drive it when I absolutely have to. I make a 10 minute drive to and from work 3 or 4 days a week, I do all my errands on my pay day and all those errands are done in my neighborhood or done online if possible.I don't leave my neighborhood if it is at all possible. I never let my fuel level dip below halfway, either. My budget allows for $30 every two weeks and that nearly tops off my tank if I keep it at or a little over half full.

I've had to learn to be super strict with how much I drive and learn to like what is in my neighborhood instead of driving across town for something I can get down the street.

I traded in my Chevy extended cab 4x4, because I have done most of the work around my house that can be done with a pickup. Once the landscaping, basement, and shed were all done, I felt I was wasting money driving a pickup, since I don’t own a business. I opted for a used Pontiac Grand Prix with the 3.8 liter. The GM 3.8 liter has lots of power and still gets 20 in the city and 28 hwy MPG. I felt it allowed me to have a bigger car I could still enjoy, while saving a great deal on gas. This motor is also available in many Buicks.

kbunge, Tens of thousands of South Koreans are protesting the import of American beef, they only buy Kia (no other car allowed in the country), we have had approx 35 thousand troops there since the Korean war (1950). they hate Americans and yet ship there cars here for you idiots to buy and put our workers our of a job. Wake up

I've filled up Aunt Sylvia (my geriatric BMW) a grand total of two times this year. At $65 a pop. Otherwise, I nickel and dime it. (Or $5 and $10 it.)

westside: I love my Kia. It was very affordable compared to some of the other foreign cars in its class. The particular model I have is very basic (manual windows and locks, no cruise control) but that saved some of the moolah, too!

kbunge, are you happy with your Kia? I'm getting a new car soon and thought of them as an option...

Oh yeah, the tire thing, thanks for the reminder. I am going on a 600 mile round trip tomorrow and am going out to check the tires now. Happy Weekend ALL! Heading for (God's Country) The U.P. of Michigan!!!!

Yes! Drive slower! It saves a lot of gas. On my trips up north each weekend, I can get several more miles per gallon by driving 65 or even a little less. You'll have to deal with people passing you all the time, but you can laugh at the gas guzzlers flying past at 75+. Also, keep your tires properly inflated.

I have a Saturn Vue (average about 25mpg) but I found just 2 mph less saves a lot on fuel mileage. It is usually about 27 or 28 then. Now you do have a lot of people checking out your rear bumper but I figure at least I am saving a little fuel money! Try it, just cut down by 2mph for 1 or 2 fill ups and see how it works for you.

I know it's not an option for everyone, but I got a new car--a smaller, more fuel-efficient one: a 2008 Kia Rio. I get the same amount of miles in one tank of gas as I did when I drove my 1999 Ford Taurus. The catch is that the Kia's tank is smaller--about 3 gallons.

And while I try to do less driving for no reason, I can't help my love of exploring. And it doesn't help that I live with Adam, who's the king of aimless driving.