Survey: Do You Eco-drive/ Hypermile?

Absolutely not - and neither should you. Why? Because driving slowly to save gas is a down-right stupid waste of time. You are saving about 3 gallons per extra hour you spend on the road. Unless you are a teenager driving by yourself on the way to your crappy McJob, your time is WAY more valuable than $11/h.

Drafting in order save gas is absurdly dangerous. Not speeding out of the gate and slamming on the brakes at the last second isn't hypermiling...it is just common sense.

I changed my habits and increased mileage 5%. However, my guidelines were that I still had to be respectful of other drivers trying to get places. If I was willing to be a selfish driver, I might have been able to get to 20%.

I was at 25.1 mph on a Saab 93. I changed three habits in my driving:

1. I slowed to 55-60 mph for my daily commute
2. I used 5th gear more aggressively in city driving to lower the gear ratio
3. I draft on downward slopes. I'm accelerating so traffic is not effected.

I'm at 29 mph now and have been as high as 30 mph for my overall driving. On a recent 300 mile trip I did 37 mph driving 55-60 taking scenic secondary roads rather than the interstate highway system.

Seeing an overall 20% increase in fuel economy has convinced me.

I agree w/ chad on a lot of this.
There are a few things you can do but a lot of them are not that practical. slower driving, lightening the load, fuel additives, TIRE PRESSURE, and overall engine and vehicle maintenance are the things that will make the biggest difference.

Hydrogen will be the biggest thing in the near future you can add to your car to improve mileage. Every combustion engine can run on it, it's extreamly clean and will soon be cheap.

@ Chad
Hypermiling is not stupid. Maybe you make six figures, but the rest of us look for ways to save money. I hypermile when the opportunity presents itself. If I'm approaching a stoplight, I take my foot off the gas, put the car into neutral, and coast to a stop. If I'm going downhill, I put the car into neutral and coast. If I'm going somewhere with my family, I drive the speed limit. I'm with my family, so we're spending time together. I drive with the windows down instead of using the A/C. I turn my car off when I know the green light wait will be long. Using these methods I've been able to stretch from about 200 miles per a tank almost to 300. It's a substantial change.

I do when i am able to. Sometimes i find it hard. I am still new at it.

I hypermile when I drive. That isn't very often these days though. Hypermiling does save money and it is fun. If I liked wasting money and driving fast, I would do it. I don't though, so I choose hypermiling. Any idiot can drive with the slam on the brakes and gas all day long, but only someone with patience, skill, and intelligence can double the EPA figures.

I coast , and turn off ignition at redlights.

I already get 1000 km per tank (600+ miles) with my Jetta diesel. Just the same, it makes a big difference if you stick to the speed limit, and shift up as soon as possible.

I coast into most stop lights and down hills. Having a tac helps to remind you to take it out of gear when coasting - drops the RMPs in half. Coasting into a stop light doesn't impede traffic flow - you have to stop for the red light anyways!

And yes, having a well maintained vehicle is important also - get a tune-up and keep the tires properly inflated.