What have you done to save gas money on your 1st gen?
08-31-05, 09:12 PM
#26
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Mountain bike or the free shuttle service from my apartment building to the class buildings on campus. As far as improving fuel economy on the first gen, I'm gonna ditch the improperly jetted Weber DCOE 48 that the car came with for a TWE throttle body and Megasquirt ECU. I'm running DLIDFIS currently with FC leading plugs but will be using the transistor trick as soon as it arrives. I have Racing Beat streetport exhaust which should improve highway MPG once I get the ECU dialed in right. I'm hoping for 25+ MPG on the highway and about 18 MPG around town.
08-31-05, 09:41 PM
#27
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Originally Posted by WackyRotary
\ I think any country with no true democracy we should not trade with. .
To save for my gas, I bought another vehicle and are starting a TII swap.
08-31-05, 09:46 PM
#28
I think it is very scary. almost every station around western north carolina is out of fuel. I am going to be replacing my plugs and wires to get more mpg, they have been over-due for replacement.
08-31-05, 09:51 PM
#30
Old [Sch|F]ool
I forgot to add... use the stock size tires, 44psi front 40psi rear (this leads to even treadwear unlike the stock 26psi or whatever Mazda calls for). Big importance.
08-31-05, 10:05 PM
#31
Chad Carson
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I just reset my timing from 12 degrees advance to dead on the mark a(nd hopfully money). Lets see,
At that setting and all of my mods I have been getting 190 - 225 miles per full tank. Lets hope I can see 300 miles to a full tank now that the timing is back to O.
At that setting and all of my mods I have been getting 190 - 225 miles per full tank. Lets hope I can see 300 miles to a full tank now that the timing is back to O.
08-31-05, 10:19 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by RustyRotary
It's a common misconception that X1/9's have superior handling, the truth is that they just can't go fast enough to lose traction on a corner =P
Aside from aforementioned things, when on long trips I'll keep the sunroof on and the windows almost all the way up. I love open air but it'll give me a fair increase on MPG on the highway.
Aside from aforementioned things, when on long trips I'll keep the sunroof on and the windows almost all the way up. I love open air but it'll give me a fair increase on MPG on the highway.
08-31-05, 10:38 PM
#34
Registered Piston Eater
Mine won't be running for a while, but I'll see how the prices are next summer. Once that thing starts up and has wheels, I'll drive it if gas is $10 a gallon...maybe not quite as much though lol. Maybe I'll get a dinky crx or something else that weights 14 pounds.
08-31-05, 11:09 PM
#35
Nobody has mentioned the final gear ratio ie: a 3.5 rather than 4.1, will mean less acceleration but a lower RPM at 60 MPH so less fuel is being used, fuel injection will save gass, also slightly lowering the springs and a front air dam (if designed properluy) will lower the cd. Lower the overall weight, narrower tires with correct inflation, tuned exhaust and a free breathing air intake.
09-01-05, 12:00 AM
#37
MIVEK's are for wannabe's
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Originally Posted by R×7
... Stop complaining :P If fuel(gas) was $3 a gallon there you're still paying less than here. $3 a gallon works out to about $AU1.05 a litre. Prices here at the moment are $AU1.20 a litre or $US3.42 a gallon....
09-01-05, 06:05 AM
#38
Sanity Bores Me
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2.79 here and people are buying them by the barrel. There are people on the side of the roads selling gas. Its funny as hell. Stations are running out of gas and people are starting to panic, I have never seen so many people riding bikes and buses before in my life. But me, well, i prefer to drive. Im thinking of buying gas in bulk and selling it on ebay when everyone runs out. "1 gallon of gas:RARE LBN starting price $200.00" and they will pay. This weekend i am buying a locking gas cap for my escort, people are gonna start suckin it out of tanks.
Also just reading through this thread, everyone talking about new parts to help with mpg's wouldnt the smarter thing be to use the money FOR gas? Maybe fill up a few 10 gallon gas cans while the prices are still low enough to do so?
Also just reading through this thread, everyone talking about new parts to help with mpg's wouldnt the smarter thing be to use the money FOR gas? Maybe fill up a few 10 gallon gas cans while the prices are still low enough to do so?
09-01-05, 10:21 AM
#39
Mechy, Not always, I drive for my job, delivery of pharmacuticals, it is essential and I cover about 1000 miles a week, 5 mpg diference will save me a fortune over a year. This is now $31.90 a week, at a 10 gallon saving a week, or $1658.80 a year.
09-01-05, 10:35 AM
#41
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Originally Posted by aussiesmg
Mechy, Not always, I drive for my job, delivery of pharmacuticals, it is essential and I cover about 1000 miles a week, 5 mpg diference will save me a fortune over a year. This is now $31.90 a week, at a 10 gallon saving a week, or $1658.80 a year.
I can understand that, in the long run you will be saving on gas, but do you think this is really going to last? I dont, the american people wont stand for it, congress will step in and either cap the gas price or strike a deal with venezuela to get us more oil, and refinery use. It will drop again, i give it another 2 or 3 months
09-01-05, 10:38 AM
#42
Too old to act my age
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I cut out unneeded extra trips. Since I average about the same MPG in my 83 RX7 as I do in my 90 Nissan truck (22 around town, 25 hiway), I just drive the car most of the time.
Since I have a medical condition that prevents walking/biking very far, I have an electric scooter that has started to see a little more use lately, but it is not very fast (about 7MPH max) which prevents me from going very far on it (even with a 25 mile range), along with the fact that I live in an area that has very few sidewalks. Heck, it's not very safe to ride a bicycle around here, much less something even slower.
Since I have a medical condition that prevents walking/biking very far, I have an electric scooter that has started to see a little more use lately, but it is not very fast (about 7MPH max) which prevents me from going very far on it (even with a 25 mile range), along with the fact that I live in an area that has very few sidewalks. Heck, it's not very safe to ride a bicycle around here, much less something even slower.
09-01-05, 10:43 AM
#43
Even if fuel goes back to $2.50 a gallon I'll save $1300 a year. Yeah its worth it, also because I don't have to fill up as often. I can't reduce my driving, I have to go when they need the medications.
Last edited by aussiesmg; 09-01-05 at 10:45 AM. Reason: typo
09-01-05, 11:13 AM
#44
love the braaaap
Originally Posted by aussiesmg
Even if fuel goes back to $2.50 a gallon I'll save $1300 a year. Yeah its worth it, also because I don't have to fill up as often. I can't reduce my driving, I have to go when they need the medications.
09-01-05, 11:44 AM
#45
Lives on the Forum
Now that gas prices have been pushed over $3.00 per gallon, does anybody really believe that they will ever drop down to $2.50 again? I think it will be just like it was when we passed over the $2.00 mark; they did it for a bit to get us used to it, then made it permanent. The dark ages are coming my friends...
09-01-05, 12:28 PM
#47
During the "energy crisis" of the '70s, my stepdad was buying '60s convertible Cadillacs in perfect condition for $1500. He only drove 'em in parades as like the "Grand Marshall" and "Rodeo Queen" cars. He offered one to me (a super-nice light blue '67) for $2500 in about 1984, but those cars just aren't "me".
I just bought another Fiesta about 3 weeks ago for $1000, bringing my Fiesta total to 4.
Hey, 32 miles/gal. and my green FSP autocrosser whoops the aforementioned Fiat X1/9s regularly.
I just bought another Fiesta about 3 weeks ago for $1000, bringing my Fiesta total to 4.
Hey, 32 miles/gal. and my green FSP autocrosser whoops the aforementioned Fiat X1/9s regularly.
09-01-05, 01:46 PM
#48
OMGWTFBBQ!!! Racing
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I'm actually sticking with my girlfriends car right now. It's a 2001 Suzuki Swift (1.3L 4 cylinder SOHC 16-Valve, 79 hp, but it only weighs 1800 lbs! 
) It gets about 30 mpg city, and 38 mpg highway.
) It gets about 30 mpg city, and 38 mpg highway.
09-01-05, 02:46 PM
#49
peak gas prices in usa was from OPEC embargo regular unleaded gas price from 1981 adjusted for inflation to today's economy is $3.11. Remember the lines your parents waited in to get gas? 1-3 hours!
TV says it'll hit $4.00 a gallon this year due to the usual crud plus hurricane katrina. i might start driving the gf's geo metro 3cyl.
wankelguy, what's the setup on your fsp fiesta? Is it nationally competetive? website for local autox region? brad
TV says it'll hit $4.00 a gallon this year due to the usual crud plus hurricane katrina. i might start driving the gf's geo metro 3cyl.
wankelguy, what's the setup on your fsp fiesta? Is it nationally competetive? website for local autox region? brad
09-01-05, 03:31 PM
#50
Originally Posted by DriveFast7
wankelguy, what's the setup on your fsp fiesta? Is it nationally competetive? website for local autox region? brad
I took 4th place in our local autocross club's 2004 season, but there are some new Ford Focuses (Foci?) running in FSP that're givin' people fits this year. Last year's FSP champ (GTi rabbit) isn't even running this year because of it.
here's a link to our local club (Emerald Empire Sports Car Club)
http://www.eescc.org/
I'm not even in the points race this year because I've been so busy I've only run a couple of events.