Business Week lists the Top 10 Hardtop Convertibles for 2007.
Here’s a summary for the impatient:
- Mazda MX-5: $24,945
- Volkswagen EOS: $27,990
- Pontiac G6 Convertible: $29,330
- Volvo C70: $39,090
- BMW 328i Convertible: $43,975
- Mercedes-Benz SLK280: $44,125
- Lexus SC 430: $65,455
- Cadillac XLR: $78,920
- Mercedes-Benz SL550: $95,575
- Chrysler Sebring Convertible: Not yet available
No Comments »
Hypermiling, which stands for deriving the maximum mileage from your vehicle is a term invented by Wayne Gerdes. I read a few articles on hypermiling, and here are few safe, conservative tips. Tips like tailing trailers really close to “draft” behind them are excluded since your life is more valuable that the gas, or money, you save.
- Maintain your car properly, keep up with oil weights and oil levels, and changing air- and oil-filters
- Avoid accelerating up slopes, decelerate a little and then let the downward slope pick up speed for you
- Use Cruise Control when you can, except on upward slopes where you want to keep the accelerator, and not your speed, constant
- Cars don’t need warming up, so do not start your car up in the morning and idle before taking off
- Cars don’t need to move forward first before moving in reverse. If you need to back out, start backing out. I have had a few friends who believed it is best for the engine to actually put the car in “D” before putting it in “R”
- Drive a manual (stikc-shift) instead of an automatic car
- When accelerating, the car should be at peak torque - avoid sudden jackrabbit starts, and avoid accelerating way too slowly
- Anticipate stops and reduce braking. A good rule-of-thumb is to stop accelerating as soon as you can see the lights turn yellow from afar.
- Drive as close to 55 mph as possible on highways.
- Clean your car, removing all pillows, towels, oil cans and junk from everywhere including the trunk
- Fill your tank to half-full, or less, if there is a gas station not too off from the route you drive everyday
- Check your tire pressure, and if you usually drive alone, know that a pound or two less than the recommended lbs per square inch might be what you want.
- Turn off the AC as much as you can, or atleast try cycling the AC on and off - on downhill and off uphill will work. Always keep the AC at “max ac” or whatever setting recycles air inside the car
Some of the articles I compiled these from include this excellent study on factors affecting fuel efficiency, complete with graphs, Mr. Boffin’s guide, and the following sites/forums: GreenHybrid.com, CleanMPG.com, and PriusChat.com
1 Comment »
