Keeping your car well maintained - tires at correct pressure, clean air filter, tuned up, etc, makes quite a difference too. The last time I got a tune up, I measured MPG for several tankfulls before the tune up & several afterwards. I got almost 2 MPG better mileage after! And it wasn't even like the truck was running poorly before or anything.

Also - check your manual. Do not use higher grade gas unless your car requires it. Even though higher octane SOUNDS like a good deal, it can actually make your car run worse, if your car was designed for lower octane. Worth pulling out the manual.

My favorite gas-saving tip: Shut the engine off in bank and fast-food drive-ups, or other waiting situations, such as waiting for a train at a railroad crossing. I can't believe how many people let their car idle for minute after minute in these situations, burning up gasoline and creating pollution, yet going nowhere.

Or ride a bike.

joyful

They say in news articles that demand has been unaffected by the high prices. I don't believe that. I think it will be affected, but it may take a little while to show up.

A couple of months from now it will have been seven years since I bought the little 1990 Dodge Colt, around seven years of age at the time, that had 138,000 kms. (about 87,000 mi.) on the odometer.

It turned up 288,000 km. the other day.

I went to visit the person who sold it to me, owner of a body shop and friend of over 30 years, to thank him for having sold me a car that has given me 150,000 km. of service without major trouble (until recently) - for about $2,700.

Bonus ... he took me and another friend out to lunch just after.

He said that he had something to show me ...

... took me about 6 blocks to a used car dealer friend who has a 2 year old Cavalier, 2.2 litre engine, standard transmission, that he's having a hard time selling because, " ... nobody wants a standard transmission". It has about 31,000. km. (under 20,000 mi.) on the odometer, some factory warranty left.

He'll sell it to me for somewhat under $10,000.

I'm tempted.

Standard trasmission vehicles use less gas ... and are easy to drive.

Remember a couple of years ago when I was going to North Carolina to a reunion of former Korea missionaries, my starter quit near Detroit, and I drove from Detroit to Peoria with no starter?

If I'd been driving an automatic transmission car, I'd have returned home (or had it fixed at my cousin's garage, whom I was visiting a the time). Driving a small vehicle with standard transmission, I figured that there was a good chance that I could get someone to help push and get it started, in case I had to stop it. By the way - the only time that I turned it off during that trip was when I could park it on (even a small) hill.

Stopping at a rest area, with no hill, I was glad that I carried an extra key, so that I could leave the engine running in a locked car while I brought myself a sense of relief - without adding further to my stress by leaving a car running with door unlocked.

Hope you're all having a great week.

ole joyful

P.S. Friend says that, since the Cavalier should go 400,000 kms., if I take seven years to add another 150,00 km., to 181,000, that I'll be 82 by then, adding another 150,000 km. would be 331,000, with me at about age 89 (suppose I keep driving at my current rate, rather improbable) ... so it could well be the last car that I'd need to buy.

How do you like them apples?

oj

It's actually too bad because standard transmissions are easy enough to operate and do save on gas. But you have to face the fact that few people want them and the resale market is about zip.

The only exception to this is sports car. A lot of potential sports car buyers still prefer a ST because you can get better performance shifting the gears yourself.

Maybe, if I buy it, it'll drive me into the ground, as well.

Another way to save gas:

imagine you're driving your car shoeless (at least, your right foot).

Imagine also that you have a raw egg placed between your foot on the throttle and the accelerator.

Pushing hard could lead to substantial regret.

Rapid acceleration is a gas eater.

Another suggestion:

drive a long way ahead - when you see a signal light go yellow more than half a block away - foot off of the throttle.

I can't believe how many people roar past me, then a few feet ahead of me, on goes the brake light and they slow down rather sharply.

Dumb.

By the way - following my suggestion will save on brake repairs, as well.

Cheapskates will appreciate that.

Driving quite a way ahead like that is important for safety reasons, as well.

Have a memorable week, all.

ole joyful

However, on the fuel economy issue, it's a mixed blessing, for sure. A skilled driver with a manual transmission can often do better with a manual than with an automatic, but someone who does not drive the manual transmission well can easily do far worse. Automatics today are very good, and there are even a few vehicles out there where the automatic has higher EPA fuel economy ratings than the manual.

I just like driving manual transmissions. In my opinion that's the only reason a person should get one. If you don't enjoy shifting gears, you'll regret having it and will probably not shift all that well, resulting in poor economy and excessive wear on the whole drivetrain.

I believe the resale value b/c of the type of transmission you have won't only depend on the type of car, but location too. They seemed much more common in Colorado, when I lived there. I moved to SE MI (near Flint) and since everyone is used to GM cars here, hardly anyone even knows how to drive a 5-speed. When I was shopping for a Saab, the dealer here told me he never even ordered any 5-speeds in because nobody would buy them here.

And if you have to replace the tranny or have work done, aren't manuals much less expensive than automatics?

I enjoy driving MT cars on the freeway or on open country roads. In stop-and-go traffic, however, they're a pain in the butt, and I'm afraid that's where most cars spend a good part of their time. Roads are more congested than ever before and the problem's only getting worse. More and more models of new cars come with an automatic transmission as standard equipment, and an MT isn't even offered. MTs are going the way of non-power assisted steering an dbrakes. Or crank starters, for that matter.

But again, I'm not trying to sell anyone on them. I did that once to a friend who was looking at small trucks. I told him that if he was getting a 4-cylinder, the 5-speed would have better power and economy, and he should get it. Well, he hated driving it, and his wife wouldn't drive it at all. They traded it for an automatic. So, they're great for those like Carina and me who like them, but if someone is even halfway not sure they'll like it, I'd say to opt for the automatic.

Is it true that those who drive automatics ...

... can be said to be "shiftless"?

Have a great summer weekend, all.

ole joyful