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2006 Toyota Corolla - 40 MPG @ 55 MPH |
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The hybrids that passed me were consuming more fuel.
This Real World Vehicle Report documents a 264 mile round trip from Sacramento to Guerneville, California on August 11, 2006. The rented 2006 Toyota Corolla 4 door equipped with A/C and a 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine with automatic transmission carries an estimated MPG of 30 in the city and 38 on the highway.
As usual, in town I carefully obeyed all speed limits and when I was on the highway I set the cruise control at 55 MPH and occasionally hit 60 for brief periods. I turned the A/C system off and rolled the windows down about halfway instead. Though it was a warm day I was not unduly uncomfortable - especially when I thought about the citizens of Bagdad living with just 4 hours a day of electricity, and how uncomfortable that must be. Soon I was in the Bay Area and it was a cool 70 degrees anyway! So, by not using the A/C I saved another 20% of fuel.
The car was very comfortable and had lots of room. I took the wheels off my bike and the whole thing fit nicely in the trunk with room to spare. When I refueled it took 6.56 gallons and the odometer indicated I had driven 264 miles, which works out to 40.24 miles per gallon, or 40 MPG in this $12k-$15k car available to buy right now.
The hybrids that passed me were consuming more fuel.
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Speaking at a climate change conference in Miami, California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger said drivers can do a lot to cut fuel costs by driving slower.
"Who can cut (costs) down is you, you, you and you," Schwarzenegger
said. "You can cut it down. Take your car, for instance. Go and get the
perfect tire pressure. Tune up your engine. Drive slower." He went on to say "energy prices are not going to go back to the good
old days" and it is "bogus" for politicians to promise otherwise."
"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds
of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the
rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and
ending the ban on offshore drilling," Schwarzenegger said. "But anyone
who tells you this would bring down gas prices any time soon is blowing
smoke. I think that people should really be in charge of their
own destiny and how much they want to pay for fuel, not wait for the
politicians," he said.
The Drive 55 Conservation Project is delighted with the Governor's message and hand delivered a Thank You letter with Drive 55 bumper stickers to his office in Sacramento today. Leadership in the legislature also got a letter and some Drive 55 bumper stickers hand delivered to their offices in the Capital, inviting them to 'Lead by example'.
Quote sources:
Sacramento BEE
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1042081.html
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/
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