| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Jonnyboy |
Economical driving challengeMost of us drive cars, It's an inevitable fact of modern existence. But with the rapidly rising fuel prices it's more important than ever that we try and minimise our fuel consumption, from a financial, as well as environmental perspective.So, I'm thinking about a two week challenge to see how we can collectively improve our economy and maybe reduce our mileage by planning our journeys. There is some great advice here and maybe if we keep a record of our mileage and fuel usage for the next two weeks, and then make a real effort to change our driving styles and save some money? The electricity challenge showed that big savings can be made, so hopefully this will as well. |
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| Rob R |
I'd like to join in but I think it's maybe better for people who actually go places, and have a car.  Should be interesting though, JC went from London to Edinburgh in the Audi A8 on a single tank of juice...
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| MarkS |
Changing water into petrol on the fly is cheating For the record we get about 600 miles/tank in the (dying) audi and about 500miles/tank in the (hated) volvo. But thats just short runs, 4-10 mile journeys. That improves by 100miles/tank on long runs. Best ever 740miles in the a4. |
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| Rob R |
Not really. |
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| jema |
I think our contribution to such a challenge is to try and leave the car on the drive even more permanently. I think it was last used Saturday or Sunday. | ||||||
| lettucewoman |
ours too - we are about to purchase another pushbike for 80 quid from halfords with panniers, and then we shall no longer use the car to go to the farm shop etc...we intend to use the motorbike as far as possible and just use the car for work...which is sporadic atm.
the bike wil cost the same as two full tanks for the peugot...so we ought to save that in a few weeks.... 
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| sean |
Go and have a look at your local recycling centre first. The one near us has loads of bikes, some of them really decent models. |
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| lettucewoman |
Yes- we've done that and I got my bike off freecycle, but there is nothing suitable on either freecycle or the dump for Ted, so we have decided to buy one which hopefully will last us for a good few years.
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| sean |
Fairy nuff then. | ||||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I read in the paper about the challenge of driving very smoothly. I can't remember what term he used but the idea was to really anticipate things so that there is no sharp braking or speeding up but its all very controlled and even. I'm guessing that that is more efficient way of driving. Does that make sense?
Is there anything I can do to make driving with an automatic more efficient? |
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| MarkS |
Ring your local police station - they collect stolen bikes and either give away or auction them - or get someone in cambridge to do so - they have hundreds of nicked bikes. There is/was a web site that listed police sales of stolen/recovered/unclaimed stuff - and a lot goes for a pitance. Cant remember the web site though - doubtless the google fairy will.... |
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| MarkS |
flog it and get a manual? what sort of an auto ? The older ones are better at high speed (torque converter lock up), the cvt/ivt are much better at all speeds - sometimes outperforming a well driven manual. |
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| gnome |
i have a couple of friends who recycle bikes - strip them down, rebuild them etc. they say halfords bikes are cheap and nasty - likely to snap. get a refurbished bike from your local bike mechanics - you'll get something a lot better for the same price (or less), and probably be a lot safer too. | ||||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
its a W reg Honda CRV. I think it might be a CVT version at that age -2000. It drives slightly different than the Jeep which was a P reg Grand Cherokee which I think would have been a torque converter? |
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| boisdevie1 |
Best option is when you're about to change your car get something more efficient. We changed from a Clio diesel that did 50mpg to a very small Toyota Aygo 1.4 turbo diesel that does 70mpg combined. That's 10mpg better than all those smug eco warriors in their expensive Pruis's. | ||||||
| oldish chris |
I'm afraid I'm one of those who doesn't really need a car at all. When petrol prices become too expensive, I'll probably dump it. | ||||||
| Penny |
We've just got an Audi A4 estate (P Reg 1.9 Tdi) it's amazing. Big enough to carry everything around we need and does 55mpg.
I think we could give it a go - when shall we start? |
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| Jonnyboy |
Well this is shaping up to be my best idea ever.  
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| alison |
It is a great idea.
I think, proberbly I will be better able to try and drive in a more fuel efficient way, rather than specifically cutting down miles, as although we don't do many between us I know I have 2 unusual journeys (about 300 miles each) coming up, and that wouldn't reflect our normal usage. The children and I do a coasting thing on the way to school, if no one is behind us, to see how far we can go without accelerating. We usually do it by landmarks, so I will measure it tomorrow. |
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| Penny |
I thought it was usage, not miles  Not a lot we can do to reduce the number of miles we have to do, except perhaps move? But we can try and reduce the amount we consume.
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| Jonnyboy |
Penny, we posted at the same time. | ||||||
| gil |
I'd be up for this. For business as well as for own use.
Like Alison, I've also got a couple of long, non routine journeys coming up, but will exclude from calculations. Good idea, Jonnyboy, and most timely. |
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| Jamanda |
We (I) often only use ours for my 6 mile each way commute. Is the idea I still do this but try to use less diesel by the way I drive? How do I know how much I've used? | ||||||
| sean |
Yes. Fill the tank up at the beginning of the week then fill it up at the end of the week to find out how much fuel you've used. Can we have a 'burning out the clutch' challenge?
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| gil |
Think so... You could start each fortnight with a full tank and the odo set to zero. See where the needle is when you've done a round number of miles ? Other suggestions, please, folks. |
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| Penny |
No point, Steve would win hands down
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| Penny |
That sounds like it - so if you drive more conservatively, plan life better so unnecessary journeys are cut out and then see how much difference it makes? |
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| Jonnyboy |
Maybe do it when you've used a full tank. I know that on cars I've owned when the needle showed half a tank used it was often more. |
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| Treacodactyl |
It depends on what you want/need the car for though doesn't it? I've been looking for a new car for a while now and I'd like to go for the smallest, most efficient option possible. However, it will occasionally need to carry a fair bit of stuff. A trailer would be a good answer but then the car needs to be able to cope with a usefully sized one. I'm also not keen on the fact the rear seats in some of the tiny cars are virtually touching the rear windscreen, there doesn't seem to be much to stop a small rear end shunt from hurting the rear passengers. As for the challenge, sounds like a good idea. Not sure I can take part as I've only been driving a couple of miles each week this year. It's been great not having to go to the garage for months at a time! As it's also an old car I've been advised to drive with a heavy right foot to keep the engine clear.
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I only do about 3000 miles in my car annually anyways. I found with the Jeep though that it was therefore heavy on battery usage and they didn't seem to last long | ||||||
| Barefoot Andrew |
These are good things to try and do anyway - it's better for the car in terms of wear and tear, and it's better for you and the other road users in terms of a more considered, planned driving approach. To then achieve better fuel economy too boot is just a win, win, win situation
A. |
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| Rob R |
I was going to say, isn't that normal? OK it gets you the nickname Captain Slow but... |
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| jema |
Well I have just been economical, I walked 7 miles to get a WII Fit device
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| Bernie66 |
If you'd run you wouldn't need one. 
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| Jonnyboy |
Really Jema, What the hell is wrong with normal excercise. I've seen pics of you up mountains and stuff so you obviously aint allergic to the outdoors. |
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| jema |
I know but my occupation is essentially sedentary, so I'll take whatever may help
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| Rob R |
So let me get this right, you walked seven miles for a wii? That's one long landing.
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| Barefoot Andrew |
Rob's jokes don't seem to be improving with age
A. |
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| Rob R |
Bah, they aren't meant to be funny. | ||||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
look we tried to organise a DS Westonbirt walk... We'll have to get you on Mrs Womble's pilates session at the DS weekend
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| Maxwell Smart |
I've been playing a lot at trying to reduce consumption lately - primarily by driving slower but also by trying to read the traffic and pre-empt breaking so I can coast to a slower speed rather than slam on the brakes at the last minute.
If you want to know how just good you are doing I highly recommend SpritMonitor. The site allows you to track your mileage and compare it to other owners with the same vehicle. |
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| jema |
My little digital readout of average MPG hit 31.3 today which is the best I have noticed it.
But basically it is more down to a long and not too fast motorway journey skewing the scales than anything useful. |
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| Maxwell Smart |
Better than I get
But I am trying to sell my car which should make Tahir happy since I made him feel guilty enough to sell his for something more economical. |
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| Marionb |
I just had a look at that spritmonitor website and there isnt one single vauxhall in the list of makes of cars.. 
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| Maxwell Smart |
try Opel as that is what it is called on the continent. though don't know if model names are the same or not. |
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| Pilsbury |
yes they are under opel but there is no Cavalier and I dont know what they are called on the continent so if anyone else does let me know |
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| Marionb |
Found it now... thanks both
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