Hi Gillman:

___Let’s not be too hasty on ones dismissal of higher FE because of a particular speed range you may or may not be able to drive in, that some are not built the same, or a particular terrain one drives is more conducive to hypermiling or less so. I have seen that kind of statement many times in the past and 99% of the time, it is bunk. The Ranger, MDX, Corolla, Insight, and Accord are evidence of this. I know hypermilers that climb a **** mountain and coast down the backside every day. I know hypermilers that run nasty high elevation rollers everyday. I know hypermilers that drive the flats every day. I know hypermilers that drive in the desert Southwest’s heat every day. I know hypermilers that run in the Canadian cold for 5 + months out of the year daily. Just about anyone, anywhere can achieve better then EPA over a year if they learn the techniques and apply them as appropriate. Even if that means just 10% of their daily commute consists of a particular technique, that is 10% of their commute at 50 + mpg and the rest at 30 mpg instead of 25 mpg or whatever he or she is receiving currently. P&G for example is not a technique one can use on a daily basis for most. Gliding however can be used each and every day! You have an EV mode like Glide built in once you have bled off highway speed as you are exiting on an off-ramp as just one example. Use it! You have FE saving acceleration capabilities others do not given some of the Escape HEV displays. Use them! You have tens if not hundreds of others that are trying to help you improve your own FE day in and day out. Use them!

___Never sell the FE of a particular automobile short because 99% of the time, it is the person and his abilities behind the windscreen, not the car that trounces the EPA estimates or as you apparently stated, are trounced by them

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net