I think the EPA should require manufacturers to aggregate data the way that the Greenhybrid.com mileage database does -- the way the fuel.gov site is doing now for self-reporters. I suppose this site's data is probably skewed upward to some degree because participants here have at least heard of hypermiling-- but real world empirical data just makes more sense than anything else.

I know this position does no good for a brand new model year car, but there's ways of dealing with that. I just think the EPA tests suck, and could well depend on what administration is in office and other factors that have nothing to do with real-world empirical data. What happens if a car breaks in and gets better or worse gas mileage after 10 or 15 thousand miles? What happens if a car... etc.,.

One thing EPA could do is require manufacturers to self report, and give people an administrative remedy if their vehicles fall below a certain percentage of the manufacturer's data (with reasonable controls for a case of the meatheads who will stomp on the accelerator regardless of whether they see a red light two blocks away or not).

Finally, I will add gratuitously that when I rented a prius II for a few days, I did virtually everything I could to get as bad gas mileage as possible, and I still got somewhere around 45 mpg. I think if I tried driving that same way in my HCH, I'd get 39 mpg or so... it's anecdotal, but there you have it. It leads to me to suspect I may trade my HCH for a 2007 Hybrid made-in-the-usa Camry eventually. If only they'd make a coupe... or put that engine in the LS430.