Read the USA Today article to understand the EPA MPG test and some of the controversy about why it is so outdated:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-0...con-cover_x.htm

A quote from the article, NOT used by permission:

"Sometimes I think, 'Sucker,' " says an unhappy MaryJo Meer, 37, of Chula Vista, Calif. She bought a Honda Civic gas-electric hybrid May 19 expecting close to the 47 mpg EPA rating. Instead, she's getting 34 mpg, even though most of her driving is on the highway, where Honda's type of hybrid does best.

"They're actually charging us more for a car to save the environment and all that crap, and we're not saving anything at all," she says. "If I'd have known that, I'd have kept my SUV."

Someone ought to try to contact her about this board - I think she needs to be taught some "Hyper-Miler" tricks !!

Very interesting article I thought.......