You will notice that "real-time mileage bar" go all over the place. When you are coasting, it should peg at 120+. When you are starting from a stop, it will hover around 20 mpg.

I have noticed in my manual tranny 2004 HCH that when I use the cruise control, the mileage bar consistently stays UP HIGHER than when I just use my foot to control speed.

I think this proves that on this particular car, the computer does a much better job on flat roads at controlling speed and charging the battery than using your foot.

Could you other drivers test that and see if you get similar results, meaning on the same stretch of road, use the cruise and use the foot and compare the mileage bar? I have seen posts on this board and others that seem to indicate that using the cruise is LESS EFFECTIVE at achieving high MPG numbers - but if that is so, I think that may be true ONLY on the CVT trannies, not the manual tranny.

Thanks Gents.....