Your MPG will get better as you learn the tricks. Hang in there !!

Here are some things I have learned in my first 100 days that have helped my mileage. I have taken the Trip B lifetime MPG up from 34.4 to 38.2 in about 100 days, from 4823 miles on the car up to 8106 miles. I live in Phoenix and have a short city-based commute of only 10 miles each way, with about 8 stop lights and two stops in the morning and about 10 stop lights in the afternoon.

1. Coast, Coast, Coast. I have a manual tranny, so it is Oh So very easy for me to just pop the tranny into neutral when I have some speed built up and see that I have an open space in front of me an no one behind me to slow down. I usually coast in neutral when I need to keep my speed up because the car rolls much better out of gear. If I need to boost the battery or if I know I am going to be coasting only for a block or so, I leave it in gear to get the charge boost, because the charge increases when you coast in gear. I have even taken to TURNING THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF in rare instances when I know I can coast in a straight line for a longer period of time. Always put the key back in the start position so you can keep control of the steering and brakes !!

2. If you can drive as slow as 30 mph, do so and put on the cruise. In my manual tranny, I put it in fourth gear at 30 mph instead of 5th and it gets better mileage on the real-time meter. If I get up to 36 mph, I put it in 5th gear. Both 30 mph in 4th and 36-42 mph in 5th are the best for high MPG readings on the real-time meter. Yesterday in only a span of less than two miles at 30 mph I saw the real-time meter stay mostly 65-85 mpg on a flat road. I am always careful to avoid slowing anyone down who is zooming up behind me. I usually have three lanes to choose from so thus far I have avoided any Road Rage incidents !!

3. At your first oil change (I would do it around 5000) change to synthetic oil if you can. It allows for less friction in the engine and you can get a 1-3 mpg boost from the added efficiency of the reduced friction. In a 1997 Suburban, I went from 17 mpg to 19 mpg just from the oil change alone.

4. Drive like there is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal and never accellerate harshly unless it is required for safety purposes.

5. Learn how to use Auto-Stop and milk it for every stop it's got !! It's easier in the manual tranny, because I can stop behind someone and take it out of gear and if I have to creep up a car length or so, the Auto Stop will kick in again after I creep up when I put it back in neutral. I don't know how the CVT handles that sort of thing, but other users on this board can tell you how. If all else fails and Auto Stop fails to engage if you have to creep up, TURN OFF THE IGNITION while you wait for the light to finish. These cars do not have starters, they are started by the electric battery system, so it's OK to start it a few extra times a month in the effort to save fuel and reduce idling emissions, right? Right.

6. Avoid A/C usage when you can, as it KILLS the MPG. My latest tank I amd at 650 miles and 55.6 MPG and I have managed to avoid the A/C the whole time on this tank.

7. Keep your windows rolled UP when you can to avoid extra wind drag.

8. Try at all costs to avoid getting into a situation where you must drive faster than 60-65 MPH. These speeds will MURDER your MPG.

9. Run your tires at MINIMUM 40 PSI when cold.

Hope this might help you. My MPG has gone steadily up, but I think I have just about peaked on my driving techniques. I would be shocked if I can ever get more than about 55 for a tankful with my commute. Good luck and keep up posted !!