Traffic is a killer, but let me tell you... cold weather is the worst-imaginable offender.

My current tank, I'm at 700 km, 4.4 showing on the MFD, and about due for a fill-up. Not bad. In fact, my second-best tank ever. However, most of the tank was done last week, with temperatures between 15 and 10 C. Prior to last Saturday, I was at 3.9, 500 or so KM, and hell-bent for a breakaway best tank ever. Even had the champagne ready to pop to celebrate.

And then the temperature dropped. And then the rain came. So after a couple of days of minimal driving -- but very similar mix of suburban traffic and low-speed (60/70 km/h) highways -- with the lower temperatures (3 to -3 C), I've tacked on .5 L/100 km to my tank total in around 200 km. Just takes too much to keep the system (and the driver) at a comfortable temperature.

And no, I'm not one of those types who are willing to just turn off the climate control and shiver for my drive to get the best-possible mileage out of the car.