Hi Stevo12886:

___Let me point you to the pic of the game gauge and odometer of the MDX in this thread entitled “You aren’t going to believe this …” over in the Acuramdx.org forum. This was the first time I had just missed breaching 30 mpg in the monster heavy 4,500 # 4WD Acura MDX and I too didn’t think it was possible. Afterwards, I have exceeded 30 mpg more then a few times but I don’t drive it that much since it is my wife’s daily driver. If you don’t believe the digital pic’s, I don’t know what else I can tell you …

___With the experience I gained from the MDX’s game gauge, it helped improve my fuel economy skills to produce some great numbers in all of my vehicles … The Insightcentral.net forums, Rick Reese’s various posts around the Hybrid forums, personal correspondence, and Chisight’s personal tutelage finally got me to the Corolla’s 45.93 (not my personal best) in temperatures below freezing just a few weeks ago. Last November I had (2) 45.x mpg runs over 540 miles (3X round trip commutes) just after taking the Integrity’s to 50#’s. I had numerous > 650 mile range tanks out of the Corolla as well since I can place at least 15.36 gallons in its 13.2 rated capacity fuel tank. The Insightcentral.net 50 #’s in the tires tip is what pushed me over the top in terms of great fuel economy in temperatures (11 - 24 degrees F) that would have been impossible just one year ago.

___The Corolla is an 03 LE w/ an Automatic. It has 57,500 + miles on her now and was my primary commuter until I picked up the 5-speed Insight 2 + months ago. In it, I run Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic, am now running 50 #’s in the GoodYear Integrity’s (since late November of last year – See above), and drive with a constant load mentality vs. constant speed w/ cruise as most do. I drive the limits in the far right lane almost exclusively and accelerate 0 - 60 mpg in between ~ 20 and 50 seconds when traffic is clear. I always keep or attempt to keep at least a 5 car spacing between me and the traffic ahead while running in bumper to bumper stop and go so I don’t have to use the brakes if at all possible. I have an I-Pass so most toll-booths here near Chicago do not slow me down. Those that have gates only, I can coast through at a maximum of 18 mpg before the gate would not open fast enough to take out the windscreen. I try and time lights and am always looking 2 lights or 2 exit ramps out if possible to attempt to keep my momentum up.

___In any case, the 5-speed Insight appears to be at least 2X as efficient under certain circumstances/conditions. When the temps, winds, or traffic isn’t right however, the Corolla can easily maintain a closer to record high mileage whereas the Insight sometimes gets creamed for almost no reason. Creamed still means 65 to 70 mpg in 0 - 20 degree temperatures with a strong headwind, snow, rain, or traffic that is not conducive to high mileage driving techniques. Any automobile that receives 65 - 70 mpg in poor conditions is still a great achievement however …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net