I am vehemently opposed to the idea. Only critical or safety-related signals should be grabbing the driver's attention from the road. Safety is of the utmost importance when driving, and the driver should never become distracted by trivialities.

Drivers know they're sucking gas when they have to refuel. Whether they choose to analyze the situation is their own business and freedom. It would be nice if in-car tools were available, but they aren't accurate any ways.

I had a fuel monitor tied into the trip computer in the 1989 Dodge Spirit es. Dont know if it was in all the models, but that one had one and it came with the car. My wife and I would get a kick out of rolling down a hill and watching the mpg hit 99mpg. The car was a 4cyl 5spd manual transmission with a turbo.

I think car manufacturers not having fuel monitors is all about saving 50 cents (or whatever it costs for the components) per car. I dont think there is any conspiracy.

I don't think the fuel gauge will do anything to reduce fuel consumption. Fuel gauges have been available in BMW model ever since I can remember, yet BMW drivers don't seem to really care. The only reason why Hybrid drivers are 'obsessed' with fuel consumption is because they bought the car with that in mind.

To reduce fuel consumption, the engine itself has to use less of it.

Tips to improve gas mileage
http://www.thehybridreport.com/tips.htm

AAAAHHHHH!!!!!! The light comes on!!!

Replace the fuel gage with a 'tank MPG' and 'miles on tank' gage . . . problem solved!

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Put the MPG display inside the fuel fill door!!!

My IS300 has a "real-time" guage in the dash (I think it's connected to a vacuum line attached to the accelerator pedal). Honestly, it means nothing to me when I drive the IS300--the average read out on my FEH is much more useful in not only knowing what MPG I'm getting, but also in curbing the poor behavior over the life of a tank of gas.

I joke with friends that I'm two different animals when I'm in each of my cars. In the IS300, I love how it handles and is responsive to every press of the gas pedal-and I exploit it. In the FEH, it becomes a goal to get the best MPG possible (as of this morning when my wife dropped me at work it was at 28.8). Adding an average mpg to my IS would do quite a bit to curb my "spirited driving", except when it's absolutely necessary of course...

$ may influence a few drivers. Perhaps:
- replace the E-F gage with $ till empty (start at $98.43 and watch it drop before your eyes...)
- replace the FE gage with $/mile, $/hour etc... (try to keep it below minimum wage)