Now how the hell do I 70mpgs?
When you find out let me know. I have a 2000 as well and the most I've managed to get out of it is 62.2 over a tank. My average on Fuelly is running 56mpg right now. The biggest factor to getting good MPG is stay off the interstate, 50mph is it's sweet spot for cruising, I can get into lean burn for huge distances at that speed, you'll see 90-100mpg on the FCD if you're doing it right. So if your route and time will allow it, take the two lane blacktop at 50 instead of the four lane at 70. I'm too impatient though and it shows in my MPG returns.
Still my average price per mile is about 5.8 cents, vs the 9.9 cents per mile I got in my Celica which was averaging 32.3mpg. So almost half the cost to drive the Insight. I would love to see 700 miles per tank but 600 will have to do for me.
Go to the Insight Central forum. Search for "lean burn" Max MPG requires the 5-speed not the automatic. When I had mine I could routinely get 70 MPG in the summer driving round trip between Minneapolis and St. Cloud MN on Interstate 94. I would usually never get about 65 MPH (except on downhills).
Also accelerate slowly and maximize regenerative braking. They have many other tips on that forum...
Also check ecomodder.com lot of guys good with them there. Even if you have the cvt you should be getting 60 mpg+. I have gotten 60 mpg out of a tank in my cobalt several times.
If you have the OEM tires, keep the PSI up on them, have ALL of the aero parts (wheel covers in the rear, underbody plastic, OEM wheels, etc.), have a proper alignment, have the engine in good tune, and keep it in lean burn at 55-60 mph, you'll get over 70 MPG. Been there, done that. Here's a picture of it right before I sold it:
I really miss that car, one of the few I've sold that I think about getting again. Someday I'll have another one! I sold it with the OEM wheels and kept the super custom wheels, just in case...
Bryce
I have started stalking Insight Central and researching how to improve my driving. The main issue with my commute is there are number of substantial hills that really drag my speed down. I have been trying to use the downhills to get a run at it but it is still a problem.
http://www.insightcentral.net/forums/modifications-technical-issues/20256-finding-tires-better-fuel-economy-range.html
15x4 Ford wheels with 145/65R15 tires, less weight, skinnier for theoretically improved aero, same OD as stock tires.
Bryce
Ive never averaged much above 50 mpg in mine, but that's mostly because i think 50 mpg is great and going slow is terrible. I don't have the patience to do the high-mpg driving styles for very long.
Honestly, i look at people trying to hypermile 25 and 30 mpg cars and i think they are crazy. It makes no sense to me to drive a 200hp car like it has 40 hp and only get up to 'meh' levels of efficiency when you can buy something that gets GREAT mpg, drive it hard, and still land in awesome-town.
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