What vehicle next?

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Saltheart

Does FWD mean Front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive?

Front Wheel Drive

Keep in mind that many hybrids typically achieve best mileage in stop and go city driving. On the open highway they cannot employ all of the pretty fuel reduction benefits...

As for full size non hybrids, the GM trucks get the best fuel economy with the 4.8 & 5.3 liter engines.

I've heard the Tundra and the Ram are the worst.

If any of you want to try something new with your existing (1996 cars and later) trucks, get a Scan Gauge ( http://www.scangauge.com ) . In addition to being able to geek out some codes and show what's really happening with your engine, the best feature is that it provides an Instantaneous Fuel Consumption Display. IFCD will allow you to actively drive for better mileage than what you think you would get. I've been doing this for 3 years now and it allows me to do one type of "Hypermiling". I boost my MPG on the highway & city by 20-25% and sometimes on back roads I've gotten as much as 23MPG average. Might not sound like much but that is in a 300HP V8 SuperCab F150 with 3.73 gears. Over the course of a 30,000 mile YEAR this device and modifying my driving habits I'll save a couple thousand dollars in gas at today's prices.

In my wife's Focus I got from 30MPG typical (without) on the highway to 38MPG average (with) from RI to Virginia

[Clogston29]

Originally Posted by JohnR

If any of you want to try something new with your existing (1996 cars and later) trucks, get a Scan Gauge ( http://www.scangauge.com ) . In addition to being able to geek out some codes and show what's really happening with your engine, the best feature is that it provides an Instantaneous Fuel Consumption Display. IFCD will allow you to actively drive for better mileage than what you think you would get. I've been doing this for 3 years now and it allows me to do one type of "Hypermiling". I boost my MPG on the highway & city by 20-25% and sometimes on back roads I've gotten as much as 23MPG average. Might not sound like much but that is in a 300HP V8 SuperCab F150 with 3.73 gears. Over the course of a 30,000 mile YEAR this device and modifying my driving habits I'll save a couple thousand dollars in gas at today's prices.

John, are you talking about just adjusting how you drive (coast into corners and down hills, etc) based on the fuel mileage info? Or something more involved? Alot of new cars (the crv included) give you the instantaneous fuel mileage and a running tally of your average fuel mileage from each time you reset the trip odometer.

[Joe]

I have an Element - it's a good fishing car and it's pimped out, rod rack, thule cargo top, neoprene seats - but I don't consider it a beach vehicle.
It gets about 22-24