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| Getting 61mpg going 56mph; lowering an insight raises fuel economy | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 8 2009, 10:50 PM (3,072 Views) | |
| Cobb | Aug 8 2009, 10:50 PM Post #1 |
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BANNED
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQWpYp1SvWY Got a set of tanabe nf series springs, 1 inch front 1.5 inch rear drop. Handles way nicer, rail road tracks are smoother, but dips are slightly sharper. Install was fairly easy, just had to do a reach around up under the windshield cow vs accessing it dead on like most cars. Immediate increae on fuel economy and speed helps vs hurts it. Ill have more in a week but first results looks great. Cant wait til I can get some sway bars. Oh, its pronounced, ta-knob-bee. ![]()
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| 91 ragtop | Aug 8 2009, 11:49 PM Post #2 |
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I'll stick with my 56 mpg Metro. At least it's not ugly like that Insight. |
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| Car Nut | Aug 9 2009, 06:17 AM Post #3 |
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Cobb, I think it looks pretty cool. Have fun with it. |
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| Cobb | Aug 9 2009, 08:55 AM Post #4 |
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I am with you on the ugly part. Why did they need to copy the prius? Why did Honda let Toyota copy the crx that had a similar design back in the 80s? Thats ok, they have a new crz hatch back coming up that rocks.
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| mwebb | Aug 9 2009, 09:43 PM Post #5 |
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FOG
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i dunno , the insight looks kinda like a space ship , very aerodynamic, no doubt that helps with the fuel mileage numbers . i do not think the design is a copy of the prius at all , both designs are a copy of a teardrop. but the car is missing the covers that cover the rear wheel openings ? which if installed may improve the fuel mileage just a little bit more. |
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| Cobb | Aug 9 2009, 10:39 PM Post #6 |
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Yeah. Honda went all out for the first generation insight for fuel economy. They constructed the car out of aluminum and used a 3 cylinder engine too. The car had a 400lb passenger weight restriction. The first generation prius was similar to it is today withthe front end of their mini van and shorter battery run time. I think the biggest inprovement for fuel economy is blocking the grill when ac is not used. The first gen gives an easy 15mpg more. Many on the forum questioned the wheels, but doubt Hondas engineers would have if dished or another style gave more mpg. |
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| GeoStalker | Aug 10 2009, 09:19 AM Post #7 |
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"Chicks dig me and guys think I'm cool."
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First it started with "my dad can beat up your dad." Then it changed to "my kid can beat up your honor student." Now we need bumper stickers that read "My $500 Geo gets 50mpg......SUCK ON THAT AL GORE!! |
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| Johnny Mullet | Aug 10 2009, 11:22 AM Post #8 |
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Fear the Mullet
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The Insight is a fine ride you have there capable of great fuel mileage. Too bad the American car companies decided not to do more with more fuel efficient rides. I am not getting into political territory, just saying that the "Big 3" would have fared better if they did not focus so much on the large SUV or Truck market. I feel that if GM decided to keep the "Geo" models from 2001 till now they would have really had a hit! The Metro is the MPG king and with further development could still be the king even with all the federal safety requirements. The Tracker was a good little efficient SUV that I can personally attest is very capable as an offroad vehicle, and the sporty little Geo Storm would have evolved into a cool little gas saving sports car by now. Lets not forget the Geo Prizm which was the perfect sedan for any family. GM had the future in it's hands
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| Coche Blanco | Aug 10 2009, 05:01 PM Post #9 |
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Troll Certified
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JM, you use hilarious icons. |
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| dimetrodon | Aug 10 2009, 05:06 PM Post #10 |
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"...with further development could still be the king even with all the federal safety requirements." Yes! Instead of using their engineering talent to develop four-wheel-steering for pick-up trucks, they could have been evolving a Metro into something that the hybrids would still be chasing. But we have to look on the bright side. Those old Metros that have not yet dissolved into rust, are ours almost for the asking. Even if some car offered you ZERO fuel costs... if you had to make payments on $25,000 dollars and then buy full-coverage insurance... that might cost you a lot more than buying, fixing and fueling an old Metro. In this respect (overall cost of ownership...), it is possible that the Metro will be King until the last one turns to rust. |
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| Coche Blanco | Aug 10 2009, 06:11 PM Post #11 |
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Troll Certified
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What do you think GM could make the Geo get if they kept it in their lineup? (and they devoted a group of engineers to fuel economy) I think 70mpg highway is entirely possible. Also, a hybrid type "engine off when braking" would help the city gas. |
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| Cobb | Aug 10 2009, 10:00 PM Post #12 |
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GM was on their way with the EV1, then like said, they axed it, crushed all but a few models that was least only, not purchased and went with more trucks and suvs. THe hybrid drive in the honda is very simple and old. Its at least 10 years old, only upgrade to it is the battery. Likewise the prius is at least 10 years old too however it has been reworked over the years for more economy. Heck, any aftermarket company could make a flywheel motor/generator, computer piggy back module and a battery bank you put somewhere rather its the trunk, back or under the bed of a truck. I use to have a 1979 dasher vw diesel. 49mpg and seated 4. Got 0 to 60 in 3 miles. |
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| dimetrodon | Aug 10 2009, 10:20 PM Post #13 |
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"I think 70mpg highway is entirely possible." Good guess. There was a Cooper Mini car with a BMW/Porche-designed diesel tested and reviewed in Las Vegas a few weeks ago that got 67 mpg on the highway and was reportedly, great fun to drive. Diesels make 70 mpg not just possible but likely provided that people abandon their lust for horsepower and replace it with frugality. |
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| Woodie | Aug 11 2009, 06:30 AM Post #14 |
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GM couldn't make shit, that's why they bought Metros from Suzuki and sold them to us when they disparately needed to raise their fuel mileage average. They lost money selling them but the mileage average offset allowed them to sell more Goliaths, which is where all the profit is. The US consumer (for the most part, we are exceptions) will not buy a car for fuel economy, at our gas prices, why should they? The government is stealing your hard earned dollars and giving them away as a subsidy to get people to buy hybrids right now, wasting even more paying people to trade in cars on new ones that get 3 mpg more. At the same time, safety mandates are what killed the Metro's only advantage, fuel mileage. The 95 redesign lopped ten mpg off the car, and there was another round of safety mandates looming when the car was dropped after 01. If they still sold it today, 35 - 40 mpg would be the absolute max, chances are, there wouldn't be a three cylinder available at all. There are plenty of cars available in Europe that get 70 mpg highway. You can thank a combination of government meddling and the gluttonous US consumer for us not getting them here. |
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| GeoStalker | Aug 11 2009, 08:03 PM Post #15 |
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"Chicks dig me and guys think I'm cool."
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What does the forum think about the Chevy Volt and the 230 mpg city EPA rating? $40k when they come out. Chevy Volt |
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2:06 PM Jul 11