Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Getting 61mpg going 56mph; lowering an insight raises fuel economy
Topic Started: Aug 8 2009, 10:50 PM (3,070 Views)
Cobb
BANNED

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.

Posted Image

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
91 ragtop
Member Avatar


I'll stick with my 56 mpg Metro. At least it's not ugly like that Insight.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Car Nut
Member Avatar


Cobb,
I think it looks pretty cool. Have fun with it.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cobb
BANNED

91 ragtop
Aug 8 2009, 11:49 PM
I'll stick with my 56 mpg Metro. At least it's not ugly like that Insight.
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.

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mwebb
Member Avatar
FOG

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.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cobb
BANNED

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.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
GeoStalker
Member Avatar
"Chicks dig me and guys think I'm cool."

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!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Johnny Mullet
Member Avatar
Fear the Mullet

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 :backpack
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Coche Blanco
Member Avatar
Troll Certified

JM, you use hilarious icons.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dimetrodon


"...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.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Coche Blanco
Member Avatar
Troll Certified

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.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cobb
BANNED

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.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dimetrodon


"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.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Woodie
Member Avatar


Coche Blanco
Aug 10 2009, 06:11 PM
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.
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.


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
GeoStalker
Member Avatar
"Chicks dig me and guys think I'm cool."

What does the forum think about the Chevy Volt and the 230 mpg city EPA rating? $40k when they come out.

Chevy Volt
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Fuel Economy/Performance · Next Topic »
Add Reply