First fuel usage figures

[altivo]

The new 2007 Escape measures up to my expectations so far. For the first three weeks (I just bought gas for the first time since picking it up) on a mix of town and country driving (neither big city stop and go nor highway distances) it rated in at 27.7 miles per gallon. EPA ratings are 24 city and 29 highway. Based on this, I expect to break 30 easily on a long highway trip.

Equally important, the registration card finally came today. It was getting tight because my license plates expire September 30, and I need the card to get them renewed. The renewal the state sent me had the old Jeep information on it.

Comments

[songcoyote.livejournal.com]

That's pretty nifty for the non-hyrbid! I really didn't expect the mileage to be that good. I get the feeling you drive conservatively ;)

Glad it all worked out. Enjoy the new ride!

Light and laughter,
SongCoyote

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes. Other drivers hate me. Never over the speed limit, always gradual acceleration. It does pay off, though. No moving violations in almost 40 years of driving, no insurance claims, and I've never had a serious engine or transmission problem.

[nipper.livejournal.com]

That's not bad.

My old Skyline is currently getting around 13MPG around town :P

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Ouch. I hope those aren't Imperial gallons. You probably pay a significantly higher price for the petrol to begin with.

[nipper.livejournal.com]

pricewatch says 98 is 1.739/l, which Google says is $4.31 U.S. / gal

Regular 91 would be a bit cheaper but the Skyline doesn't like it much.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Definitely ouch. I'd be walking at that price. I'm already very careful about planning trips and avoiding excess driving to save on fuel. We're at USD 2.85/gal this week but that's a sudden drop from 3.29 for the last several months. A year ago it was 2.11 and two years ago it was 1.89.

[nipper.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking about getting a Hybrid, and also a bike ;)

The cost of transporting fuel to NZ is higher, but most of the difference is higher taxes. Fuel prices in the UK and Europe are generally even higher!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Hybrids are getting there. I'm not quite satisfied with all the issues, but they are certainly usable now. I have friends who drive them and are very pleased so far.

A bike (if you mean bicycle rather than motorcycle) is fine for exercise here but not practical for me as transport. The distances are too large and the weather too inclement much of the year. I so wish I could ride or drive my horse to work, but there is nowhere for her to be during the day even just once in a while. Driving a light buggy with one horse in fit condition would get me there in about 45 minutes, compared to 15 by car now. That's acceptable.

A motorcycle would be possible, and may be necessary if fuel prices keep climbing at this precipitous rate. I simply don't have the income to pay those costs. Bad weather is still an issue even for that. I've ridden a cycle in midwestern winter, but don't ever want to do that again.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Ouch? R31? R32? Silohuette? Turbo? Natural Aspirated?

[nipper.livejournal.com]

R33 GTS-4. One of the rarer but uninteresting ones.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

From memory...*think thinks* 4 door 2.5L straight 6 non turbo skyline. I think they look quite snazzy and no old turbo issues from grey imports that have been sitting for awhile.

[nipper.livejournal.com]

Very good! RB25DE sedan.

The economy is probably mostly due to very short trips around town from cold. Bit of a nuisance tho these days.

http://raccoon.osoal.org.nz/pics/mycar/gts4/?order=byname&picnum=7

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Well it looks in very good condition, and I like the rear styling on them.
Are you using the higher octane? Most Japanese grey petrol imports are tuned to run on the higher octane available in Japan. Next time you're near empty, fill it with 98 octane and give it a blat on the freeway good kms at steady speed. That should help blow out any cobwebs :)

[nipper.livejournal.com]

Yep, we run BP 98. Long distance we get closer to 400km on 50l, but around town it's only about 280.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Is that really your plate? XD

[nipper.livejournal.com]

Yep :) Well, Colin's technically. He's had it for a few years so it's been on all our cars.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I bet all those other furs are envious ^.^

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Someone else already has that one in Illinois. ;p

Actually, I have my radio call sign on, so I don't go in for the vanity plate. My mate has FZY BEAR though.

I've thought about having my call sign changed. K9FUR, N9FUR, and K9YIF are taken, but W9FUR is available and so are N9YIF and W9YIF. Making the change is simple, but changing all the other stuff associated with it is such a pain that I decided not to. Anyway, after nearly 25 years, I'm pretty much used to KA9NZI, and it has a great rhythm in morse code.

[alaskawolf.livejournal.com]

nice fuel economy that your getting there :) their not too bad of a SUV especially if you stay on the roads most of the time.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I prefer my own feet or a horse for real off-roading. I had the Jeep for cargo hauling and getting through snow clogged streets in Chicago. Now that I don't live in Chicago, I wasn't using the 4WD more than 3 or 4 times a year.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Good oh :) Glad things are sorting themselves out with the rego, I know what a pain that can be if it get's muddled.

Not bad on those fuel economy figures :) That 2.3L used in a lot of Ford Global vehicles is a gem.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear an expert say so. It runs at a little higher rpm than I'm used to, but that doesn't seem to bother the fuel economy. It's actually quieter than the 4.0L 6 cyl that was in the Jeep.