Hypermiling - The new menace on the road?

The other day I’m following a Honda Insight hybrid driving rather quickly down a hill. But as the hill flattens and we start climbing another hill, the little Insight slows down. As we approach an intersection, I see the light has just turned green and I’m sure we’ll make it. But we’re still climbing and the Insight is continues to shed speed. Finally, the light turns yellow and then red. But instead of stopping, the Insight drives right through the red light and continues puttering down the road.

Was this driver driving slowly to be safety conscious? No. I was following one of the new breed of fuel-sipping fanatics that are menacing our roads. (And you know who you are!) The driver of the Insight was doing everything to maximize fuel mileage. Speeding down hills to maintain momentum, slowing up the hills to prevent pressing too hard on the gas pedal, coasting through red lights, and even tailgating semi-trucks to save fuel are all symptoms of this new threat to drivers everywhere.

The phenomenon is encouraged by the colorful fuel economy displays in some hybrids that have turned driving into a video game. The point of this game is to get the highest score... er… mpg figure. Why? Some probably believe they’re minimizing their strain on the earth, but more likely they’re looking for bragging rights. Maybe you’re trying to keep your Prius-o-meter above 50 mpg so you can post your results on Priuschat.com. Maybe people keep asking you what kind of mileage you get on your hybrid, and you want more impressive figures to report. Or perhaps you just want prove to your spouse that you know the right way to drive your new green machine.

Don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with driving to maximize fuel economy. I try to do the same and have to admit that I have a hard time not staring at the pretty fuel consumption screen on my wife’s Prius. But there are many ways to modify your driving to maximize fuel economy and not become a rolling road hazard. In fact, sites like Hypermiling.com and cleanmpg.com promote many safe and effective ways to maximize fuel economy. But you should always be courteous to others around you. And, yes, a Prius can make it up the hills without losing speed if you push your right foot down a bit. Most importantly, watch the road not the fuel economy gauge. You’ll make the roadways safer for all, and may even help non-hybrids save fuel with an even, predictable driving manner.

—Jake Fisher

For more suggestions on how to live more green, visit Consumer Union's Web site Greenerchoices.org and our Earth Day special section. For tips on saving gasoline and alternative fuels, see our fuel economy guide.

Personal Picks: Upscale sedans, part 2

Here are more staff perspectives on the upscale sedans test group:

Jake Fisher: This month’s pick is easy! The Infiniti G35 is amazing. The car drives like 300-hp Miata with room for four. With its quick reflexes and progressive breakaway, the rear-drive model is one of the most rewarding cars to drive on our track. My boss might take the cost of a set of tires out of my pay, but it was worth it!!

Tom Mutchler: As a champion of the creed “driving a slow car fast is more fun than driving a fast car slow,” I have a crisis of confidence here. That mantra would have me picking an Acura TSX with the six-speed manual. It feels light and nimble on its feet, four-cylinders are certainly enough, and a sub-$30,000 price tag is pleasing.

But. My colleague Jake Fisher calls the stunningly-fast Infiniti G35 a “four-door Miata.” (And we know how much Tom loves the Miata: ED.) That’s good enough for me; I’m sold. The G packs 306 horsepower and great handling, but it still cossets with a beautiful and comfortable interior with optional state-of-the-art electronics. More telling, along with the Infiniti M35, the G35 has squelched my long-held desires to own a BMW sedan. Sure, the 3 Series has a bit better steering feel and ride, but the difference is nuanced and the G is no slouch in those regards. (Never mind the G35’s much cheaper price, or its huge base power advantage, or that Infiniti, thankfully, didn’t go and redesign/overcomplicate simple controls like BMW did to the 3’s turn signal lever or the panel dimmer control….)

Mike Quincy: I know my colleagues are going to bust a gut laughing at this one, but my pick for this month is the Saab 9-5. I realize that it’s one of the bottom-rated models within this category (and it came in dead-last in this test group), but for some reason the old 9-5 still speaks to me. Maybe it’s the steering feedback or the thrust of the turbocharged engine… I don’t know exactly why I like it. Or, perhaps when I was in college, a Saab was THE car to own – and I never came close. I like the way the 9-5 looks, and I fit well in the seats. Most of the other cars are faster, handle better and a few get better fuel economy. But I find that the Lexus ES350 has no soul, the Nissan Maxima is boring, the Lincoln MKZ does nothing for me that the cheaper Fusion doesn’t do, and I’m MUCH too young to fall in love with the Buick Lucerne (but its V8 engine is a gem). I really like the G35. It’s so clearly an engineering marvel-–I spent a great deal of time driving our RWD model back from North Carolina–-but when it came time to pluck a set of keys off of our car board, I kept reaching for the 9-5. Personality goes a long way with me, and what the 9-5 gives up in performance to the G, it more than makes up for it with character.

A car guy's Father's Day, part 2

Gene Peterson: “Actually, my first dream would be to have a four-bay garage to hold more cars, the boat, and kid toys.

Second would be to have my car loan paid off. Third is pure fantasy: Since no one car will do for me, I want a Subaru Outback Wagon to tow the boat and to use in bad weather; a Mazda Miata for bright, sunny days; a BMW 3 Series for going out to dinner; an older (1965-1967) Pontiac GTO or LeMans convertible for cruising on early Sunday morning jaunts; and, last but not least, a two-wheel drive Tacoma pickup for doing dump runs and hauling wood.  Oops, better make that a six-bay garage…”

Jake Fisher: “Since my ultimate Father's Day gift would be something that my son and I could enjoy together, it would have to be a trip to an international FIA World Rally Challenge race. Maybe we'd go to the Acropolis Rally in Greece, Rally Japan, or even the Rally of Turkey. We'd rent a car and travel through the country, as well as camping out to see World Rally and the fans up close and personal. I don't expect anything like this soon, as my son is only two. But in a few years, I think this could be a reality. For now, I'll have to settle with watching the movie ’Cars’ with him. I told my wife that it was for my son…but she knows better!”

Tom Mutchler: “It’s just my wife and me, but who can resist the opportunity to spend freely? Given that, we’ve always wanted to take a cross-country trip with our mountain bikes and whitewater kayaks. I’d love a Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter converted into a mini-motor home by Sportsmobile. Lots of room to change out of wet suits, a refrigerator filled with goodies, a place for a nap -- all with turbodiesel fuel economy. Failing that, a classic 1985 Avion 25H trailer and a used GMC Sierra Denali with Quadrasteer might suffice.

“Still, by definition, something you can sleep comfortably in isn’t exactly exciting to drive. For that, I’d like to start my car collection. Start with a 1991 Lotus Elan M100, add a 1979 Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 for its sleeper value, maybe a new Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring or Ford SVT Focus for newer, inexpensive fun -- and a big garage to store everything.”