To me, hypermiling is an intellectual exercise with a certain amount of personal risk (getting shot or bunted off the road by drivers trying to actually get somewhere).
I imagine it's fun to some, but in every case, my goal is to get there with as little delay as possible - and to have any possible fun driving. That means traveling speed limit +4 MPH and not slowing down for corners - straights are no fun, all the challenge is in the corners.
I'd like to see more diesels in the US but manufacturers seem convinced the US public won't buy them.
Notes:
- Coasting in neutral is harmless to some automatic transmissions and all manual transmissions, but it reduces your control of the vehicle and therefore increases your personal risk. Some older automatics will be damaged if you coast in neutral. Do your homework on your individual vehicle.
- Do not inflate tires to pressures higher than the max rated on the sidewall for sustained driving. If you're in an autocross or something like that, you can run them higher for that short period, but heat buildup over time can destroy tires when they're seriously under or over-inflated.
- If you're going to drive for ultimate gas mileage, for gawdz sake get OUT OF THE WAY of other traffic. Don't be an obstacle!!
- Trying to draft behind semis is a good way to get DEAD. Don't do it. Ever. At the very least, you will have one monumentally pissed-off semi driver, and you don't want a vehicle with 18 times your weight mad at you.
