Why don't we see more SUVs in the GasSavers garage?

[Peakster]

According to a recent poll on www.gasbuddy.com, 20% of nearly 17,000 voters claimed that their primary vehicle was an SUV.

Clearly, SUV owners on that website are concerned about the price of gasoline, so why don't we see that same trend on this site Are people afraid of keeping a gaslog of their Suburban, Expedition, or Durango? I'd love to see someone Engine Off Coast with a Hummer.

I just think that it's odd that mostly compact car owners are drawn to this website. What do other GS members think?

[diamondlarry]

Clearly, SUV owners on that website are concerned about the price of gasoline, so why don't we see that same trend on this site

I think that the problem is that they aren't really interested in saving fuel; just the cost of it?

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

I think that the problem is that they aren't really interested in saving fuel; just the cost of it?

That could possibly be part of it, however I don't think all SUV owners feel that way. I think some would feel pretty good if they got 20% or more than EPA. If the Geo got squashed by a garbage truck and I only had the Chevy truck to drive, I'd still hypermile it.

[LxMike]

I just think that it's odd that mostly compact car owners are drawn to this website. What do other GS members think?

Maybe cause most people feel that only compact cars can get good fuel mileage. One of the first things people see when coming here is the Top Ten list and see the cars getting 50,60 and 70 mpg and think it only about the cars that get great fuel mileage. there's other fuel mileage sites that i have found that are mostly hybred owners.

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by LxMike

Maybe cause most people feel that only compact cars can get good fuel mileage. One of the first things people see when coming here is the Top Ten list and see the cars getting 50,60 and 70 mpg and think it only about the cars that get great fuel mileage.

That is a very good point. I remember discovering this site back in September thinking that I would have this place cased with my 3 cylinder Metro. I was shocked when I saw the list of the top-10-vehicles. I believe MetroMPG had MPG numbers in the high 70s back then and the lowest was just above 50 mpg.

I think the top-10-vehicles (percent EPA) is real interesting. Someone might look at my 45mpg average and think that's pretty good but it's less than the rated fuel efficiency of my car. I think it's much cooler if I saw a gaslog for a '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 25mpg average. That would be an impressive 47% above EPA. A Jeep would also probably be easier to hypermile than a Metro as EOCs would be more effective to MPG and there are lots of potential improvements to aerodynamics, etc.

I guess I just really want to encourage more vehicle diversity on this site.

[skewbe]

Originally Posted by LxMike

...One of the first things people see when coming here is the Top Ten list and see the cars getting 50,60 and 70 mpg...

I think there is something to that. I don't mind the friendly competition, but if the focus is solely on mpg then it will discourage many. There are many other ways to save gas: Driving less, carpooling, not leaving the car idling...

I don't know if it is possible, but some way of giving kudos for getting more done with each gallon of gas(consistently), or reducing your demand (consistently), would encourage a broader audience and less mpg tunnel vision.

For example, there are cases where a larger vehicle makes sense. A semi truck gets horrible mileage by itself, but it would take like 73 metros to carry the same weight and combined they would get like 1/6th the gas mileage of the truck. Semis are a good example because they HATE to run empty, it's just throwing money away.

[ELF]

Most people don't care about mpg. they only care about the price of gas. Trying to hypermile a big truck or suv is kind of a waste. I have tried, ya you can get a few more mpg but its pretty discouraging when you try really hard and your mpg goes from 12 to 14. Big deal, its just not worth the effort. I got a car instead it gets twice the mpg without even trying.

[LxMike]

Originally Posted by ELF

Most people don't care about mpg. they only care about the price of gas. Trying to hypermile a big truck or suv is kind of a waste. I have tried, ya you can get a few more mpg but its pretty discouraging when you try really hard and your mpg goes from 12 to 14. Big deal, its just not worth the effort. I got a car instead it gets twice the mpg without even trying.

Thats the point i'm trying to make. you can get a geo metro or a civic vx and get twice the mileage your car gets too. It's all about getting the most you can from whatever your driving

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by LxMike

Thats the point i'm trying to make. you can get a geo metro or a civic vx and get twice the mileage your car gets too. It's all about getting the most you can from whatever your driving

I agree! As the saying goes, "You are either green and growing or you are ripe and rotting."

[ELF]

Originally Posted by LxMike

Thats the point i'm trying to make. you can get a geo metro or a civic vx and get twice the mileage your car gets too. It's all about getting the most you can from whatever your driving

I am in the process of buying a geo prizm MT right now, so I can get twice the mileage

My point is this... much better to park the suv and find something else to drive that gets good mpg. Then use the suv only when you need it.