2008 VW Rabbit in RI

[theholycow]

New member here, I've got a 2008 VW Rabbit. I've already entered my detailed complete gaslog dating back to when I bought the car in February.

I don't have and don't plan any significant modifications to my leased car unless they can pay for themselves before I return it and can't cause any warranty or lease problems. I considered tires but they won't pay for themselves. I am probably going to get a ScanGauge II, though; it will probably pay for itself, and even if not it's still something I'd really like, and I can use it on other vehicles too.

I've mainly modified my driving habits. For years I've already minimized braking, and I've always preferred low shift points for the lack of commotion of a high-revving engine. With my first manual transmission, now I'm able to experiment more with shift points and throttle. I've beat the EPA rating from day 1.

One strategy I discovered recently was maximizing the use of DFCO. I didn't know it exists, but now instead of shifting to neutral as soon as I know I'm going to stop, I ride my current gear as long as I can. I've decided that DFCO happens on this car at 990 rpm; I can feel the engine kick in just as the needle edges below 1000. So, if I know I'm definitely going to have to idle at a red light, I immediately brake down to 1200 rpm and stretch the amount of time above 1000 rpm as long as I can. I sometimes downshift (non-rev-matched; don't need it when the difference is only 200 rpm) to keep it above 1000.

My commute is 60% town/country, 40% freeway. It is 38 miles each way and approximately like this:
17 red lights / stop signs
0 to 5 stops behind left-turning cars
14 mi 20-60 mph (country roads)
16.5 mi 70-85 mph (this is the freeway portion)
7.3 mi 40-60 mph
1 mi 20 mph (my neighborhood and the long driveway at work)