New VX owner(little red rocket)

[tsirkucp]

Hello
I just purchased a mint 93 VX 180k for 2000(8/2009). One problem....I only average 44 mpg. I went to this from a F-150 that got 10-15. SO, I figure i save about $100 every time I fill the little red rocket. I think the mods i want to go for is #1 grill and underneath air flow upgrades and#2 A WAI . If anyone has done these mods and have any suggestions , ideas, help, Please let me know. Pictures are very helpful. I live in ashland or. in the winters and haines alaska (where i bought the car) in summer. So if your around i'd love to look at yours.
Thanks
C P
tsirkucp@yahoo.com

[FrugalFloyd]

Welcome. I lived in Anchorage for several years myself. I get a 70% improvement over EPA combined estimates by slowing down and anticipating (coasting to) stops. Grill blocks might gain you 5%, so my recommendation is to work on your driving rather than on your car.

[theholycow]

What he said. Modifications are fun to do and can help a little, but none will make a huge improvement, and most will never pay back their own cost. Driving techniques are where you can make a big improvement.

[rgathright]

Welcome to the forums.

You will want to watch your speed and never go above a threshold RPM like 2500 and work your way down from there.

Good luck.

[GasSavers_viperguy]

You can only get 50 plus MPG on the VX if you're hypermiling it and driving mostly HWY 55-60mph. Other than that 40-47 mpg is pretty good.

[tsirkucp]

well guys, I do all of those things and use the shift arrows as well. Don't get me wrong, 44 is so HUGE for me after driving a f-150 for the last decade. Its just now i'm so motivated to get more. I'm going down to cali next month so I can finally give it the all out hwy. test. I won't be doing 55 but we'll see what happens at "speed limit" driving. I'll keep ya'll posted

[jmaze]

in '94 i drove my vx from el paso, tx to camp pendleton here in california and got 60+ miles to the gallon. of course my car was only a month old and the freeway limit was 55 mph so i had no choice but to drive that speed to avoid getting a ticket. the best part of that was .99 gal of gas. Great memories. 16 years with my vx this march 2010.

[GasSavers_viperguy]

Originally Posted by jmaze

in '94 i drove my vx from el paso, tx to camp pendleton here in california and got 60+ miles to the gallon. of course my car was only a month old and the freeway limit was 55 mph so i had no choice but to drive that speed to avoid getting a ticket. the best part of that was .99 gal of gas. Great memories. 16 years with my vx this march 2010.

Yea I believe a new vx will get 60mpg if you keep it at 55mph on the freeway. My vx have 310,xxx miles and I still get 53mpg on the freeway doing 55-60.

[tsirkucp]

Well , after 3months i have found on my VX city/hwy doesnt matter. 45-48 mpg no matter how i drive... pretty cool

[tsirkucp]

Hi again
Wel a new record for me in my little red rocket.Now that its 20 degrees warmer, i just got 55 mpg !! Outstanding !!