FE Team Challenge - discussion

[Lug_Nut]

I've been traveling for business and missed these tid-bits of FE advice when they were fresh, but I did get 45.5 mpg in the rental Accord.<edit: Oops, I rechecked the math with a calculator instead of the back of a receipt. Actual was even worse: 40.55 instead of 45.5. Dissapointing results in light of the conditions. end edit>

I've discovered that if I avoid turning left at the end of my drive I miss the 1/2 mile long, 3rd gear, up-hill start to my morning commute. If I instead turn right, I have a shorter, more gradual, less altitude change climb leading to a long downhill section. The engine is up to temp before the gradual climb back to the altitude where the two choices in route rejoin. The right turn route is almost 2 miles longer to my work, yet avoiding the high load with cold engine grunt climb to the left actually results in less fuel use despite the longer distance.
I still come home the shorter route as the fuel saving difference isn't there in that direction.