Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

I conducted a little experiment this weekend while driving to Kentucky. Normally, a long holiday weekend in the woods is a great way to have big fun on the cheap. With gas prices breaking hearts and records these days, the prospect of 750 miles round-trip warranted a consultation of the 'ol checking balance before embarking.

I decided to follow a few of the tips I'd recently read, in an effort to squeeze a little more out of a tank of gas. I drove the speed limit. Well...five over, versus my normal 8-10 over. The weather was gorgeous all weekend, so I drove a large portion of the way with windows up, air off, vent on high. I tried to avoid crazy acceleration/deceleration. I don't have cruise control, but I tried my best to maintain an even speed. Now check THIS out:

I filled up twice, and did the math between, so I know that my total fuel for the tank measured was 9.9 gallons. Even with highway mountain driving, and little mountain roads up to the trail head, I managed to squeeze out 430 miles. That's 43.43 mpg on a 10-year-old car! My civic is usually good for 40 on the highway, but more like 35-37 when you factor in the mountains. At $3.94/gallon, this is an experiment I will surely be replicating.