Driving for economy
November 24, 2008
"Driving for absolute economy demands as much, if not more, concentration than when driving for a race win."
Alright, I'd scoff too, except that the comment is from Graham Sharp, a performance driving expert who has excelled at both extremes, including a category win in the AA Energywise Rally. If anyone knows his stuff. . .
So just as well we're on the same side for this year's rally, which chucks down the gauntlet to find the country's most economical cars.
It kicked off from Ellerslie at rush hour this morning and was to reach Palmerston North this afternoon, via Hamilton, Taumaranui and Wanganui.
Sixty manufacturer entries are striving to drive in 'real world' style to Wellington and back; 1626kms of careful driving on motorways, unsealed roads, rural state highways and in peak hour city congestion.
The rally is held every two years and is jointly organised by the AA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), and Gull Petroleum.
Our stickered convoy has everything from emphatically city-tuned midgets like the shoe-sized Smart FourTwo to sports utes and big luxos, topping out with a BMW 730d - the same car that carries Ministers of the Crown. The thirstiest sports ute ever made, a Holden Maloo R8, is also entered, so it's not without laughs.
We're with Ford in a pair of turbodiesels. Graham and fellow Aucklander Neil Gyde are in a manual 1.6-litre Focus hatch. I'm with Ford corporate affairs manager Brie Elder in an automatic 2.0-litre Mondeo sedan. In white. We'll call it 'Rep One.'
I figure Graeme's in the better car and, potentially, the better class - mine includes a couple of manual diesel cars that have an immediate on-paper advantage. Doesn't matter. However it goes, he's gotta be the better hope, simply because he's taking it much more seriously.
We got together on the eve of the rally to swap notes. My idea about 'real-world' economy driving is to be sensible, watching the revs and the instant fuel consumption meter (which the Mondeo handily has), keeping smooth but definitely not driving like a nana. Holding up the everyday traffic stream just defeats the purpose, I feel.
More than anything else, I don't want a bar of the stupidity that spoiled the last Energywise I attempted. Back in 2004 I saw all sorts of idiocy in the pursuit of extreme thrift. The organisers have promised to crack down this year, though how they'll stop some no-no antics, notably freewheeling out of gear down hills, is beyond me.
Graham's definitely in to win. His preparation has included many hours of driving his car to learn its foibles and the compilation of meticulous notes. His co-driver will play a very active role, not just working out the maths to ensure they're always running to schedule but also and eagle-eying the consumption, the best lines and hazards ahead.
My prep has entailed sorting out an iPod selection Brie and I can both live with (okay, there's NO way we're having CCR in the car) and trying to establish where the best coffee shops are. (In '04 we found a brilliant place in Taumarunui).
But we do need to be a bit sensible. The gist of it all comes down to thinking smart and driving smooth. Dunno if I'm entirely up to former, but the Mondeo certainly abets the latter.
A brief run in Auckland in my car leaves Graeme impressed; he can't believe how well the six-speed ZF interacts with the torquey engine. I suspect he's also twigged to something I already knew - that the medium Ford is much more comfortable than his hatch. Too late now.
Over and above all the obvious things - keeping the air con off, going easy on the throttle and brakes also come into it - what else can we do?
A lot more, actually, according to Graham. On his advice, we'll try to never be caught at a dead stop at traffic lights and, if stationary for a period, the engine will be switched off. We'll be watching our following distances - "leaving a bit of space give you more options" - and manual-changing the auto. Undulations will be used for speed gain and I'll be off the throttle over crests. On the road, as in circuit-racing, smooth corner lines are worthwhile.
"Drive the shortest route," Graham urges. "But obviously don't cut blind corners!" No chance of that, mate.
There's one piece of advice I might not pay too much attention too: Keep the car clean. Surely he jests?
"No, true. Maybe it's something from my sailing days, but if the surface of the paintwork is dirty, it affects the airflow over the surface of the car. Part of it's mental, too - if people see you keeping the car clean, they'll start to think 'what do they know?'"
There's a lot more, but I'll not bother you with it. Basically, it all means that this exercise will be much more than just an easy drive. I'll get back to you.
What this means to you:
The rally organisers say events such as this raise awareness of how good driving practices can soften the impact on your pocket. Do you agree?
Alright, I'd scoff too, except that the comment is from Graham Sharp, a performance driving expert who has excelled at both extremes, including a category win in the AA Energywise Rally. If anyone knows his stuff. . .
So just as well we're on the same side for this year's rally, which chucks down the gauntlet to find the country's most economical cars.
It kicked off from Ellerslie at rush hour this morning and was to reach Palmerston North this afternoon, via Hamilton, Taumaranui and Wanganui.
Sixty manufacturer entries are striving to drive in 'real world' style to Wellington and back; 1626kms of careful driving on motorways, unsealed roads, rural state highways and in peak hour city congestion.
The rally is held every two years and is jointly organised by the AA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), and Gull Petroleum.
Our stickered convoy has everything from emphatically city-tuned midgets like the shoe-sized Smart FourTwo to sports utes and big luxos, topping out with a BMW 730d - the same car that carries Ministers of the Crown. The thirstiest sports ute ever made, a Holden Maloo R8, is also entered, so it's not without laughs.
We're with Ford in a pair of turbodiesels. Graham and fellow Aucklander Neil Gyde are in a manual 1.6-litre Focus hatch. I'm with Ford corporate affairs manager Brie Elder in an automatic 2.0-litre Mondeo sedan. In white. We'll call it 'Rep One.'
I figure Graeme's in the better car and, potentially, the better class - mine includes a couple of manual diesel cars that have an immediate on-paper advantage. Doesn't matter. However it goes, he's gotta be the better hope, simply because he's taking it much more seriously.
We got together on the eve of the rally to swap notes. My idea about 'real-world' economy driving is to be sensible, watching the revs and the instant fuel consumption meter (which the Mondeo handily has), keeping smooth but definitely not driving like a nana. Holding up the everyday traffic stream just defeats the purpose, I feel.
More than anything else, I don't want a bar of the stupidity that spoiled the last Energywise I attempted. Back in 2004 I saw all sorts of idiocy in the pursuit of extreme thrift. The organisers have promised to crack down this year, though how they'll stop some no-no antics, notably freewheeling out of gear down hills, is beyond me.
Graham's definitely in to win. His preparation has included many hours of driving his car to learn its foibles and the compilation of meticulous notes. His co-driver will play a very active role, not just working out the maths to ensure they're always running to schedule but also and eagle-eying the consumption, the best lines and hazards ahead.
My prep has entailed sorting out an iPod selection Brie and I can both live with (okay, there's NO way we're having CCR in the car) and trying to establish where the best coffee shops are. (In '04 we found a brilliant place in Taumarunui).
But we do need to be a bit sensible. The gist of it all comes down to thinking smart and driving smooth. Dunno if I'm entirely up to former, but the Mondeo certainly abets the latter.
A brief run in Auckland in my car leaves Graeme impressed; he can't believe how well the six-speed ZF interacts with the torquey engine. I suspect he's also twigged to something I already knew - that the medium Ford is much more comfortable than his hatch. Too late now.
Over and above all the obvious things - keeping the air con off, going easy on the throttle and brakes also come into it - what else can we do?
A lot more, actually, according to Graham. On his advice, we'll try to never be caught at a dead stop at traffic lights and, if stationary for a period, the engine will be switched off. We'll be watching our following distances - "leaving a bit of space give you more options" - and manual-changing the auto. Undulations will be used for speed gain and I'll be off the throttle over crests. On the road, as in circuit-racing, smooth corner lines are worthwhile.
"Drive the shortest route," Graham urges. "But obviously don't cut blind corners!" No chance of that, mate.
There's one piece of advice I might not pay too much attention too: Keep the car clean. Surely he jests?
"No, true. Maybe it's something from my sailing days, but if the surface of the paintwork is dirty, it affects the airflow over the surface of the car. Part of it's mental, too - if people see you keeping the car clean, they'll start to think 'what do they know?'"
There's a lot more, but I'll not bother you with it. Basically, it all means that this exercise will be much more than just an easy drive. I'll get back to you.
What this means to you:
The rally organisers say events such as this raise awareness of how good driving practices can soften the impact on your pocket. Do you agree?
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