New Member...
 

I am always looking for ways to save money (and whenever possible lower my family's greenhouse gas production). So hypermiling sounds like a great addition to our efforts! I am interested in ANY way to lower my gas consumption so I am happily looking around the site. I am hoping to get a "new" used VW Bug within the year in hopes that the lighter vehicle will help improve my gas milage (while still being a "fun" car). Does anyone have any advice on features that I should look for in the newer Bugs? :confused:

Welcome to the site.

I believe they made a TDI version of the Bug that should be pretty good on FE.

Yup, I actually drove a TDI New Beetle as a driver-training car :thumbup:. They're pretty cool vehicles, but I must warn you, they have a Cd of 0.38 :eek:. If you found a Volkswagen Jetta TDI, I'm sure it would be better on diesel on the highway.

Either way, they both get very good fuel economy. Welcome to the site!

Ya, much rather have a Jetta.

If you get the beetle making a wing like this will help a lot (no lie).

https://www.pl8s.org/pl8s/usa/utah/max_mpg_ut_w320.JPG

The "new" beatle is based off the VW gulf from what I understand, and they get very simaler mileage, but the gulf has alot more room, and has the option of being a 4 door alowing easier transpertation of 5 adults, but vw's also tend to be a high matence vehicle, so figure out if you want to deal with that first.
the main draw I see in any VW is the option of buying a diesel, good power, and mileage, so test drive a TDI if you can, they also hold their value better then gold.

And if not a big one like that, at least a litle spoiler at the top of the rear glass to get the flow to detach. Probably available as a factory accessory or at least an aftermarket piece.

That's so funny...
 

[QUOTE=kickflipjr;54605]If you get the beetle making a wing like this will help a lot (no lie).


I just checked back and had to laugh... I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to convince my husband that we should get a wing just like that one. He thinks it is a bit (I am understating this a lot) big, but I am making progress... Oh well the "power of nagging" will win out I assure you.

Thank you!
 

Ok guys (I'm trying to keep up, sorry)
From what I understand the TDI New Beetle is getting harder to find because of the FE ... I had to look up what Cd is to understand Peakster... But, my husband is a mechanic and he is confident of his ability to work on a bug no matter how often that is. :rolleyes: Thank you all for your help.
I came across the emissions rating for the new beetle. FYI it is the lowest possible score. :eek: I might have to rethink the bug after all. Is there anyway to improve emissions on a factory vehicle? I hate to ask my husband car questions... he looks at me like I'm nuts already.:p

There's not much to do to improve the tdi's emissions besides running veggie oil on it, :(, at least that I know of, someone else can chime in if they know something otherwise.

emisions are improving this year on them, as well as with low sulpher diesel fuel, bio-diesel is sulpher free so it's even better, so unless you are looking for a brand new diesel, or can get bio-diesel you might have to live with worse emisions.

I hate to ask my husband car questions... he looks at me like I'm nuts already.:p[/QUOTE]

Just wanted to share a thought, which I think a lot of people can probably relate to.

If you have a spouse or someone of "significance", who is not into the gas game, to the same level that you are, your life, your relationships are more important than any gas saving you might accomplish by trying to get someone else to drive the way you think they ought to drive. I would recommend an approach of taking what you can do and what you learn and apply it to yourself, when you are driving. If they are not "into it", your relationship with them is much more important than them getting "into it". Additionally, your life will go a lot smoother if they aren't unhappy with you because your trying to get them to get "into it".

Just my opininon, for what it's worth.

Yeah... I try not to push what I believe on to my husband and yet he usually adapts and takes on some of my behaviors as his own without me nagging about that. The nagging comes into play because I want MY car to be what I want... HE bought thousands of dollars in tools that HE wanted (within a year and a half:eek: ), so he agreed to get me a new car. A VW bug was HIS suggestion because and I quote "they are good on gas and easy to work on". Besides I take my car to the garage where he works so he fixes everything with his coworkers and as an added bonus I can hang out a little, have lunch with him, or play pool while I wait. Strangely enough I do like him and don't try to make him miserable.;) P.S. Ryland thanks for the heads up on the emissions improvement!:D