It seems aero is definitely the way to go, I am looking at a set of coilovers for autocross use and I imagine a low ride height would reduce underbody turbulence, also you could tape off your body lines and large amounts of cooling ducts and blah de frockin blah I'm mid sentence and just realized I don't really give a crap anymore, it wasn't that serious anyway, I get 17.3 mpg like clockwork and I'm totally cool with that.

 

I find it ironic that it took a full page of banter for someone to point out that fuel economy will actually increase with both rotors running on the open road.

The idea is to get to a nice steady 3-3.5 k RPM and ride on at 70 or so MPH. Our car doesn't come into its own until a good 20-30 minutes steady state in that type of condition and then it's ***** to wall.

Enjoy the long runs with what you got. Your renesis will reward you with gas mileage you'd never see in city traffic.

 

if you look at say the VX civics from the early 90's, honda did a lot more than change the engine, its got difference wheels and tires, gearing is taller, and its got a bunch of little aero stuff too, and a bunch of aluminum parts.

Table 4: Technologies Used to Increase Fuel Economy in 1992 VX
Fuel EconomyImprovement (%) '91 DX to '92 VX

Multi-point fuel injection 1.5%
Low rolling resistance tires 1%
variable valve timing 2.5%
lean burn 5 -10%
reduced friction 1.5%
roller cam followers 1%
Weight reduction 2.5
Aerodynamic improvements 1.5%
Gearing and drive ratio changes 2%
Reduced idle speed/rpm 3%
Shift indicator light 5%

Total 45.5% - 50.5%

 

spend the next four years earning a Mechanical Engineering degree

 

Haha right well they haven't covered it in the last three years maybe they'll get to it this year (UMBC '14)

 

your question reeks of freshman ....

 

Heh let me tell you though, for all the "almost an engineer " people in my classes only about 20% regularly demonstrate good sense and rational thought, the rest reek of freshmen essentially all the time. I think most degrees given out since say 2001 should say something like "we grant unto this student (and the Internet, and the incredible ti89 calculator) a bachelors of science blah blah blah" Anyway, there's nothing wrong with coming up with a stupid idea and asking others to help you reinforce that it's a stupid idea through discussion, before you shoot yourself down, because maybe somebody will speak up with" no wait, we could make that work, and with a little ingenuity we could make it work well"

Anyway teamrx8 I think that as the experience mechanic turned engineer I should be the jaded naysayer among the two of us

 

If your that concerned with MPG then save yourself the 93 fuel grade, the 18MPG, and keep the miles of the 8 and go rent a car that gets 45mpg and takes 87 (or 85 if you live somewhere that gives it) the cost of the gas will more then cover the rental costs.

 

best idea yet....

 

+1 cold wound

I've actually talked to my wife about this exact plan and we agreed that having cars we loved was worth the cost of ownership, now of course it must be added for those who may not be able to piece it together that the car I love has two working rotors, not just one.

If it came down to it we would just rent something else, but likely we'd just take the 8 and eat the cost like we have since the day we bought it