Breaking fuel efficiency records – in a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
09/24/2008, 2:19 PM
By Andrew Ganz
Since starting out in Virginia earlier this month, John and Helen Taylor have been driving back and forth across the United States in a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI in pursuit of the Guinness record for fuel efficiency on a trip through all 48 contiguous United States. When Leftlane met them in Santa Monica, California, they were halfway through their trip and running 58 miles per gallon, well ahead of the previous record. Our question was: Could a press hotshoe from Leftlane come close to that mark on a 180 mile trip through Los Angeles’ canyons by following these two experts’ advice? Turned out all we had to do was slow down and enjoy the drive.
The Taylors have devoted most of the last 25 years to becoming the world’s leading fuel efficiency driving team, setting records during trips on every continent. They are now on a 9,300 mile trip sponsored by VW and Shell in a Jetta TDI, powered by the first 50-state legal diesel engine (Mercedes‘ 50-state Bluetec goes on sale a little later this year). The Guinness rules require that they drive at least 15 miles in every one of the lower 48 states.
We met them in Santa Monica, California, at the official press introduction of the 2009 Jetta TDI. They were close to halfway through their journey and enjoying a two-day layover, long enough to chat with Leftlane while getting their laundry done. Challenging the previous record for such a trip of 51 mpg, they were well on their way to setting a new record, having maintained 58 mpg for the trip so far, in spite of just having climbed across the mountains bordering California.
John and Helen are definitely on a mission, trying to do their part to convince the world that if we just drive a little more sensibly, we can cut automobile usage of fossil fuels by as much as 30 percent. On their website, www.fuelacademy.com, they offer 30 tips to save fuel when driving.
I was driving with a journalist who had a reputation for winning every press launch contest where speed and handling were the key, but this time we decided we were going to win VW’s award for highest fuel efficiency on the one-day press drive. To do that, we took the Taylors’ advice.
Their first tip is to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. In their case, VW had given them its new clean-diesel powered Jetta TDI to challenge the record. No problem there.
Tip two: Avoid unnecessarily high engine speed. With the VW’s optional DSG automatic, that was easy, but anyone can do it. All you have to do is keep an eye on the tachometer. After a few miles we discovered that the great torque of the engine allowed us to stay below 1,600 rpm on all but the steepest inclines. The Taylors say that even in city driving, they shift up to fifth gear, though most people rarely shift past third.
Tip three: Drive smoothly. That did require us to consciously change our driving habits, since we enjoy that little thrill that comes from rapid acceleration. On our first few miles in rush hour traffic along Ocean Avenue, we made some drivers unhappy as we slowly pulled away from the stoplights, but the funny thing was that they had ample time to give us dirty looks as we sat side-by-side at the next stoplight.
Tip four: Plan ahead to avoid changing speed unnecessarily. To do that required looking well ahead to avoid stopping at traffic lights as much as possible. We also didn’t want to have to slow down abruptly to avoid traffic or prepare for a tight curve. We did make a point of watching the rear view mirrors, using turn-outs to avoid inconveniencing drivers who wanted to drive faster than we did.
Tip five: Enjoy the journey. Both of us admitted that this test drive was a radically different experience from previous press trips. On the curving canyon roads between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive, we would normally be driving as close to safe limits as possible, enjoying the feeling of a good-handling car in tune with the road.
This time, however, we kept our speed to around 40 mph, except when coasting downhill with our foot off the throttle. Most modern engines shut off the injectors, using no fuel whatsoever whenever the throttle is completely closed; no need to shift into neutral or switch off the engine when coasting, both of which are unsafe practices.
The amazing thing was that, even though both of us had been through these canyons dozens of times, we were noticing for the first time the beautiful vistas along the ridges that had once been the backdrop for a long string of Paramount Pictures western movies. Along the coast, we actually had time to check out the surfers on the beach, and in the valleys we admired the beautiful horses in the white-fenced paddocks that, according to the signs we had time to read, are the home of the U.S. equestrian team.
With the windows down and the air conditioning turned off (a good way to save fuel at any speed under 50 mph) we could enjoy the variety of smells that the breeze carried through the windows: New-mown hay, flowers planted along the fences, good old-fashioned horse manure, and once, the aroma of skunk smelled early enough so we could avoid the carcass in the middle of the road.
Beyond turning another day of rushing curves and challenging apexes into a pleasurable opportunity to see the sights, reminding us those Sunday drives we once took with our families, how did we do on fuel?
As we drove, we were amazed to watch the average mpg read-out creep up on both the morning and afternoon drives to levels we’d never experienced before. No journalist we talked to recorded less than 35 mpg for the day’s trip, but we did even better. Our combined morning and afternoon average was 44.5 mpg, just good enough to give us the victory when the awards were announced at the evening dinner.
And all we had to do was slow down, shift sooner, and enjoy the drive.
Words by Gary Anderson. Photos by Mark Elias.
Leftlane reviewer Mark Elias’ full review of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI can be found here.
09/24, 2:37 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
So what you’re trying to impart to everyone here is that we should all drive like we’re stoned. Brilliant.
09/24, 2:38 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
On one hand, I admire their achievement; on another I hate coming up behind someone in an econobox who is trying to get the best mileage at everyone else’s expense. Like in the carpool lane when an ass in a Prius is holding-up traffic as they want to drive slower than the posted speed limit so they can get extra mileage. I say the roads are posted with a speed limit for a reason—to move traffic. Where do I send the bill for all the lost work productivity because some major dumb-ass wants to show the world how much of an ass they can really be?
09/24, 4:18 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Lariat, your right…
Your just right, that’s why I put bull horns under my lifted truck, that I do drive to work every now and then. So that I can drive next to “them” right before I pass them and let them “hear” what I think of there driving…LOL you gotta see there reaction…LOL
09/24, 4:39 PM
posted by:
non_biased_enthusiast
So, they are going to burn 160 gallons of fuel on their little trip just to get their picture in a book. Sounds like a great way to use less fossil fuel.
09/24, 5:08 PM
posted by:
shaver
What is VW paying these people? Someone make sure the side glass is not under thickness or they dont have a illegal waterpump.
09/24, 6:09 PM
posted by:
america1st
48 states , what about the other 9 states ? Plus Alaska and Hawaii.
09/24, 6:12 PM
posted by:
rfsmit
You guys are a hoot!
Canuck: “drive like we’re stoned”? No, that would be the people who think they own the road, complain about fuel prices, and drive like nutters.
Lariat: “Where do I send the bill for all the lost work productivity”? Same place you send the cash you saved on fuel, you dipstick!
Yarddog: “bull horns”. Has anyone ever pointed out how cute and small you look in your big clown car? Honk honk.
Non biased: “160 gallons of fuel” is a darned sight less for the same period than each one of the auto journos uses in every one of the auto mags and blogs you read.
Now, if only they’d run it on WVO I would have something positive to say about this exercise.
09/24, 6:37 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Rfsmit: We’ll be looking for you and your Prius. It’ll be easy…you’ll be the ass holding-up traffic.
09/24, 6:51 PM
posted by:
hfry
rfsmit they all have a point. If your going drive below the posted speed limit. Then you have no right to be endangering other drivers life’s by driving in the passing lane or in the Car-pool lane. You being the obvious Liberal Communist tree huger. You should be all for safety, and look your not.
My President is black…. But i wont buy a Prius.
09/24, 7:03 PM
posted by:
swamprat
I am sorry, but I want to hear more real world figures than that. Driving anything under 70 on a freeway is plain dumb and dangerous.
09/24, 7:12 PM
posted by:
The Stig
Won’t break any records for reliability.
09/24, 7:39 PM
posted by:
carguy123
In this day in age EVERY car is an econobox. Also most cars dont have any form of reliabilty. They are made to fail. The car companies make more money off the parts than they do the entire car.
09/24, 8:32 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
carguy- Ha! Every cars an econobox? Even the slowest of cars in the United States are twice as fast as ones found just 50 years ago, and often times just as fast as ones found just 30 years ago. It’s not funny when an Accord can outrun most sport cars on the road up till the late 90’s. And option lists are HUGE. Even Kia’s most humble offerings have huge lists of airbags, electronic gear and ’stuff’. And how do they make more off of parts than the entire car? Most cars today are twice as reliable as ones from the 80’s and later… nearly the only problem they have anymore is with electronics, which can be fixed in five minutes. When theres a major mechanical problem, you HEAR about it, it’s pretty major news.
09/24, 8:34 PM
posted by:
A4
yeah i usually like to be going a little faster than 25 mph when i have to merge from the onramp into 65mph traffic. unrealistic hippies.
09/24, 10:15 PM
posted by:
Lionwithoutpride
I will not disagree with anyone on the annoyance of being stuck behind someone who is 5 or more miles under the speed limit. However, take it from someone who drives a ‘94 Volvo 850 wagon . . . white . . . (jealous?)-it is not easy to keep up with most of the cars today (especially in a model sans turbo). yarddog82abn, I have been passed by plenty of guys like you. Many of those drivers were beeping and gesticulating. Usually this occurs when I am already well over the speed limit, which means they are really over the limit. And while I would never impeach your character yarddog82abn, I will leave you with the following tidbit from a psychiatrist who was doing his residency at the same hospital as my father: “The bigger the truck, the bigger the problem.” If one of ya’ll can show me how to make a 5 cylinder Volvo not be a road hazard (without suggesting I buy a new car, which my poor-ass cannot do-or sending away to ACME for rocket-skates), feel free.
09/24, 10:57 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Turbo it
09/25, 12:26 AM
posted by:
aexcorp
Listen, the truth is that driving like that makes life miserable for everybody. As for everything in life, the important part is to strike a balance. I consider driving to be a hobby as much as a necessity and a mean of mobility, and so I think that driving silly slow and pissing off everybody sucks, and cannot be tolerated, especially in the left lane… which happens all the time at least here in DC.
But by driving smooth when the traffic is denser, buying manual cars and by driving smart, there’s definitely great MPG saving, so just adapt the driving style to the situation and get the best of both worlds…
09/25, 12:36 AM
posted by:
sharpie
I didn’t read anything in the article about “interstate” or “car-pool lane.” So stop making up things that this couple didn’t do, as reported in the article.
On the other hand, people hogging the fast lane are annoying, but it’s just not the case here.
09/25, 1:02 AM
posted by:
olds307
and now back to the real world…….
Driving slow. great advice……. At work the other day I had to run a HONDA van through it’s OBD system check procedure: 5 minutes between 65 and 75 with cruise control set…… no problem……… then 5 minutes at 55 MPH with cruise set…….. almost wrecked the goddam thing!
09/25, 1:14 AM
posted by:
olds307
Lion: your Volvo 850 should have PLENTY of power. If it doesn’t, there’s something wrong w/ your car. I drive a 1981 Oldsmobile with the emissions choked 5.0 V8… it’s a SLUG compared modern fuel injected cars…….. if I can keep up….. scratch that…… PASS most traffic, you should have NO problem.
09/25, 3:14 AM
posted by:
Lionwithoutpride
olds307 . . . you will have to forgive my utter deficiency in terms of useful car knowledge, but isn’t a 5.0 V8 a pretty damn powerful engine (even with the emissions choker you reference)? The turbo 850s were great (the 940s and 960s even better), but the 0-60 quote time for a ‘93 Volvo 850 is apparently 9.4 seconds, which really wasn’t all that slow for the early-mid-nineties. However, now EVERYONE is always up my butt as I pretty much floor the car on on-ramps. All of this, I have been assured by the Volvo mechanics, is perfectly normal and simply a sign of my car being from another era (though when I was driving an ‘07 S40 loaner, I definitely decided the turbo would be necessary on that one as well). And no, this has nothing to do with me being the sort to drive with reckless abandon. I have yet to garner a ticket in 9 years of driving (knock on wood). I have just noticed that Volvos are not, on the whole, quick cars-even when you account for today’s Volvos v. other new cars. And I am utterly okay with that. I am sure the posters here are tired of me waxing on about how I drive the Volvo for its utility (I can fit my life in the car with each new shift in life) and safety (I buy into the Volvo safety p.r.-so sue me). The point of my earlier post is that I was just injecting the flip-side of the debate going on above. It is vexing to be nearly flooring a car and still have people angry because they left 5 minutes too late for work or have something to prove about their driving skills.
09/25, 3:19 AM
posted by:
Tony UK
I’m in the UK and have an 07 Jetta TDI DSG – my average mpg so far (imperial) is 51.9mpg! I always keep to the speed limit, rarely over and very rarely under either. Compared to my other car (08 smart fortwo 84bhp) that only does 42mpg (imperial) this Jetta is amazing.
09/25, 8:56 AM
posted by:
mulletmaster
Yeah Smart cars are not so smart.
Lion, as a fellow 850 wagon owner, non turbo sadly, they are good cars but never known for their performance. That being said i can still cruise 70-75 with no problems after i realized a powerhouse it will never be, but the car is paid for and has been good in the reliability dept thus far.
09/25, 10:54 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
Further evidence that the Jetta diesel is vastly superior to the Prius or any hybrid for that matter. Diesel is the answer.
09/25, 12:01 PM
posted by:
GaryAnderson
Just to keep things straight: when we went for fuel efficiency in the Jetta, we drove at the speed limit at all times. What we did not do was rush from stop light to stop light or accelerate any more than necessary when starting from a stop or merging into traffic flows. We also kept an eye on our mirrors and gave way to faster drivers on the two-lane roads whenever necessary.
We did ask the Taylors how they drove on the freeways, which constituted the majority of their routes; they said that their rule was to drive in the outside (slow lane) and keep pace with the trucks.
As an aside, its hard for me to figure out why anyone would want to waste gas on meaningless fast driving in traffic, unless their parents are still paying for their gasoline.
Gary Anderson
09/25, 1:47 PM
posted by:
ktulu
gr8 car ans she is a MILF!
09/25, 8:59 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
A MILF? You sick bastard, she isn’t ugly at all, for her age, but come on… anyways… Diesel definitely is the answer, at least for now.
09/25, 9:31 PM
posted by:
olds307
The Olds 307 “Y” produced 148 hp (110 kW) and 250 lb·ft in 1980-1984 models
Volvo 850 — 2.4L 168 hp I5 162 lb-ft
you have more HP, less torque…..
09/25, 9:40 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
“2″ on the MILF. If I had her as a passenger, I’d take it slow and easy too. It also explains the stupid grin on the guy’s face. Anyway you can photoshop him out of the pics?
09/26, 8:07 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
America1st gets my vote for best post.. I never realized there were 59 states in the US!