Recently I started trying a newer technique to save gas...

"To heck with just coasting when I'm able, let's drive this ark like it's a standard, and see how much we can save then" I said to myself.

See, I drive a 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88, the car my grandparents drove me around in when I was only 9 years old. It's yellow, and it's HUGE.

And it got a mere 12MPG before I started my journey to save gasoline...

Since we started trying to save on gas, I'd cut my transportation fuel expenditures down from nearly $200 a month to about $70, and that's not due to decreasing gas prices either.

It's not lurchy at all once you get the hang of it either.

Of course driving an automatic like a standard takes skill, patience, and sometimes a third hand if you've only ever driven an automatic before, but we all know that vehicles with manual transmissions get better mileage than the same vehicle with an automatic, right?

So I tried it.

At first, I was only shifting into neutral at stoplights and drive-thrus, but after a while, I got the idea that I could coast in neutral too, only shifting into gear when I needed an extra push.

And it worked!

Our fuel cost for last month was only $40!

So what's with the title?

The other day, my husband finally noticed what I was doing, and pointed out to the kids that I was "learning to drive a space shuttle". When I asked him what he meant, he replied that space shuttles employ short bursts of fuel, ten float along in their intended direction, off and on until they reach their destination, just like I've learned to do. chuckle

But I ave to wonder exactly what our costs will drop to once we can afford to buy a smaller, more fuel efficient car, and I'm still employing all of my valuable economy-driving techniques.

I know one thing for sure; it is a lot easier to put aside money for that eventual purchase with our fuel costs so low. smile