Guess what modification I made today & win a prize!

[Wazabi Owner]

OK, I decided to play a guessing game.

Today I did a modifacation to my Metro. I doubt very seriously that it will help my mileage too much though. However if the car behind me is drafting they may see benefits just from my little Metro being in front of them. You never know, stranger things have happened.

I will ONLY reveal this modification with the blessing of Matt as it may be a trade secret and then we all go to jail, I don't want that to happen. So we'll have to see if he approves of this mod, if not I fully understand.

[Matt Timion]

My name is Matt Timion, and I approve of this message

[Wazabi Owner]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

My name is Matt Timion, and I approve of this message

EXCELLENT! Let the game begin!!!!

[SVOboy]

Is it a partial boattail?

[Wazabi Owner]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Is it a partial boattail?

Nope, smaller & lighter.

[ketel0ne]

rear diffuser under the gas tank and bumper?

[Wazabi Owner]

Originally Posted by ketel0ne

rear diffuser under the gas tank and bumper?

Nope, still even lighter and smaller.

Guesses:
partial boattail
rear diffuser

Clues:
Small
Light
possibly no mileage gain for me (maybe) but could net huge gains for who ever is following close enough

[ketel0ne]

Is it a gassavers.org bumper sticker?

[Jack]

Originally Posted by ketel0ne

Is it a gassavers.org bumper sticker?

Crap that was my guess!!!!!

[lindermant]

some sort of electronic display showing your instantaneous MPG readout to folks riding your bumper?

[kickflipjr]

^
That would be awesome.

[Wazabi Owner]

Now what would make you guess that? You know there is no such thing as a GasSaver.Org bumper sticker...........or IS THERE???? ketel0ne YOU are the winner!!! Did Matt tell you or did you do your research and notice on my first post that I mentioned I did up some custom stickers for my Insight? Anyhoo, ketel0ne, you are the winner BUT......since Jack did say that was his guess as well and I haven't been back online he gets a prize too!! The prize you ask??? Your VERY own GasSavers.Org bumper sticker to tie you over until Matt can sell you one once his order comes in. These are limited edition and you two will be the only two to have one besides my Metro and Insight. ketel0ne/Jack - PM me and I'll get you set up where you'll be styling by next weekend. Perfect for covering up dents too.....

THE PRIZE!!!

Originally Posted by ketel0ne

Is it a gassavers.org bumper sticker?

[ketel0ne]

I reread the wording of your post, and figured unless you added a semi trailer to the back of your geo the best other thing for the guy behind you would be a gassavers sticker.

[SVOboy]

Gimme gimme!!

[Wazabi Owner]

Originally Posted by ketel0ne

I reread the wording of your post, and figured unless you added a semi trailer to the back of your geo the best other thing for the guy behind you would be a gassavers sticker.

That's some good thinking. ketelOne My next clue would of been "Most teens modify their cars this way for performance but it only essentially has a placebo effect. My modifaction has been tweaked to suit ME."

SVOboy - I'd love nothing more than to hook you up with one but it really wouldn't be fair to Matt. I know that sounds mean but it's only a matter of time before Matt can hook you up with one. If his deal does fall through for some unforseen reason I can get him to the right people to make a mass purchase. For the most part I do small custom "one off" stuff - maybe tomorrow I'll add one of my OEM look-a-like stickers to the garage of Wazabi. You'll like it a lot - I'm sure of that - even if it is hybrid related.

[BEN_EJ8]

Originally Posted by Wazabi Owner

"Most teens modify their cars this way for performance but it only essentially has a placebo effect. My modifaction has been tweaked to suit ME."

Youre not talking about those circular "speed" holes are you?

[Jack]

Don't worry I am still SO buyin an offical bumper sticker too when Matt gets them up for sale.

[ketel0ne]

Originally Posted by Jack

Don't worry I am still SO buyin an offical bumper sticker too when Matt gets them up for sale.

Me TOO!!!

[Wazabi Owner]

Originally Posted by BEN_EJ8

Youre not talking about those circular "speed" holes are you?

No, I was talking about the stickers. I actually used to do that too when I was a kid, but I ONLY put on the stickers for what I was running. Edelbrock, Holley, Speed Pro, Cherry Bomb etc. The only sticker I left off was NOS - this was 20 years ago and my dad wouldn't let me run my NOS (Nitrous Oxide Systems - NOT NNOOOSSSSS - crack on Fast & Furious). He knew I would disintegrate my engine if I did that, I had it but I had $3000 in my engine in a $2000 car in high school. I got about 6MPG back then, my how times have changed.

Now the kids have gone overboard on stickers. Kind of funny.

[Wazabi Owner]

Originally Posted by lindermant

some sort of electronic display showing your instantaneous MPG readout to folks riding your bumper?

I would love to do that but I think that would only make people mad. I've really been pondering getting the LED license plate frame that has a readout. I was behind some dude the other day that said "Ladies - For a good time call XXX-XXX-XXXX". I had to beat my wife with a sack of oranges when she started to call it. Just kidding, she didn't call it - and I didn't beat her.

ketelOne - Jack Kudos to you for still getting a REAL GasSavers.Org sticker when they are offically released.

[BEN_EJ8]

Oh ok. I know this is off topic, but has anybody ever tried putting holes in their back bumper to reduce drag, and theoretically raise FE?

[kickflipjr]

Yes. I think most of us prefer to not cut giant holes in our bumpers. If a bumper is poorly designed it will catch the air. The holes let air out. A better solution is to make a rear belly pan to fill in the gaps.

[lindermant]

Originally Posted by Wazabi Owner

I would love to do that but I think that would only make people mad. I've really been pondering getting the LED license plate frame that has a readout. I was behind some dude the other day that said "Ladies - For a good time call XXX-XXX-XXXX". I had to beat my wife with a sack of oranges when she started to call it. Just kidding, she didn't call it - and I didn't beat her.

too funny

[Ted Hart]

Originally Posted by BEN_EJ8

Oh ok. I know this is off topic, but has anybody ever tried putting holes in their back bumper to reduce drag, and theoretically raise FE?

Hi! Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there A CAR in front of your "holes in back bumper" idea? Or... do you drive very fast in reverse gear?

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Ted Hart

Hi! Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there A CAR in front of your "holes in back bumper" idea? Or... do you drive very fast in reverse gear?

Actually air travels UNDER the car as well. In some designs the bumper acts like a sail and holds back the back a little bit.

This is the exact reason you'll notice race cars with holes in the bumper.

[DaX]

Hurry up Matt, I want my sticker!!!! //end jealous rage

[JanGeo]

I wonder if the air trapped under the car at the rear bumper becomes the bubble that forms in the back of a pickup truck and doesn't really make a lot of drag. I would think that a thin plastic bumper/ground effect like the rear of my xB would bend backwards like crazy if exposed to 60-80 mpg wind all the time . . . I got the feeling that it traps air and pushes it out the sides through the rear wheel wells. I am also trying to figure out how I can make the front bumper rounder and blend into the front wheel area more smoothly to see if that would affect FE. Right now it turns inward with a negative radius and then flips outward just in front of the wheel well - making it round and wider than the wheels would push the air right past the tires an dmaybe reduce some drag.

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

I wonder if the air trapped under the car at the rear bumper becomes the bubble that forms in the back of a pickup truck and doesn't really make a lot of drag. I would think that a thin plastic bumper/ground effect like the rear of my xB would bend backwards like crazy if exposed to 60-80 mpg wind all the time . . . I got the feeling that it traps air and pushes it out the sides through the rear wheel wells. I am also trying to figure out how I can make the front bumper rounder and blend into the front wheel area more smoothly to see if that would affect FE. Right now it turns inward with a negative radius and then flips outward just in front of the wheel well - making it round and wider than the wheels would push the air right past the tires an dmaybe reduce some drag.

Jan, I'm fascinated by the xB. It has 45" of legroom, which is one of the two reasons that I drive a full size pickup truck.

The other reason for needing a pickup is that I go off road quite a bit, and I need ground clearance. I had a Toyota Matrix 4wd, and I kept losing plastic bits off road. The Matrix had a cramped seat and no legroom. It killed my back and legs.

Are the xB spoilers on the front and rear bumpers and on the rocker panel covers removable? It would have a lot more ground clearance without them.

Better yet, I wish Toyota would install the Matrix 4wd system with taller springs and no spoilers, and make the xB off-road capable.

[JanGeo]

NOPE ! the engine in the xB is pretty tall and it has about 5.9" of ground clearance on some really stiff springs and the other problem is that the wheels are at the very ends of the vehicle front and rear so you don't grind the front or rear air dams but the undercarriage will take a beating on uneven ground. Usually I can lay on the ground and reach under the vehicles I have owned and at least get to the engine drain plug for the oil change not so with this beast - can barely get my head under it to look at anything - even the floor jack has to be pumped in the front wheel well until the body get high enough to fit under the driver side door when jacking up the front end at the jack point. There are coils over shocks front and rear so maybe a lifting kit could raise it but it would be tough on the front axles as they are different lengths also. Actually it has really high seats - a friend of mine was having to hold on to the grab handle above the door and the door arm rest on turns in the front seat then I realized that his feet were barely touching the floor. The back seat however is like a limo.

[Wazabi Owner]

I take my Matrix offroad everyday. A disavantage of living in the country. The most damage I've gotten is from curbs - the oh so cool aftermarket styling of the '03-'04's takes some getting used to since its so low.

I don't think it's too cramped once you get the seat adjusted, I like the option to raise it or lower it. My wife doesn't like it and does mention it is cramped to her.

Originally Posted by Sludgy

The other reason for needing a pickup is that I go off road quite a bit, and I need ground clearance. I had a Toyota Matrix 4wd, and I kept losing plastic bits off road. The Matrix had a cramped seat and no legroom. It killed my back and legs.

Better yet, I wish Toyota would install the Matrix 4wd system with taller springs and no spoilers, and make the xB off-road capable.