That’s right Josh: You can have your own flux capacitor, but you’d better hurry. They only made 1000 of them. I hope you’ve been saving your money too… they are about $250. Take a little gander over at Think Geek!

So, I mentioned a few posts back that I am trying out different fuels in my Yaris (I am secure in my manhood, after all.)

I had run one tank of gasoline of an unknown origin from the dealership, which rendered 38mpg. I ran 3 tanks of a generic brand gasoline which rendered on the upper end of 38mpg (Somewhere between 38.7 and 38.8) and now 2 tanks of Texaco gas which gave me….. wait for it…. wait for it….. WORSE gas mileage. I was astonished. The reduction was small, somewhere in the 38.05 and 38.2 mpg, but it is worse.  So I guess I am back to the el-con-o cheap-o gas station for now.

Wayne, I realize exactly how un-scientific this study is. I know my sample isn’t broad enough to TRULY prove that it is worse. I’m at peace with that fact.

I’m going to start with a fuel additive soon to see what benefit it may have. I will post results as I get them.

If you read this blog, and I am assuming that since you are reading this sentence then you read this blog, you’ll know that through much grief and ridicule I recently purchased a Toyota Yaris. This has resulted in some amount of ridicule, but when I fill up all that goes away. I’ve been consistently getting 38 mpg since the beginning, but after some reading I am trying a new tactic.

I have been running gas from one of the cheaper stations around. Don’t get me wrong it’s not bad gas, but it may not be the BEST gas either. So as of my last fill up I am running a name brand gasoline for a couple of tanks to see if perhaps it really does give me a better result.  If it does give a better result, I have the fun of deciding how much more per gallon it is worth to buy that name brand gasoline.
So far, and this is by no means final, my impression is that it will make a difference. The previous tank dropped one bar (the gas gauge is an LED based, not an analog meter) at between 67-70 miles.  This tank the first bar dropped around 90 miles. I’m interested to see how it pans out. I’ll keep the blog updated.

Edit: Added Picture Gallery

Despite the calls for my man card, and the urging to stay away because people driving a Yaris in North Alabama could be labeled a communist and let’s not forget the very pointed “Yaris is a chick car” post on my buddy Grant’s blog, we have purchased a 2008 Toyota Yaris in Dark Blue Mica.

Personally I think Grant is trying to cover for the fact that he bought a car that is clearly chick oriented, a Yellow Xterra. Grant… shifting the focus to me doesn’t help your case. It makes you seem defensive.

Anyway, I have several things I would like to bring before the man-council before my card is revoked.

1. My Yaris is a respectable color. Dark Blue is unquestionably manly. (See Photo Gallery Here)
2. It is the Yaris Sedan, and as such would not fit in the bed of any normal pickup truck.
3. It has a manual transmission. How many chicks do you see driving a stick? (Insert obvious witch/broomstick jokes here)
4. Leg room is an important thing for any man. This car has alot of it, both in the front seat and in the back seat. At the same time.
5. I didn’t get rid of my truck. I still have a very manly Chevrolet pickup, it has a spray-in bedliner (Black… none of that sissy color matched stuff) and if it would make the man-council feel better I could have a trailer hitch installed despite my lack of anything to pull.
6. As an argument for my manliness, I would like to present exhibit A: A 50″ DLP HDTV.
7. As an argument for my manliness, I would also like to present exhibit B: My gun collection, currently up to 5 firearms. 3 handguns, a shotgun and a rifle. I have hunted and killed animals. This is, without question, a manly activity.
8. I am a musician, but I play all the manly instruments: Drums, Bass Guitar and Low Brass.

So, in closing I would like to ask mercy from the man council, and consideration of one more fact. I calculated my fuel mileage today and I got nearly 40mpg. It will likely get better after 500 miles. Think of all the cool manly stuff I can afford because of saving that much fuel!

Ok, so I am debating on what to do about a car. I spent more on fuel last month than I did on my mortgage, house insurance and property taxes. That’s pretty ridiculous.

So here is a poll. What should I do about my fuel mileage problem? In the interest of full disclosure, I am leaning toward getting a Yaris.

Please leave a comment after you vote in the poll.