This one stuck out as a "what took so long" idea:

Hope they don't mind the hotlink. Very cool idea, long overdue. It apparently pops up to create a full cap and is easily removable.

Next step for me: Moon Equipment smoothie wheel discs.

The single most important mod happens not to the car, but to the driver. I haven't done anything special to my truck, and meeting the EPA estimates would be a seriously lousy performance for me. I can beat the EPA all day, every day.

@elhigh: Don't we all wish we could beat the EPA every day?

Picked up some good tips on how to run my car on water through all of their ads. It only cost me $500 today but I will be driving for free for the rest of my life. Can't wait until my kit comes then I can get rid of my huricaine, fuel line magnets, and tin foil driving helmet.

Yes (fist pump)

@Ben Wojdyla: With sticks and Bats

@Ben Wojdyla: You took the words right out of my mouth. Can we use hammers when we beat them?

@ash78: what about.. does one need a big car like that everyday? what about getting a smaller car and rent the big one when needed?

For warm weather city driving, I have a modified scooter that does around 90mpg. It costs around $2 to fill up. You also don't have to pay for parking and there is always somewhere to park.

Car Companies: Just add a 6 foot boat tail to every future design and never worry about EPA estimates again!

@sos10: That's what I do (rent the Lowe's flatbed when I have hauling to do).

Which brings up an interesting conundrum--does new fuel economy standards really solve anything, or is it just an incentive to drive more (and bigger)? My experience has been that people are constrained far more by their wallets than by their conscience.

There's a little part inside my head that yearns for a diesel so I can drive more while keeping my fuel cost flat. What does that really solve for the environment or oil dependence? Nothing.

@sos10: Every weekend? No thanks.

Unfortunately, peak demand defines the car purchase. Not everyone's got the space/cash for having a car for every purpose.

Future QOTD submission: Why don't we see more DIY monoposto conversions?

@Mad_Science: Well if you need it every weekend, it makes sense... but I always wonder why people think they need bigger cars in the US than they do anywhere else.

that Geo Metro is awesome love the half spoiler

@sos10:

Because big cars are awesome, and we can. No midsize or smaller car I have ever ridden in has come close to replicating the ride quality of my 12-year old Fleetwood.

Plus, I can fit four across in the backseat and three more upfront, which does present a problem as I always get stuck as the designated driver.

@sos10: part of the problem is that americans dont think. they are socialized to be impulsive and always want more things that have to be bigger and better than the last.

@orangeroller: ...and that's why we rule the f-king world.

Sorry, I'm in a Friday mood.

Seriously, though. It's an American cultural thing to want to be the most capable/prepared. We're willing to pay more (and thus consume more) to have the ability to do X (drive fast, haul shit, drive offroad) even if we might never do it.

You could make an argument about rampant consumerism and conspicuous consumption, and you'd also be right. I'm not defending Super Dutys on 22" wheels with 38" tires.

@Nayrlladnar: Have my Tatra pulled to the front, please.

That Metro looks like a M C Escher print. I can't even focus on the damn thing. (heh, little car puns).

@ash78: Hmm that fellow claims to have gotten ~4 MPG improvements in highway fuel economy but I do not believe it. I also see all the teardrop shaped cars on ecomodder. Basically these two ideas are are not a great way to reduce drag.

Generally the two ways to avoid drag are to decrease wind friction and not to cause turbulence. Generally a winning design at higher speeds is one where the back slopes down a bit and then abruptly drops down.

In the truck case what you have done is increased the drag from wind friction. The truck without it is basically ideal. An air pocket forms in the bed and the air over the cab travels over that. With this long surface friction has been increased and the air pocket has been removed.

The teardrop shapes, all they do is is increase wind friction as well. The Prius is already a fantastic shape.

These hypermilers like to drive insanely slowly for a large part of thier driving, and that is only where this shape can help.

@ranwhenparked: Wish I had that many friends.

.
I've always envisioned remote-controlled tow hooks on the front of ecomiler's cars. Just grab on to the never-used hitch on the ute in front of you at the Charbucks drive-through. The ditz with the cell phone at the wheel won't even notice you're there.

Oh, wait -- the way ute-driving bi#ches cut off other cars on the interstate, a trailer wouldn't survive.

As for the main pic: DON'T LOOK LIKE THE TREKKIE TO CUT DOWN ON SURFACE AREA. BY A HAYABUSA!

That's some crazy ass asymmetric shit right here.

It kinda looks like the old future cars, but I guess when you start going into the purpose built direction, you don't get the same recognition as the hyper car makers.

Kinda reminds me of ice sleds with side cars.

That car hurts my eyes like that three-pronged optical illusion.

With so many modifications, how is this different than purpose-built university machines that get 1000 mpg?

why not just get a scooter?

Also that "72mpg" claim from the 2007 Honda Civic i-CTDi is bogus. That's not daily driving, they filled the tank, immediately got on the highway, cruised and drafted large semis, then got off the highway and immediately filled their tank again. How realistic is that? When will I ever really get that 72mpg number in reality?

I always do the same thing when I get a car, and it's good for 3 honest MPG. Worked on my Vette, minivan, and town car. I just got an 05 Lincoln Aviator and the things I add:

Zmax, first for a couple hundred miles to clean it out, then oil change and put in another long term.

K&N air filter, if they have a cold air intake for your vehicle get it instead. Since it's mainly a cone air filter, they cross fit a lot of vehicles/engines.

Replace the accordion style tunnel from the air filter box to the intake, these are a fairly general size and you can measure it and get one made for a different car that will fit, even cut it with a razor knife if you buy one that's too long.

Water Wetter: which reduces the surface tension of the coolant in the radiator. I live in South Florida so anything I can do to reduce temps in the brutal summers help.

Nitrogen in the tires, smoother ride and nitrogen molecules are larger so they don't leak out, can safely check tire pressure less often than with air.

Don't use the Tornado, it doesn't work, don't waste money on gas additives to boost octane or improve mileage, they don't work. Fuel injector cleaner isn't a bad idea, but that comes with Zmax so I never buy it. Most important, don't buy premium gas if your car doesn't require it (check the owners manual). If your timing and compression don't need it, then you're paying 10 percent too much for gas.

Whoops almost forgot, to replace the accordion style tunnel, you can get these same diameter rubber tubes from an HVAC supply place, then cut them to fit if you have a car and can't find one for it. Be sure to get a spray can of automotive clear coat and spray the INSIDE of it to reduce air drag going through it. Nice smooth surface helps the air flow, this can be drastically cheaper than buying an aftermarket tunnel, as 2 feet of rubber hose in the diameter to match what you have is going to cost peanuts.

@sos10: That's what I did - and the damned rental got better mileage than my Subie.

Don't go for boxy all-wheel-drive hoopies if you don't need them.

Not to digress too far, but I just replaced the goofy noise-muffling-motor-choking air intake tube in my diesel with a piece of 4" dryer vent hose, available at any decent hardware store. It's just rigid enough to stay in place, yet just pliable enough to form a nice seal to the air cleaner and front core support with some hose clamps. No hard data on mileage gains (yet), but anything is better than the stock piece. And some redneck motor bling to boot...