Definitely depends on the driver.  After driving various diesels for the
past 6 or so years, I think I'm a more conservative driver than any
computerized cruise control system could ever be.

Like someone else mentioned, I always speed up on an approach to upcoming
hills.  Also, I rarely floor it going up steep hills.  I keep a constant
throttle rather than a constant speed.  In my mind, that would result in
greater fuel economy. After all, it's throttle position rather than speed
that moreso effects fuel consumption.

Bradley Flubacher
State College, PA
'82 VW diesel westy
'84 GL wasserboxer

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Mick Kalber
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 9:58 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Fuel consumption

Funny... I always figured cruise control would give the best possible gas
mileage since there is almost no variation in the speed.  Isn't a constant
speed (within a reasonable range of course) an optimal ingredient for good
gas mileage?  I suppose it would depend on the quality of the cruise control
to some extent, but seems like the consistency of it would be a benefit
rather than a detriment, no?

Mick
89 Syncro Westy
Hilo, Hawaii