Mr. Toad's Wild Ride -- at 93 Miles Per Gallon

I've just finished my tenure with the 2007 Upward Bound program at SDSU. Along with subjecting young minds to the wonders of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, I decided to subject myself and my folks' Chinese scooter to some serious roadtesting. Of the 23 days I had to make the 43-mile drive from Lake Herman to the SDSU campus to teach, I drove the scooter on 15 of them.

The results? Not too bad:

1. The scooter averaged 93.32 miles per gallon over 1214.8 miles (four times the miles we put on the machine last summer).
2. The scooter maintained an average country-road speed of 40 mph.
3. I saved $82.54 -- 67.90% -- on what I would have spent on gas driving those 15 trips in our 2001 Ford Focus.
   
4. Each day's commute -- 86 miles -- took 25-40 minutes longer, depending on wind speed and direction.
   
5. I had to wait out a couple afternoon thundershowers, one at the Index in Brookings, one behind a shed on a farm on the Norwegian Boulevard after I failed to outflank the only thundercloud in eastern South Dakota that afternoon.

See complete fuel mileage data at LakeHerman.org. Then see if 67% savings on gas are worth a few more minutes a day outside with the wind in your hair and bugs in your teeth.