Best method of coasting for MPG+?

[waynne]

I read yesterday about a method called pulse driving where you accelerate upto 70 and then let the car momentum drop to 60 before accelerating again. I just wonder if this will actually bear out in practice? Surely accelerating takes more fuel than keeping at a constant speed?

Has anyone tried this method out? Apart from making your passengers seasick I need a little more persuasion to convince me.

[pgarner]

i would have thought this would use more fuel. unless your on a downhill slope. the accelerating and breaking are the 2 biggest cause of consumption of fuel, when the car is in correct working order

[HDi fun]

Pulse driving doesen't work for economy. Friction losses see to that.

Braking uses no fuel at all. It's the accelerating back to speed afterwards that uses fuel.

[waynne]

Thought so. What about the fact that the car is travelling at an average speed of 65 instead of 70?

I suppose this moves the arguement to driving at a constant 65!

Do you find cruise control gives better economy than a good drivers response to the road?