Lessons Learnt on My First Car Trip from Melbourne to Sydney

LJFurter on 14/01/2018 - 20:18
Last edited 14/01/2018 - 21:41 by 2 other users

Just got back from my first car trip, Melbourne to Sydney and thought I'd share some cost saving lessons.

  1. Pack light. You pay for every extra kilo in the car, and it really does add up over such a huge distance.
  2. Drive slow. 5km less than the posted limit (no less, its illegal). This will reduce your drag - and the side effect is that you'll enjoy the drive more, just remember to stay in the left lane (excepting see 4)
  3. Purchase fuel in town not on the highway. Usually about 4-6c cheaper in towns rather than the freeway. Goulburn was 15c cheaper in town.
  4. Take your corners. Like you are a race car, switch lanes to take the best line through each corner you reasonably can. It might not sound like much, but over such a long distance, it can really add up and shave of the kms
  5. Don't use cruise control. A well trained human will always beat cruise control for fuel efficiency. You can see a hill crest coming and back off ready to coast down etc
  6. Easy on the A/C. I'd say never use it, but sometimes the temperature can get to a snoozy high, the A/C will keep you fresh and alert, just remember to turn it off when you are not at the sleepy temp.

Anyone more experienced know some other good tips for saving on the trip?

Travel

closed Comments

  • nobarginsarehere on 18/01/2018 - 03:22
    +1

    OP is laughing his ass off, trolled everyone good

  • sendoor on 18/01/2018 - 09:32

    In Goulburn, there is a Woolworths caltex around 5mins drive from the Shell. Most of the time it’s price closed to Sydney price.
    Sad is they close at 9pm

    Always better to check the fuel check app

  • myusername on 18/01/2018 - 10:45
    +2

    try not to fill the radiator, fuel tank or oil reserve up too much also this just adds excess weight to your vehicle.

  • fl360 on 18/01/2018 - 14:15
    +2

    hitchhiking is cheapest… until you meet Ivan Milat ….

    if you have to drive, drive at night without headlights on to save fuel,
    also because it is cooler can avoid turning on A/C

    also drive right at the back of a container truck to reduce air resistance.

  • PMmeYourEneloops on 18/01/2018 - 15:30
    +1

    Fluid dynamics is pretty complicated, your drag is reduced but your trip time is increased. Some newer cars might travel more efficiently at higher speed, plus you'd be 50km behind at the end of a 10hr drive. Thanks for thinking of us but your tips are either basic or pretty whack lol

  • Levathian on 18/01/2018 - 15:45

    Tbh OP you should drive at 200km/h in straight sections, therefore in a 100km/h zone you are going twice as fast so you are using half as much fuel because you are on the road for less time. Also because you are going so fast, no speed camera can catch you because you'd be a blur. Win win!

    Btw my top tip for crossing the nullabor is to go on google earth and find the great circle line between destinations and just drive across the desert. Saves you like 200km of driving!!!

  • clement1986 on 18/01/2018 - 18:27

    driving such distance without cruise on, highway patrol should have booked you for fatigue…

    • cloudy on 23/01/2018 - 09:47

      My car doesn’t even have cruise control, should I be booked automatically for driving? Pretty stupid comment honestly.

  • Nick4747 on 19/01/2018 - 11:30

    Please for the sake of other drivers, and for your own, use cruise control!!!!!!

    My diesel Citroen C4 Cactus uses less than one tank to drive to Sydney from Melbourne. About $50 worth.

  • jackspratt on 19/01/2018 - 23:59

    380 responses (to date), and not another dickey-bird from the OP - who joined OzB just to impart their "wisdom".

    He/she must be rolling around with laughter under their bridge.

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