AIBU to have a 1.0 engine car?

[carou]

I commute four times a week over some country roads - I've been doing it for about 2 years now.

On this route there are some very - think 12 - 14% gradient - steep hills. Today on my way home, a Mini driver was behind me for a good 20 miles.

On flat/straight bits of road I'm fine at 60-65mph (and so is my little car), but on the hills my car really struggles - even if I drop to a low gear and properly rev it, which can't be good for my engine to do all the time, I struggle to get above 35-40mph.

Obviously this isn't ideal on a national speed limit road, but I'm literally unable to go any faster, and on some bits of the route I will pull in if there's a few cars behind me and I know I'll hold them up, but some places there isn't the opportunity - it's very rural and there aren't many places to pull up.

The Mini driver behind me dropped really far back on flat or straight bits, suggesting he didn't really have an issue with my speed (which was at the speed limit, so tough shit if he did), but every time we got to a hill he'd be aggressively up my arse, and at one point he flashed his full beams at me - only to drop all the way back when we got to the top!

My car isn't best suited for my commute, but it's all I can afford at the moment - knowing I'd have a lot of commuting, I opted to hire purchase something that was almost-new so I'd feel safe with all the driving, and a bigger engine was out of my price range. It's fine on the motorway and goes comfortably at 75, but the motorway version of my commute is 30 miles longer which, over a week, adds up a lot on my mileage, so I prefer the other way.

AIBU not to have a car that can handle the steep hills, or was the other driver just being a dick? I'm still a relatively new driver and sometimes worry if there's bits of driving etiquette I don't know yet (hence pulling over before big hills if I can - I don't want to hold anyone up!).

I think there are websites that will work it out roughly. But the best way to know in your car is a week of one, a week of another, and see which burns the most fuel.

So much depends on how you drive. People who brake and accelerate on motorways are much less efficient. The shape/weight/power of the car. Driving at 55mph is best but you don't want to be that person either! Traffic flow will affect it.

I love my little 1.0 @CaptainCabinets (except on hills) - that's why I'd be sad to get rid! But it looks like I just didn't know how to use my gears properly, sure it'll be fine. If I got a bigger car I'd just end up storing even more crap in the boot (walking boots and three different coats, anyone?)

Good idea @MrsTerryPratchett - think I'll try that out. I tend to set off about 5am so both types of road are quiet at that time and I can put cruise control on for the motorway, which I guess would save fuel as well?

If it's flat as a pancake you'll be OK with cruise control. But cruise control isn't necessarily more efficient when there's a change in elevation.

I'm so boring today

Ah, fair enough about the straight bits.

It could be as others have suggested, that you do need to go into a lower gear earlier, and rev it. I've recently changed from a 1.4 to a 1.2 car, and I am having to get into the way of using the gears differently with the smaller engine. Lower, sooner, with a bit more throttle seems to do the trick!

As long as you're not redlining it, it's fine to drop into second or even first to power up the hills. You need to anticipate the hills and change down to avoid losing momentum.

My current and last cars have been newish 1 litre Skodas and I also have a hilly commute and go out walking in the hills most weeks so have lots of experience of hilly driving.

I've found it useful to ignore the gear change indicator and any overly helpful passengers, which are based on fuel efficiency, not making progress. Often it is telling the to change up, but I know the engine isn't over revving and would labour if I changed up.

Your motorway commute would probably cost less in fuel and wear and tear on the car in the long run. As others have said, try and get some speed up before the hill and then drop the gear down. It won't harm your car and you won't struggle as much.