95vert,
I decided to do a test to see how much gas I could save if I refrained from getting on the throttle hard in my usual fashion.
I commute 25 miles round trip with my car M - F each week. It's back roads all the way, so it affords me the chance to do some "spirited" driving.
Last tank of gas, I drove much more conservatively than usual. No hard starts, carving corners, full throtle acceleration runs, etc. Bottom line... it netted me 1 MPG more than my usual driving habits do. I usually get 18 MPG commuting. My conservative driving tank full only netted me 19 MPG.
There's a lesson here... I'm just not sure what it is?!!?