I have had little luck increasing the fuel economy of my 88 760T--I get a consistent 24 mpg highway whether the car has just been fully peaked and tuned or not, synthetic oil or dyno, winter or summer. I just spent the day dragging my 1958 VW out of ten years' of storage. That car gets a consistent 40 mpg, and while it doesn't have quite the creature comforts of a Volvo (the fuel gauge was an option), and the safety angle isn't as well developed (hard, undished steering wheel with a shaft just waiting to puncture my heart in an accident), it may pay for its insurance if fuel prices get any more, ah, realistic.

I have not tried synthetic tranny fluid, but will once the weather is more conducive to that messy job. From what I have heard, that's one of the most productive things one can do to improve fuel economy.

Why is Europe the benchmark for the right price of gas? Tell that to any place that does not have the wealth of Europe!