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I am not familiar with the Renault motor, so take this reply with a grain of salt. I think you should shift the transmission at a higher rpm, however once at a stable speed, at 30 MPH, I would be in 4th gear, not 5th.
Do you have an owner's manual? What is the recommended shift range there? Is there a magazine test with your motor that shows the power curves? Where do they start measuring?
Gas mileage has a lot to do with starting and stopping, and of course the accellerating after the stop is what kills your total mileage. Once up to highway speeds, air drag becomes an issue. You need more horsepower to overcome the increased drag, and more gas to accelerate to that speed. So, you are on the right track, but perhaps a bit too extreme.
I do not run any of my engines below 2000 RPM's for any extended period of time, and tend to agree with the gentleman from the Renault Dealership.
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