Nothing new. Maybe 50 years ago I carpooled with a guy who was one of those who wouldn't turn on his headlights unless it was pitch black. One day I pointed out to him it was getting kinda dark, might be a good idea to turn them on...he just turned on the parking lights! Not sure if he was absent minded or just didn't like being able to see/be seen. Stopped riding with him shortly thereafter.
Friend of mine, a very Kramer like guy, always drove without lights even in the countryside. He put reflectors on his car so people would know he was there.
Took the fan belt off his alternator and put a solar panel on his roof to charge his battery.
Claimed it saved significant gas.
When his AC broke down he put a window unit in the back seat, drilled a hole in the floor to drain off the water and ran it off an inverter and 2 large deep cycle batteries.
You couldn't convince him the additional weight used more gas than what he saved, if anything, disconnecting his alternator.
With the inverter he also plugged in a one cup coffee maker and a toaster so he never had to go to a coffee shop.
He would pump up his tires to 60+ lbs to improve milage.
On a long road trip, Niagara Falls to Edmonton, his low oil light came on.
What to do? No extra oil, miles to the next town.
He added water to the crankcase to bring up the oil level and made it to town.
There he went to a quick oil change place and got a couple gallons of used oil and off he went.
Somewhere along the highway he ran out of gas so he had to push. To help he opened his doors and trunk to act as a sail.
When he had gas money he would carry a full gas can in his trunk but would only put a gallon or less in the tank. He claimed the extra weight reduced his mileage.
But... You couldn't convince him the weight was still in the car.
And these are just some of his ...