Something to be happy about - 38.4 MPG

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cool, im averaging about 34mpg in my neon with the occasional 36mpg tank. i do nothing special and fill it with regular 87, generally its mobil but it does not really matter. i might have to give that fp a shot and see what happens. i got 40mpg on a highway trip before. i drive about 90% highway and drive between 70 and 80mph.
 
Lucas UCL also yields MPG increases and is readily available off the shelf. In my case it gives a bigger increase than FP60.


What bothers me is that we can get this quite good fuel economy coming from cars in the early 90's (and with 100k+ miles) and today's new cars are not getting substantially higher MPG. You would think that in the last decade they could have squeezed another 10% in economy out of a 4cyl. Civics, Corollas, Sentras, Foci, etc should be getting mid 40's for highway MPG without being a hybrid. Where's the technological advancements?
 
^^^ i totatally agree. but there has not been a strong demand for high mpg cars since gas has been a lot less. i used to pay gallon when i started driving 5 years ago. now that gas is much more money people are wanting vehicles with better fuel economy, hence the hybrid suvs and cars, even though i think hybrid stuff is a bunch of crap.

one thing that will be good for mpg is ultra low sulfer diesel fuel. this diesel will reduce the particulates that some states are concerned with. maybe this will bring diesels that are only sold in europe over here. and maybe this will lead to manufacturers allotting more money for diesel research. with small diesels in cars you are nearly guarenteed 40+mpg on the highway and you will have sufficient power and an engine that would outlast nearly any body a manufacturer would put it in. i dont see why, with a little more research, a diesel car cant get 50+ mpg. if a 8500lb quad cab long bed truck with 4x4 and an auto with 325hp and 610ft-lbs can get 18+mpg on the highway, why cant a 2500 - 3300lb car with much better aerodynamics and less power, maybe 140hp and 240ft-lbs, get 50+mpg? well, i can only hope.
 
surfstar, I think the technology is exhibited by the increase HP in these smaller engines, at the expense of efficiency. Some of these little machines crank out astounding power numbers compared to yesteryear, while still being very reliable.
 
I only got 44mpg last week with cruise set at 80mph :-( Maybe fuel economy on my little 1.9L 4 banger will get better once it is broken in.

38.4 mpg on a gasser is incredible.
 
YOUP, 2002 Saturn SL1 1.9 SOHC (family)– 37mi/gal on good freeways, 33-35 on bad freeways, 80% freeways 20% streets
2001 Saturn SC2 1.9 DOHC (MINE) – 29-31 mi/gal – has more aggressive gears and I drive it a bit harder, drive to/from work 1/3 freeways 2/3 streets.
 
ToyotaNSaturn,

Could all those hailstones have actually improved the aerodynamics of your Saturn???
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44MPG @ 80mph?!?!?! Wow.
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I got an avg. of 42-47MPG going 60mph on Iowa flattops. But at 80mph thats incredible. What car???

About VW diesels and bioethanol/biodiesel cars... They are constantly hitting 50+MPG. Read about the VW Jetta TDI in Autoweek. Seriously considering VW cars if gas prices continue the way they are.
 
i WILL NOT have another VW in my family ever. the current one is too much of a pita and they are soo expensive to work on. ill wait for some other diesel cars to show up on the market as a vehicle for my fiance but im gonna get me a cummins
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quote:
You would think that in the last decade they could have squeezed another 10% in economy out of a 4cyl. Civics, Corollas, Sentras, Foci, etc should be getting mid 40's for highway MPG without being a hybrid. Where's the technological advancements?
Click to expand...
Don't forget.....the Corolla , Civic, Sentras have all gotten heavier over the last ten years.

There is NO WAY a 2004 (4 door Civic LX) weighs as much as a 1994 (4 door Civic LX)
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Magoo:
Don't forget.....the Corolla , Civic, Sentras have all gotten heavier over the last ten years.

There is NO WAY a 2004 (4 door Civic LX) weighs as much as a 1994 (4 door Civic LX)
Click to expand...
Yeah that's what's annoying. The HP has increased just to keep up with the weight and so the MPG stays the same. Now they have the new models (Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, etc) that are smaller and still only get MPG that small economy cars were getting 10 years ago.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Magoo:
Don't forget.....the Corolla , Civic, Sentras have all gotten heavier over the last ten years.

There is NO WAY a 2004 (4 door Civic LX) weighs as much as a 1994 (4 door Civic LX)
Click to expand...
i think that this is because people want more luxury, more luxury means more weight. people want luxury more than they want economy. all of those cars are a lot nicer now than they were 10 years ago.
 
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