What is more important to you: Power or MPG?

[ZZman]

There are many vehicles today with high horsepower. I just don't see the point of it unless you plan on doing some racing/track use on occasion.

MPG is important to me as I try to drive moderately. Coasting to lights, no jack rabbit starts, no flooring it for passing etc...

How about you? Do you have to have power and use it, or do you like squeezing out every drop of energy out of fuel?

 

[SC Maintenance]

So buy a Prius?

Seriously, there are cars to fit every preference. Just because you see one as pointless doesn't mean others do.

 

[ZZman]

So buy a Prius?

Seriously, there are cars to fit every preference. Just because you see one as pointless doesn't mean others do.

But you didn't answer the question....

 

[rijndael]

I'll play. I'm your opposite. I don't want some high mpg soulless commuter car. I'll take a high horsepower, manual, lowered, 2 door. I've actually been considering a trading it in and daily driving a C8.

When I drove back from the Tail of the Dragon, it was about 350 miles and I averaged almost 26 mpg. I'll take my horsepower and good-enough highway mpg.

 

[kballowe]

I suppose we're in the middle. A 2.0L Ecoboost Escape and Ecoboost 3.5L F-150 here.

I had a Ford Fiesta when I was still working and 90 miles each day. the first 10K miles averaged 40 mpg. My Wife hated that car and I rather liked it.

Both retired now with considerably less miles and so fuel mileage is less of a concern.

 

[SC Maintenance]

But you didn't answer the question....

I prefer off road capable vehicles. So neither.

BMW's however are a beautiful masterpiece of modern engineering and I may buy one someday.

 

[Kira]

I've never had a car which couldn't do highway speeds and more.

All I want is a quality build and fuel efficiency.

 

[tbm5690]

Both. I have about 290hp/310tq and still get 35+ mpg going 80 on the interstate. But if I had to pick, power all day long.

 

[shortyb]

I prefer POWERFUL off road capable vehicles. So MPG be danged.

There, fixed it for ya so the OP doesn't get mad .

 

[MVAR]

There are many vehicles today with high horsepower. I just don't see the point of it unless you plan on doing some racing/track use on occasion.

MPG is important to me as I try to drive moderately. Coasting to lights, no jack rabbit starts, no flooring it for passing etc...

How about you? Do you have to have power and use it, or do you like squeezing out every drop of energy out of fuel?

Both if I can. My wife's 2.0 ecoboost fusion was designed to run on premium but "will" run on 87. On 87 it loses power, mpg & transmission shift quality. I'd also rather not rely on a knock sensor constantly to save an expensive engine from detonation. We just run top tier premium in it as insurance & for a couple mpg improvement over 87 with the added benefit of improved shift quality.

For my pickup I also intentionally chose the 6.2 over the 3.5 ecoboost & 5.0. Rated mpg isn't great but it regularly gets 2-3mpg above rated on the hwy. City is rated mpg or slightly worse depending on congestion. I get better hwy mpg with the 6.2 than my FIL did with his 3.5 & the same mpg in town. Don't have nearly the issues to worry about either.

The last time I "built" a performance car (66 Mustang), I wasn't too concerned about mpg's. Was far more attentive to how it performed at Buttonwillow or Infineon (Sonoma).

 

[Skippy722]

I value power over fuel efficiency. Expedition makes 375HP and 470lb ft torque. Challenger makes 372hp and 400lb ft. Both will return decent fuel economy. Both live on top tier 93 and 89 octane fuel respectively.

Sometimes I turn the radio off and listen to the Expedition's turbo's spool or the Challengers V8 growl just because it puts a smile on my face.

 

[shortyb]

Both if I can. My wife's 2.0 ecoboost fusion was designed to run on premium but "will" run on 87. On 87 it loses power, mpg & transmission shift quality. I'd also rather not rely on a knock sensor constantly to save an expensive engine from detonation. We just run top tier premium in it as insurance & for a couple mpg improvement over 87 with the added benefit of improved shift quality.

For my pickup I also intentionally chose the 6.2 over the 3.5 ecoboost & 5.0. Rated mpg isn't great but it regularly gets 2-3mpg above rated on the hwy. City is rated mpg or slightly worse depending on congestion. I get better hwy mpg with the 6.2 than my FIL did with his 3.5 & the same mpg in town. Don't have nearly the issues to worry about either.

The last time I "built" a performance car (66 Mustang), I wasn't too concerned about mpg's. Was far more attentive to how it performed at Buttonwillow or Infineon (Sonoma).

Reminds me of the age old question; Ginger or MaryAnn? Answer: Both!

 

[vwmaniaman]

I like power but also value economy. Transporting 7 people makes my Yukon that gets 16mpg in town and 18 and a scosh more on the highway fuel efficient for that load of people. I had a 1500 Goldwing and got 35 mpg highway which I sold after I broke my left hip. Now instead We have a VW cabriolet that gets 32 mpg highway but has heat and AC and its pretty peppy. When I was younger power meant more to me than now since we both retired. Just get us and our grand daughters to wherever we are going safely.

 

[wemay]

MPG since I turned 40.

 

[jadmt]

power for me to a point...I have had vehicles that got in the 8-9mpg range so that sucked.. my current vehicle is a wrangler rubicon on 37's and my wife's vehicle is a CX5 turbo..I get 14-15mpg when traveling and the mazda gets 25-29mpg traveling and we tend to take the Jeep more. I like my vehicles to be fun.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

I like size. The size of my stock portfolio. So economy is #1. Love my Mitsubishi Mirage. But I also need to tow a small trailer so need enough power to do that.

A few decades ago a local heavy duty truck service owner said his Chevy tow truck motor wore out at 20K miles. I said "What happened to it?". He said "It wore tf out."

My suspicion is that if a manufacturer says an engine produces so much max horsepower, and you run it putting out that horsepower, it will last about 20K miles. Unless it's and industrial engine.

 

[dippschtick]

I don't focus on either one.
Power and economy for me take a back seat to protection.
I want my vehicle to last forever.

 

[4wd]

I will respond after my power nap

 

[jadmt]

I like size. The size of my stock portfolio. So economy is #1. Love my Mitsubishi Mirage. But I also need to tow a small trailer so need enough power to do that.

A few decades ago a local heavy duty truck service owner said his Chevy tow truck motor wore out at 20K miles. I said "What happened to it?". He said "It wore tf out."

My suspicion is that if a manufacturer says an engine produces so much max horsepower, and you run it putting out that horsepower, it will last about 20K miles. Unless it's and industrial engine.

..there are guys with gasser 6.6's, 6.4's and 7.3's that are towing heavy running cross country with 10 times those miles. diesels 20X's.

 

[4wd]

I like size. The size of my stock portfolio. So economy is #1. Love my Mitsubishi Mirage. But I also need to tow a small trailer so need enough power to do that.

A few decades ago a local heavy duty truck service owner said his Chevy tow truck motor wore out at 20K miles. I said "What happened to it?". He said "It wore tf out."

My suspicion is that if a manufacturer says an engine produces so much max horsepower, and you run it putting out that horsepower, it will last about 20K miles. Unless it's and industrial engine.