What is more important to you: Power or MPG?
- Thread starter ZZman
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- Sep 17, 2025
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Those of us who live in cities/countries where Gasoline is always expensive, despite being an oil producing nation (Canada), we often worry about ''how much is it gonna cost me to fill up this time???''.
Currently, in Vancouver Canada, Gasbuddy showing $2.05.9 per liter regular. And it was always the most expensive in North America before this current USA-Iran war. I use Gasbuddy app to compare my city to other cities across Canada and The USA, we here are gouged constantly at the gas pumps. It's the reason why I only buy and drive New and Used 4 4cyl fuel efficient Japanese vehicles for the plastic 30 years or so.
I do like the thought of owning a new Hybrid vehicle ( EVs not so much). THe newest 2026 Mitsubishi OUtlander PHEV is a nice blend of gas and electric only vehicle with a claimed 77 kilometers of electric driving that one could do a daily back and forth work commute and rarely go to the gas station until they might go do a cross country vacation drive. The 2025 Hybrid Toyota Corolla is another great mpg gas sipper, could maybe use a bit more HP oomphhhh with only 138 HP and a zero to sixty of about 9 seconds. It probably be much better if it had the Toyota Prius hybrid setup, but I think Toyota does not want the Prius sales to compete and slip. But I'm guess the Corolla Hybrid as is sells pretty good for those not desiring speed over great fuel economy numbers. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV does the 0-60 mph in about 7-7.5 secs but that thing starts at $50K in Canada , while the Corolla Hybrid starts at Hybrid SE to Hybrid XSE is $5,455 (from 30,630 to $36,085). Add in taxes, destination, dealer prep, taxes, air in tires tax.more tax and finally, bit more tax = Yikes, i'm gonna ride my bike or take the bus. Kidding, of course. I'd rather own and drive an old Toyota Yaris or Nissan Micra then walk or ride the bus.
Currently, in Vancouver Canada, Gasbuddy showing $2.05.9 per liter regular. And it was always the most expensive in North America before this current USA-Iran war. I use Gasbuddy app to compare my city to other cities across Canada and The USA, we here are gouged constantly at the gas pumps. It's the reason why I only buy and drive New and Used 4 4cyl fuel efficient Japanese vehicles for the plastic 30 years or so.
I do like the thought of owning a new Hybrid vehicle ( EVs not so much). THe newest 2026 Mitsubishi OUtlander PHEV is a nice blend of gas and electric only vehicle with a claimed 77 kilometers of electric driving that one could do a daily back and forth work commute and rarely go to the gas station until they might go do a cross country vacation drive. The 2025 Hybrid Toyota Corolla is another great mpg gas sipper, could maybe use a bit more HP oomphhhh with only 138 HP and a zero to sixty of about 9 seconds. It probably be much better if it had the Toyota Prius hybrid setup, but I think Toyota does not want the Prius sales to compete and slip. But I'm guess the Corolla Hybrid as is sells pretty good for those not desiring speed over great fuel economy numbers. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV does the 0-60 mph in about 7-7.5 secs but that thing starts at $50K in Canada , while the Corolla Hybrid starts at Hybrid SE to Hybrid XSE is $5,455 (from 30,630 to $36,085). Add in taxes, destination, dealer prep, taxes, air in tires tax.more tax and finally, bit more tax = Yikes, i'm gonna ride my bike or take the bus. Kidding, of course. I'd rather own and drive an old Toyota Yaris or Nissan Micra then walk or ride the bus.
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- Sep 17, 2025
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exactly......so many old ''beaters '' out there that can run great, get very Google good mpgs, keep money in your wallet.
This reminds me of the old electricity question, "What is more important, volts or amps?"
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- Sep 17, 2025
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Hey, have you ever removed and cleaned the VVT solenoid on your Matrix? I did a few times on my brother's 04 Matrix.....simple 10 mm bolt to remove/unplug the wire plug. I sprayed inside the hole MAF or TB cleaner , swish it around , dump, respray it. Some say you need to connect power to it so it clicks open inside to do a better clean job, I never bother.
First time is did the clean, wow! Engine rpm dropped to more reasonable 800 rpm when fully warmed up engine. Even the cold start much quieter. Acceleration felt quicker, like maybe closer to when the vehicle was newer. Highly recommend you clean the VVT solenoid . I did the same to my brother's 2014 Corolla, basically the the same 1.8L engine. Also remove and clean the PCV valve. Toyota's PCV valve is made of metal and really just needs to be removed and cleaned with brake fluid/gasoline/TB spray/Maf sensor spray, hot soapy water....spit, lol.
Lastly, do an ECU reset.....so easy to do. Check Youtube, resets the vehicle computer, helps get rid of residual memory in the computer, it's like defragging and deleting old files/resetting your home computer. Trust me, I've done these things on my brother's vehicles, my own truck, the vehicles run so much nicer...and probably get better mpgs like they should.
First time is did the clean, wow! Engine rpm dropped to more reasonable 800 rpm when fully warmed up engine. Even the cold start much quieter. Acceleration felt quicker, like maybe closer to when the vehicle was newer. Highly recommend you clean the VVT solenoid . I did the same to my brother's 2014 Corolla, basically the the same 1.8L engine. Also remove and clean the PCV valve. Toyota's PCV valve is made of metal and really just needs to be removed and cleaned with brake fluid/gasoline/TB spray/Maf sensor spray, hot soapy water....spit, lol.
Lastly, do an ECU reset.....so easy to do. Check Youtube, resets the vehicle computer, helps get rid of residual memory in the computer, it's like defragging and deleting old files/resetting your home computer. Trust me, I've done these things on my brother's vehicles, my own truck, the vehicles run so much nicer...and probably get better mpgs like they should.
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- May 7, 2025
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- 40
At this point in my life, I'll take mpg over hp. Driving a car for pleasure ended years ago for me. Too many dozy/distracted drivers and near constant traffic.
Then there's the added cost involved in owing a high hp car. Purchase price, insurance, fuel, and maintenance. Even the modern day equivalent of an econobox is going to cost you a hefty sum over it's life, so the added cost of performance doesn't make sense for me.
Then there's the added cost involved in owing a high hp car. Purchase price, insurance, fuel, and maintenance. Even the modern day equivalent of an econobox is going to cost you a hefty sum over it's life, so the added cost of performance doesn't make sense for me.