Real world MPG

[page2171]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

These Malibu 2.2s are getting some pretty impressive MPGs.

Which makes me wonder why the Cobalt doesn't get better gas mileage. I know the new XFE gets pretty decent mileage, but given what our heavier Malibus are getting I would think that the Cobalt would get better mileage.

[EldoFan]

Originally Posted by Exploder

Why do I get an unsettling feeling that Europeans will laugh the **** out of the numbers you guys have posted? I'm not doing that, by the way, just thinking.

Because alot of em drive smaller cars that have smaller (and more advanced) engines.....not to mention the fact that their urban planning has taken a vastly different track than ours, which in turn influences traffic patterns/flow of people, which brings me back to the cars again.......you get the idea...

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by Exploder

Why do I get an unsettling feeling that Europeans will laugh the **** out of the numbers you guys have posted? I'm not doing that, by the way, just thinking.

A little thought is a dangerous thang.

However, in the interests of PC Thought Disorder and World Peace, I am soon going to schedule some time between 2AM and 3AM to awaken, troubled, and have some unsettled feelings about what some Europeans may think of me.

It's the least I can do.

Originally Posted by EldoFan

Because alot of em drive smaller cars that have smaller (and more advanced) engines.....not to mention the fact that their urban planning has taken a vastly different track than ours, which in turn influences traffic patterns/flow of people, which brings me back to the cars again.......you get the idea...

Considering that Europe is about as big as Nebraska and the two Dakotas, and has been settled for 2000 years during which time their cities were built, invaded, burned, sacked, built again, burned again...

Europe was old when the motor vehicle was developed. Motor vehicles for all intents and purposes are time machines, allowing one to travel 200 miles in the time an ox cart would travel 10 miles.

Good survey topic for the terminally bored: How many GMI-ers worry about our Atlantic neighbors' thoughts concerning our time machines.

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Originally Posted by Exploder

Why do I get an unsettling feeling that Europeans will laugh the **** out of the numbers you guys have posted? I'm not doing that, by the way, just thinking.

No you can, tell us what you are getting

MPG is confusing because there are two of them in common use... in USA they use MPG but USA gallons (3,78 litre) and in UK they say MPG but it is UK gallons (4,55 L)

The rest of us that think in L / 100 km is much better

Conversion to SI units

Most countries other than the US and UK use the SI (aka metric) units litre (0.22 Imperial gallon or 0.264 US liquid gallon) and km (0,621 statute miles). These can be combined to either km/L (efficiency) or L/100km (consumption). The UK is a special case in this respect, as distances are measured in miles but fuel is sold by the litre. As a result, both MPG and L/100km are usually quoted for any given vehicle, although the general public almost exclusively use miles-per-gallon.

For US liquid gallons:

* 1 km = 0.621 Mile
* 1 Mile = 1.609 km
* 1 Gallon = 3.79 Litre
* 1 Litre = 0.264 Gallon

* 1 km/L = 0.621M/0.264G = 2.35 MPG
* 1 MPG = 1.609km/3.79L = 0.425 km/L
* 1 MPG ~ 2.35 L/km

[don't forget: MPG can't be equal to L/km the same as km/L can't be equal to L/km. So it can be only said, that efficiency is (vers)proportional to consumption! It means that 1 MPG ~ 2.35 L/km, but 1 GPM = 2.35 L/km ]

* 1 MPG ~ 235 L/100km =>10 MPG ~ 23.5 L/100km; 20 MPG ~ 11.75 L/100km; 30 MPG ~ 7.83 L/100km etc...


For Imperial gallons (UK): if 1 Litre = 0.22 Gallon then

* 1 km/L = 2.8248 MPG
* 1 MPG = 0.354 km/L
* 1 MPG ~ 282.4809 L/100km

Usually European cars that we see here in North America are pretty thirsty... no Fiats for us (anymore)

Anyway I think European highway driving probably burns more than American style even with a big V8, in USA they do not like it when you drive 150 km/h

[turbobuick-t-type]

1995 caprice 4.3 V8. If you keep it 60 or under on the highway it will get 29 mpg.

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by Smaart Aas Saabr

No you can, tell us what you are getting

MPG is confusing because there are two of them in common use... in USA they use MPG but USA gallons (3,78 litre) and in UK they say MPG but it is UK gallons (4,55 L)

The rest of us that think in L / 100 km is much better

Anyway I think European highway driving probably burns more than American style even with a big V8, in USA they do not like it when you drive 150 km/h

1. Touche`!
2. I think I'm getting about 2Litters/100 KM=62 mile.
3. I like it when I drive 90 MPH aka 150 KPH.
It is a safe speed that keeps me alert and aware.

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Oh yeah I like to drive 90 mi/h also, just like Jimi Hendrix. But the police aren't so forgiving!

[marinerbc]

Been keeping pretty close track of the latest acquisition's mileage, a GA with 3.1 155 hp V6. EPA numbers 17 city, 26 highway.

After 2991, km, City 24.5 mpg (US) and highway (and I drive it hard on the highway...we have no freeways here) 29.7.

As for worrying about Europeans and their opinions, I lie awake every night concerned as hell over it. Either that or it's worrying about how we might have to bail them out again as we had to twice in the last century.

[Rumblebuffin]

I don't really have a car of my own (I just don't want one, so I just rely on what's available). But, my bro's Cobalt has an EPA rating of 22/31 mpg, but he averages 34 mpg with 50/50 city/hwy driving. I was able to maintain 40 mpg with the car during a 60 mph drive with the cruise on. That car is such a money saver.

When driving my dad's truck, I can average a best of 18/22 city/hwy. The EPA rating for his truck is 12/16...thanks to the revised rules. Of course, I am a light driver who uses cruise and tries to keep the car in momentum as much as possible. But, when my cousins drive the truck, they actually lower the mileage to 10/14 mpg! They continually accelerate and slow down on the highway, never use cruise control, and they sometimes floor it to cut off someone (and my dad says they are good drivers...). The truck's mileage is hand calculated, so it may be off. For some reason, it didn't come with a mileage meter (it's a 2003 Silverado 4.8 LS 4x4).

It's been said before: it's not what you drive, but how you drive it!

[member12]

16 to 18 usually. Suburban/City driving.

I get around 14 in the city and 21 on the highway.

When I keep it under 70 mph, I can get up to 24.

[psece]

Originally Posted by Exploder

Why do I get an unsettling feeling that Europeans will laugh the **** out of the numbers you guys have posted? I'm not doing that, by the way, just thinking.

They started to laugh but then I mentioned that I only paid $4.20 a gallon. They started crying after that....

[Johnny P]

'95 Civic: 36-41 almost no highway driving, but no pure stop and go either.

'92 Accord: 28-31 about 70/30 in town driving.

'07 Avy: 13-14 in town and 18-19 highway.

'81 K20: 9-11, 'course it's usually got 2 tons of wood in the back.

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by Smaart Aas Saabr

Anyway I think European highway driving probably burns more than American style even with a big V8, in USA they do not like it when you drive 150 km/h

This reminded me of an event that happened some years back. I was traveling with my wife in a new (then 1996 Ford Contour) through Oklahoma on one of the fine turnpikes they got there. There's no cops around, heck there's no cars around, so I bump the cruise control up to 90 mph to make better time.

I glance in my rearview, and see a car approaching. Next thing you know that car is flying by me in the fast lane (thank God I was in the "slow" lane). He was in an Eclipse turbo, and HAD to have been at its top speed (and my estimation was 150-160 mph). It was such an errie (almost violating) experience to have someone blowing by me when I was already hauling arse myself!

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

This reminded me of an event that happened some years back. I was traveling with my wife in a new (then 1996 Ford Contour) through Oklahoma on one of the fine turnpikes they got there. There's no cops around, heck there's no cars around, so I bump the cruise control up to 90 mph to make better time.

I glance in my rearview, and see a car approaching. Next thing you know that car is flying by me in the fast lane (thank God I was in the "slow" lane). He was in an Eclipse turbo, and HAD to have been at its top speed (and my estimation was 150-160 mph). It was such an errie (almost violating) experience to have someone blowing by me when I was already hauling arse myself!

So how much does a '96 Contour do Sure hope you sprang for the vee six

[Ming]

I'm glad people are keeping it real. I thought this would be another one of those "My Truck got 35MPG from New York to Houston with a good tailwind all the way, and that's just as good as my buddy's Prius around town," type of threads that have nothing to do with everyday driving.