What Is Your Worst NA 4 Cylinder Fuel Economy?

"Tripper" (tripe46) 04/01/2019 at 14:25 • Filed to: None

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My odometer is in Kilometers and I have never “filled” the tank on the 02. However, a rough estimation puts me around 16- 17 Miles pg combined highway and around town driving. According to the 2002FAQ this is normal for anyone rolling the same setup (twin side draft carburetors and a modified cam ). Still, that is pretty bad for a 1.8 liter w/o forced induction. I had a few tanks at around 12 MPG in my 04 STi, but that was a 19 year old Tripper with a slightly bigger engine and a turbo that was almost constantly spooling. It’s worth mentioning that my gas tank is vented out the floor of the trunk. US spec 02's are vented into a collection tank that makes it’s way back to the fuel tank. I don’t think that makes a huge difference though. I don’t give a care or anything I’m just surprised.

In other news, I wash waxed, and got rid of the stickers. The one on the windshield looked really bad! I also drove it all weekend and to work today.

Have any of you done worse than 16 in an NA 4 cyl?

Arrivederci > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:27

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When I switched my BRZ to E85, I was getting about 18mpg in daily driving.

WilliamsSW > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:30

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Running a little rich maybe? I’m guessing that the gearing is fairly short, so you won’t see very high mileage.

I’ve only owned 2 NA I4's, and they’ve both been gone for 23++ years, but they were both in the 20's somewhere, I assume (?).

Spanfeller is a twat > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:31

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Closest thing to an NA 4cyl I have is the SLK230K....

It averaged around 19 mpg on my trip from Santiago to Lourdes ... the EPA says it should average 27.

Tripper > Arrivederci 04/01/2019 at 14:32

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Oh yea E85 is a different story! My best friend had a ton of work into his BRZ, supercharger etc. We barely made it home from autocross the first time he mapped for E85.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:34

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I’ve seen 12.4 mpg over 155 miles on the Mini. Granted, 60 of those miles were hooning on Lake Champlain but I still got there. 1.6L, SOHC 4 cylinder in a FWD car.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:35

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I had a 97 Saturn SC1 that when I sold it was probably running on 3 cylinders neededing 10 gallons of gas and a quart of oil every 180 miles. But it still ran damn it. 

Under_Score > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:35

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I normally get 19-20 per tank in my 22 city, 28 highway RAV4.

Decay buys too many beaters > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:35

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6.8 mpg  in the FRS on race weekends.

Ssfancyfresh > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:35

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I had a 2000 GMC Sonoma with a 4 cylinder engine, 4 speed auto, and 4.10 rear diff. It was dog slow and generally awful to drive . 16 mpg was pretty common.

I had a nearly identical Sonoma prior to that with the 5 speed manual that was much much better on fuel economy and general driving enjoyment.

Tripper > WilliamsSW 04/01/2019 at 14:36

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Gearing is short and it’s a 4 speed so “highway mileage” isn’t really a thing. I’ve just got it back from having a ton of work done at my inde including cleaning/balancing the carbs, new fuel line, and modified timing. So this tank may be better (or worse) it certainly drives much smoother. Throttle response is immediate now. I’ve also got the exhaust and love hearing it so my driving won’t help, then again it never will in this car.

Longtime Lurker > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:36

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Ranger 2.3

Worst 4cyl: 13.2 mpg imp = 21.4 lper100km = 11 mpg us

Caravan 3.0

Worst 6cyl: 12 mpg imp = 23.5 lper100km = 10 mpg us

HammerheadFistpunch > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:36

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my old gen 1 rav4 would never really get above 21, and sometimes into the low teens.  2.0 NA

Tripper > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/01/2019 at 14:37

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On a non-s cooper? That is impressive, haha.

Tripper > Decay buys too many beaters 04/01/2019 at 14:38

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Hah, I don’t think anyone’s beating that!

Tripper > Ssfancyfresh 04/01/2019 at 14:39

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Yea the 4 speed is a real killer my highway might actually be worst than my in town mileage because of that

Tripper > Longtime Lurker 04/01/2019 at 14:40

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Hah wowzers. The worst I have done in my 3.0 ranger is 16mpg

Decay buys too many beaters > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:41

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I could go lower on e85 I ’m sure lol

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:43

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Worst:

1990 Isuzu 4x4 pickup, worse ever was 17 mpg.

2002 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport: 19 MPG running on 3 cylinders, 23-25 running on 4 cylinders.

Best:

1991 Mazda MX-6 NA 2.3L > 40 mpg with the cruise set at 75.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:43

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Such a superb daily. I’ll be visiting PA this spring in a friend’s 1.8L MGB if you want to race and see how much faster your car is :P

WilliamsSW > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:43

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Well, it’s running right now, so the mileage is what it is :)

I have the same problem with my E550 - the torque is so addictive, I can’t stay out of the boost. Mileage wouldn’t be great in any circumstance, but I make it worse :)

Mercedes Streeter > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:44

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I’m getting a whopping 25 on my Goldwing right now. It got 17 when I first started and rode it for the season. It should be up to 30+ once it gets actually warm outside.

Longtime Lurker > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:44

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Idling your car in the winter time is a bitch especially when you have to deal with a month of record cold temperatures (this past Feb) and the Caravan was the same situation.

Chuckles > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:46

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My 1.8L 4 cylinder in the Miata gets 23ish mpg in mixed driving. Highway mileage is more like 28. If it had a 6th gear it would be better, but on the highway in 5th gear you're at like 4,000 RPM, which is not great for mileage. But it's good enough for a 25 year old car.

Tripper > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 04/01/2019 at 14:48

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Where will you be in PA? I just noticed a new C&C at the Wegman’s near my house on Saturday. I’m in southeastern PA, 45 minutes or so from Philadelphia.

Tripper > WilliamsSW 04/01/2019 at 14:49

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Yea I’m not complaining. I did 14 mpg at best in my E90M3 and I didn’t complain then either! No way I’d be driving an E550 any differently.

Tripper > Longtime Lurker 04/01/2019 at 14:50

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Yea mine suffered the most using the remote starter and bed full of sand bags over the winter.

6cyl > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:51

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Sweet 2002! I think my worst in a 4 cylinder was 19mpg in my ‘ 98 318ti after a weekend of spirited driving.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:54

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My Accord 2.4 would average about 21-22 mpg in bad commute traffic. So I don't feel too bad  that my Jag 3.0 SC averages 18-19.

LOREM IPSUM > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:56

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I never did the math, but I could drain the tank in my old b16a2 powered civic in a day. Redline was 8000rpm. Fuel cutoff was 8250. I tended to shift somewhere between the two. Screw economy when you have VTEC and a CAI. Shit is addictive.

AestheticsInMotion > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:56

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I’ve done a lot of weight-reduction in my Miata, to the point where it was below 2000 lbs (before adding sound deadening, at least...)

So the 1.8 liter, 12 0 hp engine pushing a sub-2000 lb car averaged.... About 19 mpg. Sigh

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:58

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Yup. Odometer is driven off the rear wheels which probably helped.

Not a Sunburst Miata > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 14:59

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My Miata is averaging 6-7MPG, but it lives on the track ~90% of the time. The remaining 10% is driving to/from track days... 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:03

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Oh yes indeed have I done far worse than 16 in my Miata! I have managed to calculate my mileage on a track day before (based on a full tank to another full tank and the miles driven) and managed to get 15mpg . Also an N/A 1.8L running on 91 octane (required). That actually seemed pretty fuel efficient as far as track mileage goes for four 20 minute sessions doing 2:20 laps at Buttonwillow.

Even more impressive though was achieving somewhere in the sub 15 range while at Miatas At the Gap in the Smokey mountains. I used the entire tank over the course of 180 miles during the day. This was at lower speeds than the track but a lot less smooth driving being on the street and way tighter turns requiring a lot more use of 2nd/3rd gear. And I was struggling to keep up with the other maniacs I was running with.

When trying to hypermile, that car can achieve 30mpg+ without too much trouble. So its funny to get close to single digits when really driving it. I have calculated 8mpg at an autocross before but there was a lot of idling since it was a test and tune and i just left it running between runs due to the frequency. And the accuracy of the measurement was questionable.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:10

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I saw about 12 out of the 4runner once. Towing about 2500 pounds.

Best I’ve gotten 25.

For reference it's a 3.4L DOHC V6 with the best fuel injection 1996 could offer backed by a 4 speed auto. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Chuckles 04/01/2019 at 15:11

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It’s actually worse with the 6spd. You turn lower rpms in 5th at 80mph than I do in 6th at 80mph. Its a minor difference but what Mazda did was basically add a gear below 1st in the 5 speed and then change the gear ratios accordingly. I just drove a 5spd Miata and it was kind of wild how different the gearing felt. 

way2blu does a rev update > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:11

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I commute 14 miles to my university on weekdays, so 28 total there/back. I top up the tank every morning for about $12. $4 per gallon in SoCal.

*math happens*

About 9.33 mpg. 2.2L NA MR2, 1991.

Chuckles > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/01/2019 at 15:18

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themoreyouknow.gif

ihm96 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:18

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What wegmans? Although I work most saturdays, so I won’t be able to attend those. You gotta come to the big Cars and Coffee up at lehigh by the steel stacks. Tons of different cool cars show up, and we can have a bimmer squad

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:20

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My FoST has been stuck at 22mpg for the past year or so.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:22

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Worst average tank on the MR2 was 25 MPG (this included a lap of the Nürburgring and top speed Autobahn runs); best tank was 35 .
Worst average tank on the MX-5 was 27 MPG (again, Autobahn); best tank was 42 MPG.

... I’m not winning anything, am I?

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:22

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Does an suv count? My Jeep TJ got 10-15mpg. Highway was a constant battle of keeping speed shifting down to 4th and even 3rd at times. If I remember it was a 2.4l.  Granted the Jeep weighs way more than your 2002

E90M3 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:24

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On an unrelated note, I should be in Philly at the end of this month. 

Tripper > ihm96 04/01/2019 at 15:24

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Malvern. I think the One that used to be at Starbucks in West Chester has been relocated.

The one in Lehigh is a hike for me but not out of the question

Boxer_4 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:26

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Not worst overall, but worst highway. PA Turnpike east-west, cold, windy (wind chill of 0, I think) , 75-80 or so mph. Also, Somerset certainly didn’t help.

Tripper > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 04/01/2019 at 15:26

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Yea that counts and damn that is rough haha

Tripper > E90M3 04/01/2019 at 15:27

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I’m around to the best of my knowledge, you are the oppo that went to CFS right? I’m a hop skip and a jump from there.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:27

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My 1984 Volvo 242 race car (b230, high-comp pistons, twin Weber 40-DCOEs, hot cam, big valves) got about 17-20 highway on high octane. I never actually raced it, due to some sad events with an air cleaner bolt, so I don’t know what it would have gotten when driven in anger...

Tripper > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 04/01/2019 at 15:29

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Sounds that car and mine are setup nearly the same as I’ve also got the high comp pistons. That was a 2.3L correct?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:30

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Yup. Sounded damn good. The Volvo had electronic overdrive though. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:32

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I’ve seen low double digits when trashing a S2000. This was just on the car readout though.

E90M3 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:33

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What is CFS?

I’ll be paying a visit to a company that’s trying to sell me a few 250k machines. 

Tripper > E90M3 04/01/2019 at 15:37

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Church Farm School. I had no idea what the place was until an oppo mentioned it, thought it was you.

E90M3 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:38

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Nope, not me. Looked it up, I went to Roswell High School in Roswell GA. 

promoted by the color red > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:43

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9.9 while flogging the Miata on track.

Worst on the street? Probably the 19.9 mpg I got driving an Integra GS-R in a crowded city.

Dru > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:46

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Like 15mpg in my 22re 1985 4Runner.  Granted its quasi heavy for a 100hp motor.

WRXforScience > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:48

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At the track I managed to get my 2010 WRX down to 4mpg for a whole tank. The lowest I’ve gotten the BRZ at the track was just over 6mpg. I use a little more than a quarter tank (3.5gal) every 20min session.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:48

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Ford 1.9 CVH, Dragon North “R Lyrae” E200R O.SR/C

3-4   MPG

No, I am not joking. Switched into ‘road’ mode it got a whole 6 MPG.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 15:50

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I am pretty disappointed in the fuel economy in our 2009 Matrix S...with the 2.4 it gets 25mpg on average with mixed highway/city. It’s the only 4 banger I’ve owned unless you count motorcycles.

There are a lot more powerful cars that get better than or similar to that.

Tripper > WRXforScience 04/01/2019 at 16:01

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I think you win with that 4mpg haha

Tripper > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/01/2019 at 16:01

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WOW haha

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:08

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Have not done worse but realized I've only ever owned two NA 4 cylinder cars. 84 escort and 97 cavalier. Both shit boxes that got great mileage. Lots of 8's in my past!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Longtime Lurker 04/01/2019 at 16:10

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WOW.

My 1992 Caravan 3.0/3spd has been returning a steady 22 mpg in mixed driving. I pulled 26 mpg on our last hwy run.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:12

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Worst: 2012 Corolla S manual. 24 mpg was the norm, 26 if I babied it on the highway. Which happens to be worse mileage than my Acclaim averages from a modded 3.0 V6 .

Best would be my old 87 Nissan Pulsar NX at 43 mpg beating the hell out of it in mixed driving.

bhtooefr > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:15

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19.3 tank average is the worst that I can say I’ve done (NB1 Miata, 5-speed manual, cold weather, and driving like an asshole to keep it up on the cam). (Best I’ve done in that car was 33.8, all freeway.)

Of course, more impressive/horrifying is the 34.7 I got out of my Prius. Cold weather and lots of short trips.. . contrast with the 60.8 I’ve gotten out of it, I think that tank was good weather, and a mix of short trips and back roads.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:16

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17 in the longboi

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:16

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Yes it was.  Don’t miss it really lol.  Dope 2002 though btw.

WRXforScience > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:25

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The key is to keep the rpms above 6k for 20min straight.

AMC/Renauledge > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:27

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Toward the end of its life, my first car - a 1984 Ford Tempo with the 2.3L HSC four and 3-speed whiplash-o-matic - was getting about 12mpg combined.

The 2.3 HSC was famous for going unmistakably tits-up at about 90,000 miles, and mine made it to 90,560 before it began leaking every single fluid you could put in it: windshield washer fluid, gasoline, brake fluid, engine coolant, power steering fluid, ATF... even the tires leaked air, which is also a fluid. It did not want to live beyond  90k and that 12mpg was proof.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:48

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Oh, and I forgot to mention: that’s on 100 octane Sunoco spec fuel . Only . Anything else would preignite. 

ihm96 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 16:51

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Its not close to me either, but thats kinda the fun of it usually. You get a nice hour long drive on a sunday morning and as you get closer the density of cool cars increases

Tripper > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 04/01/2019 at 17:29

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Thanks!

Tripper > AMC/Renauledge 04/01/2019 at 17:31

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This might be the lowest on this thread outside of the people that have mentioned E85 and race/track mileage!

Tripper > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/01/2019 at 17:31

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lol, oh neat so 3-4mpg at what like $15/gallon?

Tripper > ihm96 04/01/2019 at 17:40

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That sounds cool! I’d probably take the M3 to that, an hour on the NE extension in a 4 speed would be taxing haha unless I went 50mph the whole way. Definitely a 5 speed swap in my future, but probably not until net year. Electronic ignition is next on the list for the 02, after that I will start sourcing a transmission.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 18:11

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Oooh boy. 1996 VW Golf with 2.slow and 5mt, best was 45 mpg, worst... you ready? 8.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 18:23

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Well, I remember the fuel cell fill up was $150 so that would have made it $7.50/gallon. This was 20 years ago, back when gas was around a dollar a gallon. These days? That would be VP MS109 at $15.45/gal+ , $320 a tank.

It really wasn’t a very good engine design on my part. Nothing but using a bigger hammer to ram a square peg into a round hole. Really pretty bad all in all, even if it was numerically impressive. Plus it spent almost all it’s time above 4000RPM, which didn’t help.

ihm96 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 18:51

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M3 is cool too! It would fit with the theme well. My two friends that usually tag along have an E55 and a CLA45

Longtime Lurker > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 04/01/2019 at 19:26

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Mine would average 16 winter and 20 summer in a 100% city cycle.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 19:52

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Hmm that sounds interesting! Not sure yet, but I will be passing through for a road trip

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 22:29

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When I had my Honda 919, my worst (as in, full on flogging and inefficient  runs), I got 25 MPG. My average is usually in the 40s, 60 if I hypermiled the living shit out of the bike.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Tripper 04/01/2019 at 22:52

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My 2006 Mazda3 was a nice car and the 2.3 a nice engine but it was a bit of a gas hog. Even driving like grandma I couldn’t keep the average on the computer above 25 and most of the time it was around 22.

(It replaced my 93 Civic that could get over 40 at 80mph all day)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Longtime Lurker 04/02/2019 at 07:14

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I was going to ask how you were getting such mileage from one!?!?

100% city cycle makes sense.

ihm96 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 04/02/2019 at 10:19

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If you pass through Philly and wanna go on some nice backroads with a clownshoe then hit me up haha. I love MGs, my best friend just sold his this summer. I had helped him buy it when he still didnt even know stick shift

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > ihm96 04/02/2019 at 10:40

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Hey we just might! That sounds pretty fun. Hope you don’t mind us being way slower! You can send me an email to clayton.seams@gmail.com if you’d like to get in touch. 

Roadster Man > Tripper 04/03/2019 at 11:34

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You beat me. I got 18 mpg redlining my NA Miata around town every chance I got.

bob and john > Tripper 04/03/2019 at 12:23

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On my Z1000I got 90KM out of a 10L tank once :) it was a REALLY fun tank of gas though