1st "Road Trip" in my P5

[Jimvh3]

So I drove from LA (actully Valenica) to Sacramento (actully Roseville). And I have mixed feelings about the results.

I took I-5 the entire way there. My last car ( a 95 Dodge Stratus) could make it all the way to Sacramento before I had to stop for gas. My car before that was a 88 Mazda MX6 and I could make it all the way with out stoping in that too. So imagine my supprise when I found myself not even able to make it to stockton (about 45 minutes from sacramento and an hour fiften from Roseville).
I averaged about 22mpg on this journey. :wtf: Anyone else experancing bad gas consumption?
Although... The good news was when I wanted to pass someone, I could. My last car was as slow as slow can be, so it is nice to actully hit the gas and feel a response in the car.

One other complaint I have is how rough the car rides. I could feel every small bump and divit in the road. This may be because my last car was like ridding on a cloud. Or perhaps there is something wrong with my suppension?

One noteworthy experiance was going up the grapevine at a steady 90mph. This car took those mountians like it was nothing. Almost got me in trubble too:
I saw a truck stoped on the side of the road, and in front of it were two cops walking back to there car. They both stoped and flashed there flashlights at me, and then ran to there car. In a panic I hit the gas and speed up. I finally realized there was no running, and that they would eventully catch up to me. So I moved to the slow lane (the second one, not the truck lane) and wedged my way inbetween some trucks and cars. No sooner had I done that then I saw the cop car flying through the fast lane looking for me. I took a huge sigh of relif and kept up 65 the rest of the way home.

Over all I would have to say that it was great driving it up there and back. Next time I think I will just set the cruise control to 75 though...maybe I'll get better gas milage this way.

 

[cbcbd]

Yeah, the gas mileage isn't as great as one would hope for. There's a huge range of mileages from this forum. Going 75mph or below helps since this car revs so high at high speeds (4k rpm at 80mph).
I also had to get used to the more responsive suspension when I first got the car. I was coming from a Mercury Sable that had a very soft suspension. On the highway it might get annoying if the road is bad (bumpy or wavy), but you'll get used to it and be glad it was there when you hit the twisties.

Also, I know we get bad mileage, but check the size of the tanks of your other cars, just to make sure it's a direct comparison.

Welcome! (hi)

 

[MP5s Make Ready]

Yep, car rides hard because of the fine suspension, plus you're probably closer to the ground than your other car...maybe.

I drove from Houston Tx, to North Carolina. You get used to the expansion joints after a while.

Gas mileage isn't great for a 4 banger, I get around 24 mpg. I think the gas tank can hold 14 gallons, not sure though.

You got lucky with those cops ha ha, my adrenaline would have been running the whole time.

 

[Mike R]

I got 28 going 75+ loaded down through the mountains. Compared to alot of other cars the P5 ride is stiffer. Also remember any car with milage will ride softer due to wear.

Oh, and that was with no milage on the car. I drove Maryland to Ohio and then Ohio to Kentucky two days after I bought it.

 

[tonkabui]

going 90mph isn't conducive to high miles per gallon. if you went 75 steady, you would have noticed mileage to be about 30-32mpg. i got 32mpg on my trip from tucson to los angeles. the low i got was on the 8 from san diego to tucson... i only got 28mpg going 85.

 

[ChopstickHero]

drove from Toronto to New York City back in mid July. Ended up getting about 35mpg (6.72L/100km) going about (75mpph) 120 km/h on cruise.

 

[kcbhiw]

going 90mph isn't conducive to high miles per gallon. if you went 75 steady, you would have noticed mileage to be about 30-32mpg. i got 32mpg on my trip from tucson to los angeles. the low i got was on the 8 from san diego to tucson... i only got 28mpg going 85.

I received similar results. A 7.75 hr trip where my average speed was 75mph, I received about 32mpg also.

 

[VICtheGREEK]

Went from Garden Grove, CA (long beach area) to Palisade, CO (grand junction area) to Athens, GA this past August. With me behind the wheel I got about 33 mpg, with the girl driving it was more like 28 since she's a high-rev-er . Anyway, aside from Kansas which is just one road for 7 hours, the fine suspension was awesome especially heading into and out of TN. It's all in how familiar you are with your car and when to shift between gears. For city driving I used to get about 25 mpg shifting at 3000 rpm, now I get close to 30 shifting b/t 2400-2800.
Damn near 9000 miles now and this car gets better each and every drive

 

[WRCprotege]

I just got my p5, i just drove from ky to aspen co. which is where my mom lives.. i do this tip two to three times a year and its 1400 miles one way.. Im going around 85 to 90 most the way and i got a avg of 24mpg and at best 26.4... after denver you have to go though the mountains and passes and at vail pass is 11,000 somthing elevation and let me tell you my car stays in thrid gear and turns 5000 to 6000 rpms for an hour and half, i would think the gas whould be gone from that.. It gets the best mpg ther!!! not sure why other than thers no oxygen in the air and the car dosent dump in the fuel that it normaly does, and you can tell the car wont even accerate down hill.. hehe... I think alot more goes into the mpg other than driving habits, though thats the only part you can control..

 

[KYMP5]

i took it easy on the way back from nopi and set the cruise at 73. I filled up right by atlanta motor speedway and didnt fill up until richmond Ky. i got about 32-34 mpg

 

[X2sandman]

I went up to Nashua, Nh from the Boston area on friday, and it was my first highway trip in the P5 aswell.

I think the trip was around 110 miles and i used about 3/8th's of a tank or so, but i was crusing at 75mph most of the time except for some stop and go traffic, aswell as little runs in Nashua. The ride is rather stiff though, and i wish the final drive gear was a little taller since i was revving pretty high for cruising speeds.

The trip was pretty good overall though.

 

[mountjonas]

i made the just about the same trip. valencia to oakland. i got about 380 miles on before i had to fill up. i did a little under 80 the whole way. yes the suspension isn't soft, but it's not uncomfortable, either.

 

[round00]

Driving Vail Pass in third gear? I have driven Vail Pass hundreds of times (used to live in Breckenridge). Since I don't live there anymore, I haven't driven my P5 over it, but I can't imagine that the P5 won't make it up in fourth and fifth gear. My 92 Civic could make it up most of it in fifth gear doing nearly 70 the whole way.

It seems the only time you would need third gear on Vail Pass is coming down it in a blizzard.

I feel for your car....

 

[tavarua88]

i just got through from ann arbor, michigan to la, ca. i got 22-24 mpg the whole trip. kinda sucked since gas prices have been up. but my car was jammed with stuff so i guess i cant complain.

 

[WRCprotege]

and your right, the car will make it through vail pass in forth and fifth gear if im if i want to 65 or so.. really fourth will do around 75 but 80 -90mph, third is choice because i dont lose speed!! This is of corse no snow ,good condtions, etc... i love the drive- maily glenwood cayon,, i was just in dillon at the dam brewy ... i dont drive it that hard all the time and i do get into fourth alot, but its fun and i bought the car to enjoy it, so 200 miles of fun wont kill the car..