High Speed MPG

[Aerodax]

Hey everyone, prospective 2009 MS3 buyer. I recently went on an extended test drive of an 09 Black MS3 and and while we were on the drive I noticed that I was pulling about 3000 rpm while doing 80. This seems ridiculously high. I'd imagine at that speed you'd burn gas like crazy.

My real question is, are any of you out there driving mostly freeway miles (90% or more) cruising at between strictly 75-80 mph. If so, what is your range and MPG looking like?

Please avoid answering this if you drive below 75, I don't wanna get bombed with "I get 30 mpg...but I drive 65".(pissed).

Thank guys!

 

[strytnyne]

its 263hp dont expect crazy mileage if your going 80,i commute about 75miles a day and fill up twice a week going 70-75 mostly highway

 

[CnoTataymo]

If you drive a lot of freeway (like 95%), I've noticed driving at 75mph with the cruise control on and AC, I've averaged around 28-29mpg. Not bad to me when the car is rated at like 19-20 city/26 highway.

 

[eg6motion]

Hey everyone, prospective 2009 MS3 buyer. I recently went on an extended test drive of an 09 Black MS3 and and while we were on the drive I noticed that I was pulling about 3000 rpm while doing 80. This seems ridiculously high. I'd imagine at that speed you'd burn gas like crazy.

My real question is, are any of you out there driving mostly freeway miles (90% or more) cruising at between strictly 75-80 mph. If so, what is your range and MPG looking like?

Please avoid answering this if you drive below 75, I don't wanna get bombed with "I get 30 mpg...but I drive 65".(pissed).

Thank guys!

not to flame but it doesn't sound like you have driven a 4 cylinder before? Every 4 I have driven with a manual has been at least 3K rpm at those speeds. Civic I had was actually about 4K at 80mph. I did about 80mph for a 70 mile trip and got roughly 28mpg. About 70-75 got me 30mpg no problem.

 

[Aerodax]

not to flame but it doesn't sound like you have driven a 4 cylinder before? Every 4 I have driven with a manual has been at least 3K rpm at those speeds. Civic I had was actually about 4K at 80mph. I did about 80mph for a 70 mile trip and got roughly 28mpg. About 70-75 got me 30mpg no problem.

My wife has an 07 Civic Automatic and at 80 it's pulling 2500-2600 rpm. We get 35mpg consistently at that speed on road trips. I'd feel cheated if we'd opted for a stick and were pulling more that a 1000 extra rpm.

 

[speedsports]

What I like to do is instead of looking MPH, I look at the RPMs+ when driving on the highway. Ive noticed that if you keep the car between 2500-3000 on cruise control, its sort of the sweet spot for better gas mileage. From what I read in another topic, it has something to do with our cars's direct injection system. Anything higher than that, and your consumption rises pretty drastically.

 

[CWPspeed3]

I thought that was low, my last car would rev 4000rpm at 80mph and get 30mpg. This car when your not pulling a grade will get around 30mpg with cruise around 75, around 80 your just under 30mpg. Those are the numbers I've noticed from my dash hawk instant mpg anyway, I'm a flat lander and wasnt running AC though. I cant confirm from fillups because I drive 12miles a day to work and that kills my fuel economy.

 

[coololddude]

3000 rpm is perfect. it puts you right at the boost point, just in case you get tired of crawling along at 80!! lol

 

[LukeP]

I got 27 MPG doing 80-100 MPH full boost passing, loads of throttle and acceleration to get by trucks.

30 MPG should be easy cruising at 80. They key is throttle usage. use the buttons on the steering wheel to pass or change speeds, and try not to lunge that pedal into some forced induction gas drinkage.

I got 38 MPG at 65 mph using the buttons on the steering wheel and 'hypermiling' up and down hills.

The RPM's of the engine itself isnt necessarily indicative of the car's gas usage; that DISI engine is actually quite efficient, but it has to be under light throttle loads.

Shifting at 3000k rpm instead of 2500 actually increased my mileage by about 50 miles per tank just because I could use much lighter throttle and less engine load to get up to speed because of its rotating inertia.

 

[Aerodax]

Awesome, thanks for the responses. On another another note, what's the WORST mpg you've seen on any given tank?

 

[CWPspeed3]

I think I've seen 19mpg for a tank, my sri was new, I really liked the sound...

 

[LukeP]

19 is the worst I've gotten too, although its getting better as it breaks in. Tromping on it now I get about the same mileage I did babying it when it was green.

 

[dkswim]

when i do vacations / cross contry i can normaly go 275-300 inbetween tankfullsfarthest ive done is 330 i could go farther but i prefere to fill up around 1/8-1/4 of a tank iv had 32 pefore as my highest but normaly its 28-29 mpg

 

[AutoXRacer]

In my old Miata, 80mph was 4500 RPM and I still got 30 mpg.
These are high reving engines and their peak efficiency is in the upper RPM band. anything less than 3000 RPM and you are forcing the engine since its not in its peak efficiency range.

I daily commute at 75-80 mph for a 70 mile commute (round trip) and if I stay out of boost, I can actually exceed 300 miles per tank; 320-330. Boost is what kills you and also A/C usage (but not too bad). The key is to use the cruise control!!!

Now, I also race my car at least a couple of times on a monthly basis; the worst mileage I got was like 9 miles per gallon or something like that. Thats pretty much WOT!!

There are definitely a lot more fuel efficient cars out there...this is not one, but for the power and driving enjoyment plus cargo space, it can't be beat!!!

 

[Alexsered]

not to flame but it doesn't sound like you have driven a 4 cylinder before? Every 4 I have driven with a manual has been at least 3K rpm at those speeds. Civic I had was actually about 4K at 80mph. I did about 80mph for a 70 mile trip and got roughly 28mpg. About 70-75 got me 30mpg no problem.

i agree with you, I had an sr20 in my last car and on the highway I was around 4000+ rpms going 80. 3000 rpms is really not that high at all.

 

[MikeHTally]

I wonder if some folks are relying on the computer to determine the mileage. It consistently reads 'bout 10% optimistic. Anyway -- yeah, a bit over 3 grand is right for 80 mph. While I was still breaking in the motor of my 'Speed, I got 30.4 at low speeds on the interstate and 28.8 at greater velocities. I get around 22 in my daily commute (max 60, more likely <45).

 

[Kaidao]

Hey there, I take the freeway to school and back every day, and most of my commute is on the 10. Unless I'm driving during rush hours and whatnot, my cruising speed is at 75-85. The average mpg is about 22.4-22.8

 

[djthom]

i don't get anywhere near the mpgs...
on 90% highway driving 80 i get closer to 23MPG
if its 90% city i get closer to 17MPG

worst ever was 15MPG

BTW these MPG's were calculated by dividing miles driven by gallons filled...

 

[08CWP_SoCal_MS3]

So what exactly is your reason for needing to drive 80mph everywhere? If you plan on driving at that speed than why worry about mpg?

I understand a little spirited driving here and there, but there is no need to be at those speeds everytime you hit the highway.

 

[Super Unique]

So what exactly is your reason for needing to drive 80mph everywhere? If you plan on driving at that speed than why worry about mpg?

I understand a little spirited driving here and there, but there is no need to be at those speeds everytime you hit the highway.

Depending on where you live, interstate speeds can easily average 80 to 85 mph. Especially in areas where the posted limited is 70. Try going 70 where I live (central florida) and you will be run right off the road.