MPG & Gas Costs *MERGED
- Thread starter CXRabbit
- Start date
Okay, I'm seriously considering buying a CX-7. Went to the dealer last night and saw one. Going back to test drive on Saturday.
I'm coming from a Toyota Matrix, so I'm used to GOOD MPG. I get around 30. And it's the hurdle I'm having the hardest time jumping over in deciding on the CX-7! Overall, over the course of the year it's really only going to cost me about $15 a week more, but I'd love to hear some real-world examples.
So answer this:
Model you have: __ AWD / __ FWD?
City/Hwy driving: _____% / _____%
Driving: __ Lead Foot / __ Average / __ Grandma
MPG you're getting: _____
Average gas cost per week: ______
I know there's another thread, but there's a lot in there not talking about gas mileage and a lot of people aren't indicating the model their driving or weekly costs. Thought it might be helpful to hear them...
Thanks!
I'm coming from a Toyota Matrix, so I'm used to GOOD MPG. I get around 30. And it's the hurdle I'm having the hardest time jumping over in deciding on the CX-7! Overall, over the course of the year it's really only going to cost me about $15 a week more, but I'd love to hear some real-world examples.
So answer this:
Model you have: __ AWD / __ FWD?
City/Hwy driving: _____% / _____%
Driving: __ Lead Foot / __ Average / __ Grandma
MPG you're getting: _____
Average gas cost per week: ______
I know there's another thread, but there's a lot in there not talking about gas mileage and a lot of people aren't indicating the model their driving or weekly costs. Thought it might be helpful to hear them...
Thanks!
Mamas Ride
Member
FWDCXRabbit said:
50/50
Lead Foot/Average
19.5 (latest mpg) only have 3K on it and just changed over to Amsoil @ 2.5K
$30.00 here in NY (2.40/gal)
It's all about the Zoom Zoom !
Model you have: FWD
City/Hwy driving: 50% / 50%
Driving: Average
MPG you're getting: 21 MPG
Average gas cost per week: $20
=========
I was concerned with MPG too when I was researching the CX-7. I ended up creating a spreadsheet comparing annual fuel costs of various MPG vehicles. I was especially curious how much a 30MPG RAV4 helps. In summary...
Assuming $3.00/gal and a 10k mile annual average:
The difference between 20 and 30 MPG is $500 annually.
The difference between 20 and 25 MPG is about $300 annually.
IMO, that's a small price to pay in order to have a much more fun car like the CX-7. Just eat out to dinner with the lady 6-8 times less per year and you're back to even.
I was also concerned about how much of a hit my wallet would take with gas price increases. I didn't want to wake up one morning to $5.00/gal gas prices and realize I'm gonna be poor! In summary...
If gas prices increase from $3.00 to $5.00:
The increase in annual fuel cost for a 30 MPG car owner is only $333/year less than for a 20 MPG car owner.
In other words, if you buy a CX-7 and gas prices nearly double the next day, your grinning neighbor with the Matrix really only gets hit for about $300 less than you. That was an eye-opener to me about how much fuel economic cars within the 25-35 MPG range are overrated! Unless you're gonna throw your sense of car taste out the window and get a 60 MPG Prius or something, you might as well get the car you want if you can spare a few hundred per year.
City/Hwy driving: 50% / 50%
Driving: Average
MPG you're getting: 21 MPG
Average gas cost per week: $20
=========
I was concerned with MPG too when I was researching the CX-7. I ended up creating a spreadsheet comparing annual fuel costs of various MPG vehicles. I was especially curious how much a 30MPG RAV4 helps. In summary...
Assuming $3.00/gal and a 10k mile annual average:
The difference between 20 and 30 MPG is $500 annually.
The difference between 20 and 25 MPG is about $300 annually.
IMO, that's a small price to pay in order to have a much more fun car like the CX-7. Just eat out to dinner with the lady 6-8 times less per year and you're back to even.
I was also concerned about how much of a hit my wallet would take with gas price increases. I didn't want to wake up one morning to $5.00/gal gas prices and realize I'm gonna be poor! In summary...
If gas prices increase from $3.00 to $5.00:
The increase in annual fuel cost for a 30 MPG car owner is only $333/year less than for a 20 MPG car owner.
In other words, if you buy a CX-7 and gas prices nearly double the next day, your grinning neighbor with the Matrix really only gets hit for about $300 less than you. That was an eye-opener to me about how much fuel economic cars within the 25-35 MPG range are overrated! Unless you're gonna throw your sense of car taste out the window and get a 60 MPG Prius or something, you might as well get the car you want if you can spare a few hundred per year.
Last edited:
Thanks!
I didn't do a spread sheet, but fueleconomy.gov essentially does it for you. For example, Matrix average is 31, CX-7 is 21,... that works out to a difference per year of $657 or about $13 per week (based on 45 hwy/55 city, 15k miles per year). Not a huge difference.
But I'm still interested to hear the MPG people are getting, and their average fuel costs per week...
ps. Link to compare cars side-by-side:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm
I didn't do a spread sheet, but fueleconomy.gov essentially does it for you. For example, Matrix average is 31, CX-7 is 21,... that works out to a difference per year of $657 or about $13 per week (based on 45 hwy/55 city, 15k miles per year). Not a huge difference.
But I'm still interested to hear the MPG people are getting, and their average fuel costs per week...
ps. Link to compare cars side-by-side:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm
FWD
20%city/80%highway
Average (I do grandma around town sometimes)
Between 21-24mpg
Gas has been @2.28 a gallon but we fill up almost every 2 weeks. Had the cx7 since late aug and just hit 1800miles.
My wife and I were concerned about the high test gas as well but the way we looked at it is the gas is usually .20 more than regular. So if you fill up every week @ 17 galllons that is $3.40 more a week, or $176.80 a year. We also looked at the Nissan Murano which was almost $7K more than the CX7. And that could take regular gas. Just a thought.
20%city/80%highway
Average (I do grandma around town sometimes)
Between 21-24mpg
Gas has been @2.28 a gallon but we fill up almost every 2 weeks. Had the cx7 since late aug and just hit 1800miles.
My wife and I were concerned about the high test gas as well but the way we looked at it is the gas is usually .20 more than regular. So if you fill up every week @ 17 galllons that is $3.40 more a week, or $176.80 a year. We also looked at the Nissan Murano which was almost $7K more than the CX7. And that could take regular gas. Just a thought.
Auto Climate Control and MPG
AWD GT Moonroof, Bose, No Tech Package
city: 10%, Hwy 90%
Average MPG, 18-22, if running 75-80 on the Interstate in light traffic is average
Average cost of miles driven $2.30 for premium. I run 250-350 miles a week, so that's about $26 to $45 a week in gas. I can buy more gas; I can't buy more time.
After seriously studding the Owner's Manual, I have become to believe the following:
Regardless of the settings when the climate contol system is set in AUTO, the green light comes on the temerature control dial, the green light on the ac button lights, and air flow is directed at the floor and windshield.
The system is trying to dehumidify incoming air regardless of ambient temperature, mainly so your warm body's outgassing won't fog the windows.
So what? It's running the a/c regardless of OAT, so you're paying to run it at time you don't need it or only need it briefly (in cold weather). This might explain some of the "poor" MPG many are experiencing.
The solution is to set the temperature you want, hit the AUTO button, adjust the airflow where you want it (which makes the green AUTO light go out) and click the AC button so that the light goes out.
I call this the semi-automatic mode: temp is controlled to the temp you set with out running the AC to dehumidify, and it will remain set in this condition after your restart the car. If the windows fog up a bit, punch the AC button and let the AC run for a couple minutes. If you punch the AUTO button, it resets the air flow outlets and turns on the air.
So, if you're truly concerned about a get a couple more mpg, try the semi-auto settings and save some gas.
CXRabbit said:
AWD GT Moonroof, Bose, No Tech Package
city: 10%, Hwy 90%
Average MPG, 18-22, if running 75-80 on the Interstate in light traffic is average
Average cost of miles driven $2.30 for premium. I run 250-350 miles a week, so that's about $26 to $45 a week in gas. I can buy more gas; I can't buy more time.
After seriously studding the Owner's Manual, I have become to believe the following:
Regardless of the settings when the climate contol system is set in AUTO, the green light comes on the temerature control dial, the green light on the ac button lights, and air flow is directed at the floor and windshield.
The system is trying to dehumidify incoming air regardless of ambient temperature, mainly so your warm body's outgassing won't fog the windows.
So what? It's running the a/c regardless of OAT, so you're paying to run it at time you don't need it or only need it briefly (in cold weather). This might explain some of the "poor" MPG many are experiencing.
The solution is to set the temperature you want, hit the AUTO button, adjust the airflow where you want it (which makes the green AUTO light go out) and click the AC button so that the light goes out.
I call this the semi-automatic mode: temp is controlled to the temp you set with out running the AC to dehumidify, and it will remain set in this condition after your restart the car. If the windows fog up a bit, punch the AC button and let the AC run for a couple minutes. If you punch the AUTO button, it resets the air flow outlets and turns on the air.
So, if you're truly concerned about a get a couple more mpg, try the semi-auto settings and save some gas.
