1 2
billy3esq
billy3esq Dork
10/7/09 7:18 p.m.

I drove my RX-8 back and forth to Austin today and averaged 23.9mpg over the full tank. The EPA rated the car at 24mpg in the old system. Since my 23.9 included about 60 miles of driving around in Austin traffic, I'm quite certain that my highway mileage was above 24mpg.

... and they said it couldn't be done.

It's still a gas hog, though.

donalson
donalson SuperDork
10/7/09 7:50 p.m.

no worse then my astro... or my volvo....

jcanracer
jcanracer Reader
10/7/09 7:56 p.m.

So...an RX-anything with an LS motor swap & 6speed manual would still be more fuel efficient than the 1.3L lump in there huh? tsk tsk

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/7/09 8:01 p.m.

Sheeeeeet, I've done better than that with a 25-year-old carburetored 12A!

Buzz Killington
Buzz Killington Reader
10/7/09 8:02 p.m.

billy...nooooooooooo

IBTBATCB (in before thread becomes a total cluster berkeley)

this is good to hear, considering my pending application for a job 50 (as opposed to my current 6) miles from my house.

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/7/09 8:15 p.m.

Go get a truck / tow vehical. Makes an RX seem positively fantastic in the MPG department. Yes I have had many of both.

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/7/09 9:38 p.m.

Did it use any oil?

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/7/09 10:38 p.m.
Woody wrote: Did it use any oil?

It's a rotary, so yes, it did. They're designed to. That's how the seals get oiled.

RexSeven
RexSeven Dork
10/7/09 10:40 p.m.

I think he knows that already...

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/7/09 10:40 p.m.

damn... being happy over 24mpg... if my Ti dips that low, I get worried

DirtyBird222
DirtyBird222 Dork
10/7/09 11:02 p.m.

lsx+6spd in anycar = sex and good mpgs.

Was that the on board computer average or did you actually do it the proper way?

My Fit said I got like 33 on the highway but when I measured it out the proper way by filing the gas tank

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/7/09 11:13 p.m.

the fit only gets 33? I can hit 35 in my ti at 70mph... I can get close4 to 40 if I keep it at or slightly below 65. And I am running wider than stock sticky summer tyres

jcanracer
jcanracer Reader
10/7/09 11:56 p.m.

disappointing for the fit, good mileage for the Ti tho. I get 25 around town and 33 on the highway (both actual mpg figures calculated from gas receipts) in my 03 matrix which is about as aerodynamic as a brick

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/8/09 1:42 a.m.

it is probably more aerodynamic than you would think. Modern cars may look brick like, but a lot of thought goes into controlling the airflow in and around them

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/8/09 8:22 a.m.
jcanracer wrote: So...an RX-anything with an LS motor swap & 6speed manual would still be more fuel efficient than the 1.3L lump in there huh? tsk tsk

+1, still less than a C5 Z06. 24MPG is nothing to brag about with such a small engine, although it may be on the high side for a Renesis.

Tom Heath
Tom Heath Marketing / Club Coordinator
10/8/09 8:53 a.m.
DirtyBird222 wrote: My Fit said I got like 33 on the highway but when I measured it out the proper way by filing the gas tank

I'm hanging on every word, but it's a short ledge. Inquiring minds want to know. FWIW, I've cracked 40mpg in my wife's Fit doing some serious drafting, but can't do better.

24mpg in an RX-8 is encouraging. That's better than our last Project WRX.

aircooled
aircooled SuperDork
10/8/09 11:03 a.m.

I heard driving a rotary powered car will make you strangely attracted to Mitzi Gaynor movies...

...or that the sound of a rotary will make you hear colors...

...or that no one has ever ACTUALLY seen a rotor...

...or that Mazda strait out denies that they got the idea of the rotary from a crashed UFO they recovered off of Kagoshima in 1974.

iceracer
iceracer HalfDork
10/8/09 11:07 a.m.

How about 59.09 for my ZX2/SR. ? Of course I was really trying. I gets 35+ in regular trips. I have hit 40 a couple of times.

Then there is my Liberty. 21 at best.

ReverendDexter
ReverendDexter HalfDork
10/8/09 11:14 a.m.

And I've seen better than 25mpg in my Cobra, with it's supposedly inefficient 4.6L V8, and that wasn't doing anything resembling hypermiling. 75+mph, weaving through traffic, and spending as much time in 4th as I did in 5th.

For the record, that's actually the BEST fuel economy I've ever seen from that car. Every time I try to do standard hypermiling techniques, my fuel economy drops under 20. Lesson learned, I just drive how I want to, and let the fuel economy fall where it may.

2002maniac
2002maniac Reader
10/8/09 11:24 a.m.

24mpg is terrific for a 2900lb sports car with .31CD.

EricM
EricM HalfDork
10/8/09 11:35 a.m.

I get 22 mpg (measured) out of my 1993 GMC Sonoma. the Porsche however is not fairing as well, I think there may be something wrong with it though as it smells like an outboard boat motor, I wonder if it is running too rich....

Gearheadotaku
Gearheadotaku GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/8/09 12:53 p.m.

My 1997 Saturn SC2 5-speed will get close to 40 if I behave. 38 w a/c and 80mph.

billy3esq
billy3esq Dork
10/8/09 2:36 p.m.
Woody wrote: Did it use any oil?

Some, but not enough to be noticeable over one tank. It's burned just under a pint and a half in the last 2500 miles of street driving. OTOH, it burns about a pint per hour on track.

billy3esq
billy3esq Dork
10/8/09 2:39 p.m.
DirtyBird222 wrote: Was that the on board computer average or did you actually do it the proper way?

I am the on-board computer, so I guess that makes it the proper way (fill to first shut-off click, drive, refill to first shut-off click, divide miles driven by gallons in second purchase).

HiTempguy
HiTempguy Reader
10/8/09 5:27 p.m.

I get an honest, calculated many times, 36USMPG driving like a D-bag through the mountains to Merritt, BC and back in the Swift GTi. Considering my d-bagginess (think, every opportunity to pass will be taken at 9 gazillion rpm), and massive cams I was thoroughly surprised.

And its cooler then an RX8 natch!

1 2

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
CfTtOB0z8eZHk2viEYIaxfYX5ItdGIT48KtoPCyOuffABmeIaoSjvrpL5UQRXd5M