# Unexpected highway mpg superstars **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [July 14, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505 "2011-07-14T07:09:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shifty](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/shifty/32/4959_2.png) [@Shifty](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shifty)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/41 "2011-07-14T10:33:30Z")
> [@95dime](#): > > not the silly gage in the cluster. > > . +1 what a waste! it would have been better if it was an oil pressure gauge. I get about 400miles per gas tank and average 25-27mpg puttin around town & 31-33mpg highway in my M ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/42 "2011-07-14T10:33:30Z")
So. My Xterra gets 16-18 no matter what I do. City, highway, pulling a trailer, idling in a parking lot with the AC on… ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/43 "2011-07-14T10:36:11Z")
> [@Mike93](#): > > See, I wouldn’t be. My Mustang will hit that all day long. Back when I ran stock 3.08 gearing I would nearly touch 30 on the highway. Yeah, but you’re comparing a 93 to a 2005 with dual air bags, all kinds of new side impact standards and other high strength steel requirements that are needed to meet modern crash standards. Plus, modern cars have to be quiet so you’ve got better sealing doors, heavier carpet, more sound deadening etc etc. Then add on all the “stuff” a modern car has to have just to get out of the “econo-car” class. My GTO has driver/passenger 8 way power seats, air, tilt and telescope wheel, cruise, power windows/locks/mirrors, 6 disc changer etc etc and I don’t really consider it that well loaded. All that stuff adds up and you end up with my 2 door 2+2 coupe hitting the scales at 3780 lbs. Plus, what did a stock 5.0 LX put out HP wise? 225hp with a 235 hp cobra according to google. Of course being both lighter with far less power it got 5mpg better. It’s not that I think 25mpg is a great number, just that I think 25mpg making 400hp and carrying around all the luxury and safety crap a modern car “needs” is a good number. Comparing across decades is really apples and oranges. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/44 "2011-07-14T10:36:50Z")
My heads, cam, geared, 600whp C5 got 25+ mpg. I’ll be very interested to see what the new set up will do lol. My 1997 Grand Am 3.1 Auto, heads milled down 200K+ miles averaged 30ish and would see 34-35 on zee highway. Also my 2004 impala averaged 27-28 with the 3.1L in it. Worse fuel economy? My wife’s GMC VMax we average 9mpg and see 14 on zee highway. Might get worse after the cam and blower lol. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/45 "2011-07-14T10:38:07Z")
> [@Fry](#): > > Exactly. Either your MPG or your HP should start with a 4. I love this. ---
**Author:** ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/46 "2011-07-14T10:59:35Z")
> [@95dime](#): > > how are you getting 35mpg out of a 325i? thats really good…the most i have gotten is about 27-28 in my 323i 5 speed (which is still the 2.5l) i am talking actual numbers, not the silly gage in the cluster. > > as for the question about mid 20’s being good, it depends on who you talk to. anything breaking into the 20’s is good for me, considering my s10 was getting 4-5mpg. While I have no way of proving this, I think it mayt be the auto trans/convertter that’s putting it over the edge. I noticed this in my '93 SHO as well…a car I swapped from an auto to manual trans in which I dropped about 3-4 mpg on the highway after the swap. And I do the math at every fill up…which happens to be right on with the digital mpg reading on the dash. I don’t use the sweeping needle in the instrument cluster for any mpg readings… > [@JayS](#): > > Yeah, but you’re comparing a 93 to a 2005 with dual air bags, all kinds of new side impact standards and other high strength steel requirements that are needed to meet modern crash standards. Plus, modern cars have to be quiet so you’ve got better sealing doors, heavier carpet, more sound deadening etc etc. Then add on all the “stuff” a modern car has to have just to get out of the “econo-car” class. My GTO has driver/passenger 8 way power seats, air, tilt and telescope wheel, cruise, power windows/locks/mirrors, 6 disc changer etc etc and I don’t really consider it that well loaded. All that stuff adds up and you end up with my 2 door 2+2 coupe hitting the scales at 3780 lbs. Plus, what did a stock 5.0 LX put out HP wise? 225hp with a 235 hp cobra according to google. Of course being both lighter with far less power it got 5mpg better. > > It’s not that I think 25mpg is a great number, just that I think 25mpg making 400hp and carrying around all the luxury and safety crap a modern car “needs” is a good number. Comparing across decades is really apples and oranges. My car weighs in at about 3350lbs (now that I added IRS), and suffers from worse aerodynamics than your Goat. I have air, cruise, pw/pl, stereo shit, 13" front/11" rear discs on bigger wheels/tires, etc…as well as a mildy built engine making 305rwhp. This is the set-up that yields the 25ish mpg on the highway. Either way, if you’re happy with the numbers, fine by me:tup: So, I’m still hoping for some more surprises…so far we have: \*the E46 I listed \*Vettes \*MB C230 in the high 30’s was unexpected to me… ---
**Author:** ![SnowboardinWNY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/snowboardinwny/32/5182_2.png) [@SnowboardinWNY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SnowboardinWNY)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/47 "2011-07-14T11:46:31Z")
My old ZX2, yeah I know, an escort… But it had everything done to it but cams. Fully ported head yada yada yada. The car put down 153whp and judging by the cars I have run on the street it would probably do a mid 14 in the 1/4. My best mpg hwy was 39mpg. That was cruising from PA to NY doing about 80-85 most of the way and a few hwy runs. I really couldn’t complain with that. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/48 "2011-07-14T11:50:02Z")
lol ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/49 "2011-07-14T12:03:17Z")
> [@Mike93"](#): > > I love taking roadtrips, so yeah, I care about MPG. Recently picked up an E46 325i and have been pleasantly surprised with 35mpg @ 75mph on the highway, something that I never really realized prior to purchse. Got me to thinking, what other cars out there throw down some pretty decent mpg numbers, unexpectedly, while still being enjoyable cars to drive? jesus, 35? you sure? I got 28 on a 200 mile trip in my 325. ---
**Author:** ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/50 "2011-07-14T12:13:57Z")
> [@travisn](#): > > jesus, 35? you sure? I got 28 on a 200 mile trip in my 325. Even though I went to an Art Institute for college…I can do math! 35 came from a recent trip to Toronto, and a few weeks back went to Boston and did 32 on that trip, but that was more in the 75-80mph range. ---
**Author:** ![Haenszel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e68b1a/32.png) [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/51 "2011-07-14T12:24:13Z")
Not unexpected but my rabbit gets low 30’s… which I didn’t appreciate at all until my A4 got unexpectedly bad gas mileage at about 14.5mpg. fuuuuu. ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/52 "2011-07-14T13:03:54Z")
I avg 35mpg with my 500hp civic… Do I win? ---
**Author:** ![schwidley](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/schwidley/32/6128_2.png) [@schwidley](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/schwidley)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/53 "2011-07-14T13:55:52Z")
My Cadillac gets 29-30 on the highway. And my roadmaster used to get 26 (before i put a new cam in) Both pretty impressive considering that most people consider large v8 cars to be gas guzzlers. Id much rather be in my cadillac getting 30 than a civic or corolla getting 34. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/54 "2011-07-14T14:00:38Z")
> [@Saxon](#): > > I avg 35mpg with my 500hp civic… Do I win? So far, yes. Just stay outta boost! ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/55 "2011-07-14T22:13:20Z")
I guess it would have been better if it wasn’t my first day with the car. haha. ---
**Author:** ![Scott](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/scott/32/7603_2.png) [@Scott](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Scott)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/56 "2011-07-14T22:47:29Z")
25-26 hwy if Im careful 30+ if I draft trucks ---
**Author:** ![Bull49](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bull49/32/7381_2.png) [@Bull49](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bull49)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/57 "2011-07-15T00:50:06Z")
antithesis of mpg superstar: honda crv. i bought one when i lived far from work and wanted an suv. rated at 27 mpg and rarely got better than 20. 2005 auto ex. i ended up just moving closer to work. ---
**Author:** ![08GT500](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/08gt500/32/5417_2.png) [@08GT500](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/08GT500)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505/58 "2011-07-15T02:14:42Z")
The best I’ve managed in my Shelby is 18-19. That was out to Rochester and back. ---------- Post added at 05:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:09 AM ---------- > [@Fry](#): > > Exactly. Either your MPG or your HP should start with a 4. How about 5 :dunno: [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unexpected-highway-mpg-superstars/214505.md?page=2)