MPG on First Road Trip with 1.4T 6 speed 1LT

[silversurfer]

Just returned from first road trip. The on-board computer calculated an average MPG of 37.5 on a total 660 miles:banana:. The 660 miles included about 90 miles of city driving, the rest being Interstate miles.

Keeping with the engine break-in recommendations in the owners manual, I did not drive consistent speeds long term over the first 500 miles, I varied speeds quite a bit.

Elevations ranged from around 2100ft to 7400ft. Ambient Temps ranged from 36F to 80F.

I received the car full of fuel from the dealer, I assume they filled it with 87 octane. Part of the total mileage was accomplished with that tank, and I refilled with 89 octane during the trip. So mileage is based on a combo of 87 and 89 octane fuel.

I am very pleased with the MPG. I figure my city miles drug the total average MPG down some.....so next road trip I'll calculate only on Interstate miles to see how close I come to the "magical" 40mpg figure that attracted many of use to the Sonic.

 

[Watchdoc]

My cars trip computer showed similar mileage on a recent trip. Unfortunately, the trip computer was 2-3mpg optimistic in it's calculation.

 

[laborsmith]

I have gone as low as 29+ between fueling. Those few times I have checked the DIC manually, I have been within tenths. The last time I checked freeway mpg was on my return from Indianapolis, I filled up just after entering Michigan, set the cruise control for 70, discovered there are an amazing number of Michigan drivers who travel substantially below 70, at Ypsilanti I was 40.5, turned off the cc, at the Mound Road exit I was 42.2 and 41.1 when I pulled into my driveway. I set the cc at 70 because that is the posted speed limit for Michigan. After I turned off the cc I drove as I normally would which is probably around 75.

It may be I am a sedate driver, although when buying new cars I trade in the old one because people who know me have decided I drive my cars like I stole them, although I do not think that is how I drive.

I have tried driving at the 4-5000 rpm with this car but admit I naturally shift when I should, and that would have been when I got the 29 on the DIC just before refueling. I particularly tried holding off shifting after the new exhaust because I was searching for the drone rpm, which I found but now it seems to have faded away. Much of my driving is the grocery getter type, to the library once a week, to the book store once or twice a month and to Meijer's two or three times a week, ie: one to three mile trips each way, except the book store would be ten miles each way.

This is my take on Sonic miles per gallon controversy. (And the UG today says 33.8)

Laborsmith

 

[silversurfer]

at Ypsilanti I was 40.5, turned off the cc, at the Mound Road exit I was 42.2 and 41.1 when I pulled into my driveway.

Laborsmith

That's the range I'm hoping to see too. I have a 1200 mi trip planned for the near future.....I'll report on mpg upon return from that trip.

 

[RichieRocket]

Silversurfer, as Watchdoc said, you should do the math and calculate your mpg, you'll see the DIC is optimistic.
I did a 4200 mile roadtrip before Christmas and the DIC was usually ~2 mpg over what the real number was.

I'm looking forward to doing some summer roadtrips to see what she can do...

 

[silversurfer]

Silversurfer, as Watchdoc said, you should do the math and calculate your mpg, you'll see the DIC is optimistic.
I did a 4200 mile roadtrip before Christmas and the DIC was usually ~2 mpg over what the real number was.

I'm looking forward to doing some summer roadtrips to see what she can do...

I'll do the calcs by hand, then compare with the computer. I notice that you use "Fuelly". How do you get fuelly to display in your sig line? Thanks.

 

[silversurfer]

How do you get fuelly to display in your sig line? Thanks.

Cancel that ....I found the "How do I use a Fuelly forum signature/badge?" FAQ

 

[JayDude132]

This is my first post on the forums here, and i wanted to share my trip information. I just picked up the car last wednesday and I took it on a trip this last saturday and the dash readout said i averaged 46.1mpg. I was very happy to see that on the car since it only had about 6-700 miles on it and will only get better from here. I did the manual calculation as well and it came out to be 43.3mpg. I had expected the readout to be a little optimistic, but I can definitely live with these numbers! That trip was all highway, but there were lots of variations in elevation during the trip. Now that i am doing my normal back road driving (100% back roads, no highway), I am very pleased to see my dash reading around 38mpg. I assume this will end up being a true 35mpg. I can't believe these great numbers from a non-hybrid vehicle. This is great, as i traded in my 92 Lexus SC400 which averaged about 13mpg in the winter and approximately 16mpg in the summer AND it took premium!

My Sonic:
LT
1.4T
6 Speed Manual
Inferno Orange Metallic

On another note, have people been seeing their numbers improve slightly as their vehicle racks up more miles? And has anyone pumped up their tires to the max PSI to see if they get even better mileage yet? I know sometimes when you get new cars the tires are not always inflated to what they should be. I still have to check mine.