Automakers exagerating mileage

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miri

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2003
3,679
0
76
I actually get much better gas mileage than EPA ratings on my car, rated at 22 city get over 27 city on a Scion TC.
 

Chadder007

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,560
0
0
Note to people not getting the EPA numbers......quit flooring the accelerator when taking off!!!!! That sucks gas a LOT.
 

Ktulu

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2000
4,354
0
0
Originally posted by: Chadder007
Note to people not getting the EPA numbers......quit flooring the accelerator when taking off!!!!! That sucks gas a LOT.

Agreed. I drive like a little old lady, but have always gotten EPA or better.
 

Linux23

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
11,374
741
126
i'm right on target with EPA figure for my 05 Maxima. I get around 28-30 on the HWY, but city mileage sucks. Before break-in I was getting 13mpg in the city. Now i'm about 15mpg straight city. That's about 5mpg from the EPA city estimates.
 

TStep

Platinum Member
Feb 16, 2003
2,460
10
81
From my experience my:

99 Silverado 4x4 Pickup 5.3l auto gets about 16 mpg w/ my driving habits. www.fueleconomy.gov lists it at 15-18, 16 mpg combine.

94 Grand Cherokee 4x4 4.0l auto gets about 18 mpg w/ my driving habits. www.fueleconomy.gov lists it at 15-20, 17 mpg combine.

Close enough not to exhibit a massive deviation as CS seems to state.
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Automakers don't exaggerate mileage. The EPA outlines a test profile, performed on a dynamometer (not the kind you're thinking of), which runs the car through different accelerations and speeds for different lengths of time. This profile is the same for every car. The automakers are just doing what they're told, and as long as they're all following the rules, the results should be directly comparable across brands. Your thread title is misleading.
 

J0hnny

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2002
2,366
0
0
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

My Civic disagrees with your pessimistic rating of econoboxes (3000rpm @ 70mph, high-40's in mpg) - mind you, it's a lot more aerodynamic compared to the rolling refridgerator you used as an example. :)

- M4H

Nice, right on key.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Amused
You gotta love the schizophrenic value system here.

What the automakers are doing is bad and deceitful (we've proven that wrong).

Yet, if you buy an SUV you deserve to be deceived.

WTF???

Dave, do you THINK before you spew this crap???
I just ignore what that moron posts.

- M4H
Dave IS a moron. They need to lock him in a padded cell. He and the OP are so quick to blame the "evil" automakers for exaggeraing mileage when the automakers have nothing to do with the situation. The EPA determines the gas mileage numbers that go on the Monroney. So if anyone is lying to the public, it is the government.

Regardless, my car gets right on the sticker mileage, even though it is modded and my right foot is a brick loaded with lead weights. The real issue here is not the SUV's, but the hybrids, which are a marketing scam of the first order. And that the Consumers Union is a terribly biased and unrealible organization. If they tested a Honda and a Chevy, and the Honda exploded killing the testers while the Chevy drove flawlessly, CR would still recommend that people buy the Honda. And they're not the only testing organization that would do this *cough* C&D *cough*

edit: to be fair to CR, they did not mislead in this article, Davey and the OP just can't read.
Drivers who track their own fuel economy have long known that their results seldom match the gas mileage claimed by the Environmental Protection Agency on new-car stickers. Our study, based on years of real-world road tests over thousands of miles, quantifies the problem across a wide swath of makes and models.

We compared the claimed EPA fuel economy with the mileage per gallon we measured for 303 cars and trucks for model-years 2000 to 2006. Our selection represents a good cross-section of mainstream, high-volume vehicles. We looked at city, highway, and overall mpg.
 

Tommunist

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2004
1,544
0
0
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

My Civic disagrees with your pessimistic rating of econoboxes (3000rpm @ 70mph, high-40's in mpg) - mind you, it's a lot more aerodynamic compared to the rolling refridgerator you used as an example. :)

- M4H

it's all in the gearing.
 

Soccerman06

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
5,830
5
81
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

My Civic disagrees with your pessimistic rating of econoboxes (3000rpm @ 70mph, high-40's in mpg) - mind you, it's a lot more aerodynamic compared to the rolling refridgerator you used as an example. :)

- M4H

Im not pessimistic, I just know from experience that people whine about not getting proper fuel economy they are missing some important details. The piece of paper on the side window in most cars for sale at dealers say in fine print, "mpg may vary up to 20% depending on the driving conditions and how you drive." I, like many others use to drive an econo car, when I was in high school, and know that their mpg can be true, and can be completely off with a heavy foot.

A good example of how EPA doesnt really tell the truth (or isnt accurate), the 05 Scion XB gets 35/38mpg city/hw. Now real world driving according to Car & Driver's long term article says the Scion gets 28mpg overall. Someone must be lying (or inaccurate)

Now I know there are good cars that get good mpg. You wouldnt think it, but my dad's work horse (04 Chevy 2500 HD Diesel) gets 12/21. Thats much better than the 12/18 that EPA says it gets. And that partially includes hauling 1000lb + of dirt, rock, and other construction supplies, and pulling a 4 ton trailer (all on one tank).
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
0
Originally posted by: Tommunist
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

My Civic disagrees with your pessimistic rating of econoboxes (3000rpm @ 70mph, high-40's in mpg) - mind you, it's a lot more aerodynamic compared to the rolling refridgerator you used as an example. :)

- M4H

it's all in the gearing.

Yep. It's exactly why the Vette still gets decent highway numbers, despite having four times the power of my little import go-kart. :)

Edit - I'm not disagreeing with anyone. EPA numbers do not represent real-world mileage.

- M4H
 

Soccerman06

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
5,830
5
81
Originally posted by: Tommunist
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

My Civic disagrees with your pessimistic rating of econoboxes (3000rpm @ 70mph, high-40's in mpg) - mind you, it's a lot more aerodynamic compared to the rolling refridgerator you used as an example. :)

- M4H

it's all in the gearing.

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...
 

YBS1

Golden Member
May 14, 2000
1,945
129
106
More sensationalist media B.S. An S2000 is rated 20/25, I average ~24mpg combined cycle, CR barely managed to get that from the hybrid they tested. Sounds like their method of testing is more flawed than that which is used to create the EPA numbers.

Reading further on, they actually got good numbers from the S2000, so who knows. I've never pulled numbers significantly different from EPA number from any vehicle though, usually my combined cycle number falls in between EPA city and highway estimates.
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...

I find that very hard to believe.
 

Soccerman06

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
5,830
5
81
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...

I find that very hard to believe.

You do know that cars dont have 100% power all the time right? ok good. Cars have a power curve. This is a basic generalization of some cars, starts off at 0 hp (off) 5-30hp at idle and low rpm (500-1500), 30-70hp at average speed (1500-3000), 70-100hp at passing/hard acceleration (3000-6000), and 100-132hp with pedal all the way down (6000-max rpm). This is was I believe a XB is at, please dont quote because Ill change it if its wrong, after I look at dyno, after class...

Ill try to a dyno of a Scion XB after class (got class in 10 min).
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...
That's not hp, that's the torque curve.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...

I find that very hard to believe.

You do know that cars dont have 100% power all the time right? ok good. Cars have a power curve. This is a basic generalization of some cars, starts off at 0 hp (off) 5-30hp at idle and low rpm (500-1500), 30-70hp at average speed (1500-3000), 70-100hp at passing/hard acceleration (3000-6000), and 100-132hp with pedal all the way down (6000-max rpm). This is was I believe a XB is at, please dont quote because Ill change it if its wrong, after I look at dyno, after class...

Ill try to a dyno of a Scion XB after class (got class in 10 min).

I don't have any problems - and I shift at 3K rpms in my xb :) I keep up wiht traffic just fine :)
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...

I find that very hard to believe.

You do know that cars dont have 100% power all the time right? ok good. Cars have a power curve. This is a basic generalization of some cars, starts off at 0 hp (off) 5-30hp at idle and low rpm (500-1500), 30-70hp at average speed (1500-3000), 70-100hp at passing/hard acceleration (3000-6000), and 100-132hp with pedal all the way down (6000-max rpm). This is was I believe a XB is at, please dont quote because Ill change it if its wrong, after I look at dyno, after class...

Ill try to a dyno of a Scion XB after class (got class in 10 min).

What does all this have to do with your claim that an xB cannot even MAINTAIN highway speeds in high gear even with the throttle wide open? That's what I find unbelievable.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...

I find that very hard to believe.

You do know that cars dont have 100% power all the time right? ok good. Cars have a power curve. This is a basic generalization of some cars, starts off at 0 hp (off) 5-30hp at idle and low rpm (500-1500), 30-70hp at average speed (1500-3000), 70-100hp at passing/hard acceleration (3000-6000), and 100-132hp with pedal all the way down (6000-max rpm). This is was I believe a XB is at, please dont quote because Ill change it if its wrong, after I look at dyno, after class...

Ill try to a dyno of a Scion XB after class (got class in 10 min).

What does all this have to do with your claim that an xB cannot even MAINTAIN highway speeds in high gear even with the throttle wide open? That's what I find unbelievable.

It can maintain :p
 

Soccerman06

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
5,830
5
81
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...

I find that very hard to believe.

You do know that cars dont have 100% power all the time right? ok good. Cars have a power curve. This is a basic generalization of some cars, starts off at 0 hp (off) 5-30hp at idle and low rpm (500-1500), 30-70hp at average speed (1500-3000), 70-100hp at passing/hard acceleration (3000-6000), and 100-132hp with pedal all the way down (6000-max rpm). This is was I believe a XB is at, please dont quote because Ill change it if its wrong, after I look at dyno, after class...

Ill try to a dyno of a Scion XB after class (got class in 10 min).

What does all this have to do with your claim that an xB cannot even MAINTAIN highway speeds in high gear even with the throttle wide open? That's what I find unbelievable.

It can maintain :p

Wow 110mph in the rain in a Scion XB.

The engine just does not have enough power to keep a 3000lb car moving at say 65mph at 3000 rpm. Cars need considerable power to move at 65mph, and the XB just doesnt have the proper gearing or power to achieve that specific load.

Anyways, I just wanted to show a rough example of how the engine power (at the crank) and rpms are related. I wanted to say how the engine performs under certain conditions, you can say the engine powerful enough to get you from A to B with decent mpg, but it doesnt have enough oomph for me.

This is how much hp/torque is created at the wheels of a Scion XB 5 speed manual. As you can see, there is little hp below 3000 rpm (less than 50). I dont remember any of my aerodynamic physics so I cant say how much power is required to keep the vechile moving at a constant speed, but its atleast 3500 70hp.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
Originally posted by: Jzero
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Ok, I also know it has a lot to do with gearing, but the Scion for example, has so little hp that anything below 3k rpm it just cant keep the vehicle moving, if at hw speeds. Sorry if Im trolling...

I find that very hard to believe.

You do know that cars dont have 100% power all the time right? ok good. Cars have a power curve. This is a basic generalization of some cars, starts off at 0 hp (off) 5-30hp at idle and low rpm (500-1500), 30-70hp at average speed (1500-3000), 70-100hp at passing/hard acceleration (3000-6000), and 100-132hp with pedal all the way down (6000-max rpm). This is was I believe a XB is at, please dont quote because Ill change it if its wrong, after I look at dyno, after class...

Ill try to a dyno of a Scion XB after class (got class in 10 min).

What does all this have to do with your claim that an xB cannot even MAINTAIN highway speeds in high gear even with the throttle wide open? That's what I find unbelievable.

It can maintain :p

Wow 110mph in the rain in a Scion XB.

The engine just does not have enough power to keep a 3000lb car moving at say 65mph at 3000 rpm. Cars need considerable power to move at 65mph, and the XB just doesnt have the proper gearing or power to achieve that specific load.

Anyways, I just wanted to show a rough example of how the engine power (at the crank) and rpms are related. I wanted to say how the engine performs under certain conditions, you can say the engine powerful enough to get you from A to B with decent mpg, but it doesnt have enough oomph for me.

This is how much hp/torque is created at the wheels of a Scion XB 5 speed manual. As you can see, there is little hp below 3000 rpm (less than 50). I dont remember any of my aerodynamic physics so I cant say how much power is required to keep the vechile moving at a constant speed, but its atleast 3500 70hp.

 

Bullhonkie

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2001
1,899
0
76
Originally posted by: Soccerman06

Wow 110mph in the rain in a Scion XB.

The engine just does not have enough power to keep a 3000lb car moving at say 65mph at 3000 rpm. Cars need considerable power to move at 65mph, and the XB just doesnt have the proper gearing or power to achieve that specific load.

Anyways, I just wanted to show a rough example of how the engine power (at the crank) and rpms are related. I wanted to say how the engine performs under certain conditions, you can say the engine powerful enough to get you from A to B with decent mpg, but it doesnt have enough oomph for me.

This is how much hp/torque is created at the wheels of a Scion XB 5 speed manual. As you can see, there is little hp below 3000 rpm (less than 50). I dont remember any of my aerodynamic physics so I cant say how much power is required to keep the vechile moving at a constant speed, but its atleast 3500 70hp.

So you're telling me you have to be flooring it at 3500rpm just to maintain speed on the highway? I find that pretty hard to believe. BTW the xB is more like ~2400 lbs.
 

batmanuel

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2003
2,144
0
0
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Soccerman06
You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

My Civic disagrees with your pessimistic rating of econoboxes (3000rpm @ 70mph, high-40's in mpg) - mind you, it's a lot more aerodynamic compared to the rolling refridgerator you used as an example. :)

- M4H

My 2005 Corolla S also begs to differ. My car doesn't break a sweat going 70MPH on the interstate. Even uphill. The hard part is usually holding the car back so I don't get a ticket. It's really easy to hit 80 without even thinking about it in my Corolla. And that's even with the overdrive engaged for maximum fuel economy. If I toggle the OD off, I've got even more power available for acceleration so I have no problem getting the car up to speed and merging on the interstate. I very rarely see the tach rev very high under normal driving circumstances.