My Sprint ER. 51 MPG on the highway. The ER wasn’t available with A/C, automatic transmission or power steering…3 cylinder 1.0 liter engine only, no option for a 1.2 liter 4 cylinder.
I’d guess a similarly equipped Geo Metro would get about the same, maybe better as they were more aerodynamic than the Sprint.
For some reason, Chevy quit using the Suzuki 3-cylinder engine around '94 or '95.
Airbags- between 2 and 10. Side impact bars. Vastly improved crumple zones: in 1990, a 35mph impact with a concrete wall was a success if the occupant(s) survived, whereas now it would be a miserable failure unless the occupants are unharmed. Catalytic converters. Anti-submarining seats. Impact-sensitive fuel tank mounts. Standard air conditioning. Standard AM/FM/CD players. Standard powered windows, door locks, seat adjustment, trunk release. Anti-lock brakes. Tire pressure monitoring.
In other words, weight.
ETA: And soundproofing. A hell of a lot of soundproofing. Blame Lexus.
Dudes tend to take a few instances where they got a good MPG and then say “well, it get’s that many MPG”. They are usually not lying per se, they really beleive their car gets that. But if a test was done or they kept a rigourous log, they’d see what they say is their usual MPG is much more likely the extreme high figure.
Of course, I can’t prove that a poster’s car doesn’t get that. But we can show that their vehicle isn’t rated to get that.
Milage is a lot like penis length. 
Yep. Did that. 50+ mpg most of the time when I drove a Chevy Sprint and a Chevy Sprint Metro until the engines really started getting tired. I calculated the mileage at nearly every fill-up. Of course, much of my driving was on the freeway.
I got a late start on the Prius, but this is what I’m doing:
Date Odo Gallons Ind MPG Calc MPG Difference
05/12/08 216.5 4.658 46.48
05/15/08 207.6 4.691 46.8 44.25 5.75%
05/31/08 300.3 6.864 43.75
06/11/08 225.6 4.769 50.7 47.31 7.18%
06/12/08 221.6 4.777 50.2 46.39 8.22%
06/17/08 240.8 4.907 49.5 49.07 0.87%
06/18/08 222.0 4.590 50.1 48.37 3.59%
06/19/08 221.9 4.410 49.2 50.32 -2.22%
06/24/08 272.6 6.181 49.4 44.10 12.01%
06/25/08 208.6 4.488 48.0 46.48 3.27%
06/26/08 211.7 4.601 48.6 46.01 5.63%
07/03/08 212.6 4.331 49.8 49.09 1.45%
07/03/08 332.7 7.533 52.0 44.17 17.74%
07/06/08 394.5 8.412 42.9 46.90 -8.52%
07/08/08 358.1 6.851 49.8 52.27 -4.72%
07/09/08 207.8 4.495 49.4 46.23 6.86%
07/10/08 210.9 4.279 49.8 49.29 1.04%
07/15/08 288.2 5.574 48.4 51.70 -6.39%
07/16/08 208.4 4.142 49.3 50.31 -2.02%
07/17/08 207.8 4.303 49.9 48.29 3.33%
07/22/08 254.7 5.339 50.1 47.71 5.02%
07/23/08 208.1 4.220 51.2 49.31 3.83%
Weren’t EPA ratings required to be stated in advertising in the late-'70s/early-'80s?
No, I believe they were required to be available.
Which was done by having them listed on the price sheet on the side window of the car. They were advertised on some cars, but as I remember, it was only the economical cars where MPG was advertised. You didn’t hear that in the ads for the gas-guzzling pickup truck or big Buick.
Sometimes you just get good cars. I have gotten 40 mpg (this last January driving to NYC and back was the last time) in my 98 Civic. But I plan and budget my trips at 33 MPG, since it is unlikely I will get too many days of 40 mpg out it during my trip. But since my normal driving is usually around 34, any surprises I get on my trip should be good ones.
I noticed one claim in an add where they are getting away from stating the government mph rating and hoping you won’t notice. They had a printed disclaimer saying results up to xx mph during testing. in other words not the government test results for mph.
How are you checking how much fuel is left in the tank before each fillup?
One could assume the common method of “seeing how much gas fits inside” would work quite well here.
:smack:
They were, but they were known to be unreliable and high end.
Your Prius Figures look about right, btw. A little above average.
I just have to point out the interesting juxtaposition of username and question… 
(just pickin’)
Well, I fixed the average today. The past few days I’ve been experimenting with not using cruise control (70-71 mph) and driving faster (70-76 mph with sprints over 80 mph). The indicated mpg showed over 50. But when I calculated the burn I came up with just above 40. :eek:
I used a different pump today, since my usual one was OOS and someone was occupying the second choice. Normally I insert the nozzle, then pull it out until it stops. This morning there was no pull-out before it stopped. So there’s a variable. I’ll use #1 or #2 pump when I fill up again (probably Tuesday) and see how it looks then.
Do you like your Prius? I thought about getting one when I was transitioning out of my driveable couch, the Ford Crown Victoria, but they are hella expensive.
I went with a 2006 Scion Xa, and I am regularly getting 38 to 40 mpg on regular gas. It’s a Toyota, so I expect a long life from it, I only paid about 17k for it (that’s with the premium 100,000 mile warranty added on) and I am pretty happy with it except that it looks like a car that 10 clowns would ride around in…
Yes.
Former roommate sold it to me for under Blue Book. Much more comfortable than the Cherokee (particularly the back seats). I like the GPS. Better stereo. Oh, and it gets about 25 more mpg too. I thought it would almost break even re: cost of fuel vs. car payment. That was when I thought gas was going to go up to $3.50/gallon soon.
EDIT: My ultra-Conservative uncle has a Toyota Four-Runner. He had a Prius for a week when his truck was in the shop and was impressed.
I keep hearing about exaggerated claims on MPG, costs associated with battery replacement (which of course will only need to be done AFTER the warranty is up!), it being so quiet it kills deaf people…
I also read on Yahoo recently that the Honda hybrid actually gets better MPG than the Prius.
But if you got a good deal on it, are happy with it and are getting upwards of even 40mpg, then what’s not to like?
I don’t know about exaggerated MPG claims. I’m getting mileage within the range I expected. Battery? Yes, they’ll have to be replaced eventually. Sooner for me, since I bought it used.
Quiet? Yes. When one pulls silently away it’s downright creepy. I like creepy. :ccol:
From what I’ve heard the Honda Insight does get better mileage than the Prius. But it’s a two-seater. Turning the Prius into a two-seater yields a cargo area as large as the Cherokee’s (though not as high).
If you’re talking about the Honda Insight, yes, it got better gas mileage but it is a cramped two seater versus a moderately sized four seater. The Prius is a much more practical car for everyday use.
Blind, not deaf.
The Honda Civic Hybrid is the only one they currently make. It looks almost exactly like a regular Civic and gets slightly less MPG than a Prius.