It may not seem like it but I am keeping close track of MPG. So far after 3 fill ups I average 22-23 MPG. I have a 6 Speed w/ GT Pkg, heres some info:

1. High test gas
2. Presently using 17" snow tires
3. Mostly highway driving (85%)
4. Dont drive over 65MPH
5. Try to shift under 4K
6. Use crusie control when possible

I will drive it hard in a few weeks and post that info and MPG

V

 

^ that's great MPG, you lucky.

 

lol "high test" hahaha

17mpg highway ftw

 

My mileage is in my sig... guess I'm relatively lucky as well.

Hooray for yet another fuel mileage thread

 

well that is good, but you said you shift under 4K. Be careful about that! you need to redline here and there as Im sure you know. My gas mileage is in my sig but thats with alot of city driving. On a roadtrip I average anywhere from 20-24 depending on if I take my subs out, passengers, etc.

 

Nice driving, Grandma! Now drive it like it's supposed to be driven and report back.

FYI, my use:

1) Never use anything than 87 octane gas
2) 18" All season Continentals
3) Mostly urban driving
4) Obey all speed limits on "surface" streets, and rarely below 75 mph when on an expressway without traffic. On interstates in rural areas: 85 mph+
5) Most shifts between 5.5 and 8K. Several daily redline sojurns.
6) Use cruise only when bored.

15.5 mpg average. Just like God intended things.

 

Good stuff stew...I agree

 

drive the 8 like you're supposed to or enjoy replacing your bullets because of carbon build-up and other possible engine issues due to "inproper" driving as to how the 8 is SUPPOSED to be driven.

 

Your probably right and I will.. I want to see what the best mileage is that I can get cause I sure know what the worst will be!!! Thanks!

 

I'll see you Stew and Raise you.

1) 87 Octane all the time, tried 93 and saw no difference.
2) 18" All Season Avons
3) Mostly Urban 95% City Driving (stop lights every 3 to 6 blocks)
4) Moderately aggressive driving, red lined at least twice a day.
5) 75% of shifts between 3 and 6K

MPG: 12.5

 

ouch...

 

I get very similar results. 22mpg when taking pains to drive it carefully. Very mild accelleration, no stop-and-go traffic, watch the rpms.

When I drive it the way it wants to be driven, however, it's closer to 16mpg.

The car responds to your right foot quite predictably.

 

So far this week, I've got 60 miles out a half a tank,,,,,,,,, winter sux.

 

My very first tank I got 350 miles to a 14.5 gallon fillup. That comes out to 24.1 cruising 55-65 mph with varying RPM's for engine break in. A/C off, windows up the whole time, 100% highway with no stops from San Antonio to Dallas. I never got close to that 24mpg ever again mostly because I couldn't make myself drive that slow on the highway.

 

Tank before last I got 19.1 mpg!! I wasn't even trying! It was lots of highway and I'm really psyched. Of course I always have lots of highway miles so I think it was just a fluke. I always run 93 octane and drive it like a sports car. I usually get 18-18.6 mpg.

 

+1

I was at a dealership the other day and there were 4 RX 8's sitting out front for service. I asked the service advisor what was wrong with them and he replied, "They are all owned by ppl who don't know how to drive an RX8 and that's why we have them. You have to run them hard or you're going to have problems with it. Most ppl who buy these things don't understand that and think they are going to baby them around town."

I find it funny how the dealership was saying run the crap out of your 8 but Mazda has voided warrenties and refused to help others who have in the past.

 

I don't think you have to drive it hard and run the crap out of it, you just can't let the engine labor at low revs and you have to wind it out when you shift once in a while.
Going to extremes doesn't ever work...with your car or even your body. If you don't sleep, drink and you smoke heavy, don't eat right and abuse your body and mind...you won't last as long as an RX 8 will. Moderation my friends...That's why Socrates and Plato and Emerson and others were called "Smart Guys". I think , and not in every case, that most of the Rx 8 problems come in two shapes. Women and guys with Automatic Trans that drive the car like it is their child ....and people that try to MOD the car and beat the crap out of it. The Japanese are very smart guys. If they wanted the car to be Modded they'd sell you the parts. I've not seen any dependable Mods on either of my Audi's or my Rx 8. I think it's not a cr to be toyed with...I never heard anyone MOD a BMW 3 or 5 series. It overloads the car, changes performance and makes it tend toward destruction. If you want a ridiculously fast car buy it like that...pay for it up front and don't screw it up with ll those gimmicks . I had 125,000 miles on my '87 RX 7 and the only reason i got rid of it was because it overheated when it blew a radiator hose and messed up the compression...It would have cost more to fix than I had in 1990 after 12 years of almost no problems other than lousy mpg. Everytime I see some kid put all these MODS on cars it usually causes problems because the cars were not designed to handle them easily. They might fit but after while they cause burnout.
Kind of like using Anabolic Steroids to bodybuild. They work but after while , you die.

 

Well I could get that MPG on the highway if I drove 65MPH. I'd be tailgated by sem-trucks and almost every other car on the road if I drove that slow on the freeway.

 

Yea come on we all bought the RX8 that can run at 9k rpm to shift before 4k rpm right


I average like 12-14 mpg

and now with colder weather prob high 10's

 

You guys are making me feel much better. I average between 15 and 17, depending on what I've been doing, I am above 5280' elevation tho......

 

I just got 14mpg on this last tank,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

1) 93 Octane
2) 18" on 6 Speed MT
3) Shift at 4K sometimes on 6K
4) average 45MPH in city with 4th gear
5) average 70MPH on highway with 6th gear

average 15 MPG. The tank dries up real fast. Now I'm wondering if LS1 gets better milage than my rotors.

I'll check up on other things in the car such as air filter. o2 sensors are too expensive to replace. My Nissan 240sx had them for like $20.

 

91 octane (lousy CA )

70% highway 30% city driving


Drive it like I stole it 80% of the time.


I avg 17.8.

I'm ok with that, it's something I knew I would deal with in getting this car.

Seeing how next year for sure we're (at least here in CA) gonna be paying 4.00+ a gallon for 91, i'm prepared for that.

Have to make sacrifices here and there (ahh mostly little ones) to do that but I wouldn't take this car for granted ever.

 

I'll bite.

1. 93 octane only
2. Presently using 17" winters - the excellent contiwintercontact TS810
3. Mostly highway driving (65%)
4. Typical cruise 75-80MPH
5. Shift points vary - redline at least once per drive, when warm, otherwise 6k in 1st, 4500 in second, below 3500 others
6. Never use crusie - too much trouble to find the button - where is it btw? What do I do with my feet when I use it?

I've gotten 20-21 all year driving this way, but in the last two tanks it's dropped to 18 - 19. I'm annoyed by this. I've spent this current tank keeping my hwy speed below 72 - the 3750 rev mark is about 75 mph, and this is where the second set of injectors fires, right? So, I'm trying to see if I can get another 2 mpg by staying away from the second injectors - that's 10 %. But I'd be surprised if this is the case.

I also wonder why my mileage has dropped - it was after the winter gas thing - I'm wondering if I haven't been redlining enough or just revving enough lately. I've noticed no issues whatsoever other than mileage. I am just about at my oil change interval - every 3k, but again, doubt this is an issue.

Well that's my data.

 

Wait until he drives it hard and gets 16.5 mpg to 17.5