rx8wannahave

Since we have had this long standing friendly debate about what the LS2 can do fuel economy wise, I thought I'd direct you to Autoweek's mag...this past week.

They had a C6 (automatic mind you) that was tested for fuel economy and while the EPA rated it at 27mpg, it got 27.3mpg in all highway.

400HP and 27mpg highway....with an automatic mind you, kind of puts that whole the LS can't do it thing...to rest.

With stick and the up and coming cylinder deactivation...Autoweek (not the best mag I know) said it probably can hit low 30's on the highway while I think 30mpg is the top really.

Either way, if it proves to be true...a 400HP V8 making 30MPG highway...just might force me to rape my RX's heritage and stick a LS2 down her throat.

LOL

But, I love my 8...heck...this past week I trashed the EPA's #'s once again getting 20.3mpg (with 8.7K on the odom) with 100% city driving and several 9K trips...almost daily.

I’ve beaten the EPA with every car I’ve owned, and again…I don’t ragg my car from stop light to stop light but I don’t drive like a grandma either.

But, at the same time what is strange about the RX8 or rotary…is that I can’t really figure out why sometimes (considering I drive pretty standard, 9K almost daily, constant 50MPH in 6th in a 45MPH zone) I get 18.7mpg while others I get 20 considering I really didn’t do much different other than maybe use another brand of gas at the time???????

Anyway…Bascho, I think GM’s or should I say the EPA’s claims about the LS…are true and at least one mag documented it. If I ever own one…I’ll let you know my personal #'s.

Tell your buddy...maybe his lead foot is hurting his GTO #'s...while the automatic GTO get's pretty bad city fuel economy considering it's weight.

bascho

Is this with the 2008 EPA testing standards or the current ones?


His fiancé has a 2005 GTO auto and he has a 2005 GTO 6MT. Her GTO is yellow and his is red......they call the cars ketchup and mustard. I'll post some pics of the two cars in his driveway......it looks really funny. Anyways, both of them are getting 18mpg in mixed driving.......granted they both drive pretty fast. I have a feeling the 30mpg rating is at current EPA testing standards which only take the car to 60 or 65mph.....who drives 60-65mph?

rx8wannahave

Not sure...I'll look at the mag.

GTO's are pertty nice, and again I say they have the best dang seats I've ever sat in but their weight hurt it the most. It's looks aint great...but with some body mod's it can be made to look pretty mean. Interior quality and rear seat space are alos great selling points for the GTO.

The 30mpg is with the cylinder shutoff thing, and that's just an estimate...not a EPA given number. GM claimed that in the news with the Concept Camaro and autoweek made the same conclusions with the mag. I would think they would be right since the LS2 right now is rated (6-speed Vette) at 18/28.

Anyway, Katchup and Mustard is what I called the Packers palying the Cheifs last year (or was it last year?)....if they are Paker and Cheifs fans everything wrong in the universe would be complete...lol.

If the GTO came in at 3400 pounds and 25K...I might be driving one today, I can't say enough about those dang seats!!! I don't have to talk about it's sweet LS V8.



Ohhh, I found it...here it is so you can read for yourself:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7021/1008/FREE

Glyphon

yeah, but you cheat. you live in a place where the largest hills are freeway on ramps and a ride at an amusement park

rx8wannahave

They were going 75-80mph...so once again I'm left impressed by the LS.

In my one short trip (which honestly was not 100% highway driving, more like 70%) with the AC on going 75mph...depending on the law of the land, lol, I only got 21.5mpg in my 8.

OUCH, I wonder if we will ever see...rotor shutoff...lol.

rx8wannahave

LOL...so true, and I have a base 6spd (the lightest 8) But...if I do say so myself, beating the EPA by 2mpg is pretty sweet. I've done it in my first car (NX2000) and 2nd car (Probe GT). ALL the while...I'm not grandma driving but I'm not ultra aggressive either.

Now if I could only figure out why I'm moving up and down 1.5mpg...??? hmmmmm???, driving the same way with about the same temp...????

Like the LS, I'm just saying it's possible with the 8...not average, but possible. My lifetime average for my 8 is about 19.2mpg all city.

bascho

I can believe 30mpg on the highway with cylinder deactivation......but that would only happen in the car was in 'cruise mode'. Anytime you pressed the gas to change speed I am sure the system reactivates all cylinders. I just don't see the LS2 getting real world 30mpg on a daily basis. Driving on a long trip with the cruise set.....sure. Daily commute with lots of speed changes.....doubt it.

But here's to hoping

BaronVonBigmeat

There's also the small matter of which car the engine is in.

The Corvette weighs 3200 lbs., and the GTO weighs 3800. I assume the GTO is less aerodynamic as well. So, it's quite possible that two identical LS2's can get widely varying MPG's in two different cars.

Ever notice how the 4 cylinder version of a car doesn't automatically get 50% better mileage than the 6 cylinder version, even though it may have 50% less power? Weight, aerodynamics, and rolling resistance have a large effect, it's not just the motor. That's the same reason why those crazy Puerto Ricans can run 650hp 3 rotor engines, yet retain semi-respectable mileage (until they put their foot down that is). They have only changed one single factor that effects MPG. So keeping that in mind, a LS2 powered 8 might even get slightly better mileage than a Corvette.

rx8wannahave

We should never lose hope...and dreaming, you know I'm good at that...lol.

Baron, yup...there are ALOT of factors involved and the driver is a key factor in it all also. That's why I don't like heavy cars...it's worse in a crash, it waste more gas, and hurts handling.

If only the car companies would listen. I know it cost more or takes more work to reduce weight but the way gas is going they better start working on lighter material that wont cost an arm and a leg...but maybe it's cheaper to simply make better engines.

I like how Mazda can make a 4 door Family car like the 6 and it weighs in less than a GTO or Mustang. It's possible...but you have to care about it!

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

the GM smallblock is truly an engineering marvel, pushrod be damned

MI_FamilyMan

Perhaps off topic, but I find that 6th gear at 50mph is too few revs.

But then again, I like to be able to go at a moment's notice. I'm no expert, but I thought running in high gear in the 2000-3000 rpm range is kind of "lugging" the rotary.

Go out and have some fun!

zoom44

no, been there aint happening. One of the few direct answers Mazda has given on future rotaries.

rx8wannahave

^yeah...I know, maybe that device that takes Hydrogen out of gas to help the mix out will come true.


I've asked and I've been told repeatedly that it's not harming the engine at all, while taking it to 9K is good to clean it out. Remember also...in a moment, I stick it in 3rd or 2nd and get all the power I need. In a moment...now if that fraction of a sec is going to make or break me, then you are right.

I do...often, but there is no need to cruise at 6K RPM when I'm just driving to work and Mr. Law is ever ready to give us sports car guys a ticket. When I'm peppy...I play, and even sometimes I can tell my 8 wants to play and I play some more...but I'm not a red light to red light racer...that's just bad for fuel, my pocket by tickets, and safety of others on the road.

As Bruce Lee would say about training..."Play, but play seriously..."