There is a CNN video piece, unfortunately only available on AOL for now, about the "mileage gap" between EPA and actual MPG people get. Hybrids were singled out for special scrutiny. Since prices have skyrocketed for fuel, all so sudden people who didn't care, have noticed.

EPA will produce a new MPG test in the coming months which will hopefully reduce the gap.

 

If that's the case, I guess there will be a lot of cars (including the 8) that will have gas guzzler taxes slapped on them.

 

I hope they don't go retro - lmao

 

Does anyone really expect to achieve the EPA numbers for MPG?
perhaps in the range but not the max numbers they give out.
Do you have your AC off and the vent system set to blow air at your feet in your 8?
You are negatively affecting your MPG. The AC is actually on.

 

That is a very interesting point!

 

what gas guzzler taxes?

 

I just saw the CNN story on TV. The video showed the EPA doing tests on a dyno. Then the light bulb turned on in my head. I remember hearing the 8 goes in to "limp" mode on dynos from reading about the horsepower issue.

Could this be why the published numbers are higher than some (most?) people are able to achieve in real life?

Would anybody be willing to run their car in "limp" mode for a tank of gas and give us the results? Hopefully, this won't hurt your car.

 

See:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f6197.pdf

 

Up here in the great white north, there are plans for a special tax on vehicles with a displacement over 3l (I think). It has been proposed and probably will be enacted. I'm not sure what the amount of the tax will be, but it's still a tax. I wonder if the rotary being rated at 1.3l will be spared.

 

I guess I am just one of the few lucky ones who actually gets (consistently) an average of 280 miles per 13.2gal fill. That pretty much falls right between 18 and 24 mpg, although i do about 70% highway driving.