Really Need your Help here - Fighting Mazda Corp
01-09-2007, 11:23 AM
#26
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So by your logic if your new 07 RX is returning 3 MPG in normal city driving that's cool with you. The fact that Mazda has the car under warranty is irrelevant, right. I mean come on Mazda can't be held responsible for every ones driving style, right. You bought the car so now that 3 MPG is your problem because you own it...right. Sounds pretty silly doesn't it.
If your car is running out side normal operational peramiter the warranty is there to resolve these issues, plain and simple. It is my believe that my car is outside normal operational parameters, I may be proved wrong and that is why I am collecting data here. If everyone else is sharing a similar experience my quest ends here but if not I will pursue Mazda.
If your car is running out side normal operational peramiter the warranty is there to resolve these issues, plain and simple. It is my believe that my car is outside normal operational parameters, I may be proved wrong and that is why I am collecting data here. If everyone else is sharing a similar experience my quest ends here but if not I will pursue Mazda.
Originally Posted by myfuncar
You write "...Mazda would not be ducking out on its responsibility...." I my opinion, they don't have any responsibility. Maybe they're responsible to sell you a car that's doesn't become a molotov cocktail in a fender bender, but that's about it. You bought the car, its now your car and your responsibility. I'm You seem to be under the influence of our society's need to blame anyone for anything.
Just don't ever buy another Mazda if you don't like it. But there's no way a car company can be responsible for gas mileage for every driver in every location and every set of driving conditions. That's like blaming the dirt because you're allergic to peanuts.
Excuse my libertarian rant, its not anything personal on you - I know it sounds that way. And I do hope you get it figured out...but I just got my wankel spinning over the idea that they're to blame.
Just don't ever buy another Mazda if you don't like it. But there's no way a car company can be responsible for gas mileage for every driver in every location and every set of driving conditions. That's like blaming the dirt because you're allergic to peanuts.
Excuse my libertarian rant, its not anything personal on you - I know it sounds that way. And I do hope you get it figured out...but I just got my wankel spinning over the idea that they're to blame.
Last edited by Raptor75; 01-09-2007 at 11:26 AM.
01-09-2007, 11:46 AM
#27
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I don't see any mention on HOW you drive. Are you heavier on the gas to get up to speed? Are you constantly on and off the gas to maintain it? IE are you one of those that speeds up/slows down quickly and can't maintain speed? That's a reason why cruise control will give you slightly better milage. It's reading a lot more things than you are to be as efficient as it can in maintaining that speed.
3-6 blocks isn't that far. How long are you sitting at those lights? Just trying to be objective here. I'm certainly the king of crappy mileage, but I know how to get better mileage if I want.
The 3 MPG example is a little extreme. Your mileage may be the result of the first paragraph.
3-6 blocks isn't that far. How long are you sitting at those lights? Just trying to be objective here. I'm certainly the king of crappy mileage, but I know how to get better mileage if I want.
The 3 MPG example is a little extreme. Your mileage may be the result of the first paragraph.
01-09-2007, 04:29 PM
#28
That milage is normal. If you can get 23 mpg on the highway then you're car is fine.
It doesnt have power loss or anything does it? No CEL's? If not, its fine. When I drove all Highway I got 21-22 miles per gallon. I moved and drive 2 blocks to work and sit at one light, now I get 12-15 mpg, probably depending all on that light, but I do drive around town a lot too, so there are untracked variables (not to mention throttle position.
If you dont have power loss or CEL's or anythign weird going on, your engine is probably fine. You arent stating anything about it driving strange or anything bimding, so the drivetrain is probably alright.
Instead of going after Mazda and suing....which probably wont turn out the way you want, I would suggest doing a piggyback setup and moniter your air/fuel ratio. THis would be expensive, but would get you answers. A cheaper thing would be buy a new air filter, put in new plugs, and see if that helps any. Besides sitting in one spot and idling, those really are the only possibilities I can think of that would drastically effect milage.
Really though, thats normal milage. I think that the drastic differences we are seeing are a combination of variables like driving style, fuel, mods, maintanence cycles, etc.
But really, rotaries are thirsty...all there is to it.
It doesnt have power loss or anything does it? No CEL's? If not, its fine. When I drove all Highway I got 21-22 miles per gallon. I moved and drive 2 blocks to work and sit at one light, now I get 12-15 mpg, probably depending all on that light, but I do drive around town a lot too, so there are untracked variables (not to mention throttle position.
If you dont have power loss or CEL's or anythign weird going on, your engine is probably fine. You arent stating anything about it driving strange or anything bimding, so the drivetrain is probably alright.
Instead of going after Mazda and suing....which probably wont turn out the way you want, I would suggest doing a piggyback setup and moniter your air/fuel ratio. THis would be expensive, but would get you answers. A cheaper thing would be buy a new air filter, put in new plugs, and see if that helps any. Besides sitting in one spot and idling, those really are the only possibilities I can think of that would drastically effect milage.
Really though, thats normal milage. I think that the drastic differences we are seeing are a combination of variables like driving style, fuel, mods, maintanence cycles, etc.
But really, rotaries are thirsty...all there is to it.
01-09-2007, 08:50 PM
#29
I'll snap his neck.
Raptor,
What are your normal shift points? I think that would give people a better idea of your driving style. I get around 15 city on my 05 AT (i know yours is a MT), but I use the paddles a lot and rev it quite a bit - gotta make sure to do the rotary maintenance, especially on the AT
What are your normal shift points? I think that would give people a better idea of your driving style. I get around 15 city on my 05 AT (i know yours is a MT), but I use the paddles a lot and rev it quite a bit - gotta make sure to do the rotary maintenance, especially on the AT
01-10-2007, 01:34 PM
#30
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Originally Posted by Raptor75
So by your logic if your new 07 RX is returning 3 MPG in normal city driving that's cool with you. The fact that Mazda has the car under warranty is irrelevant, right. I mean come on Mazda can't be held responsible for every ones driving style, right. You bought the car so now that 3 MPG is your problem because you own it...right. Sounds pretty silly doesn't it.
If your car is running out side normal operational peramiter the warranty is there to resolve these issues, plain and simple. It is my believe that my car is outside normal operational parameters, I may be proved wrong and that is why I am collecting data here. If everyone else is sharing a similar experience my quest ends here but if not I will pursue Mazda.
If your car is running out side normal operational peramiter the warranty is there to resolve these issues, plain and simple. It is my believe that my car is outside normal operational parameters, I may be proved wrong and that is why I am collecting data here. If everyone else is sharing a similar experience my quest ends here but if not I will pursue Mazda.
01-10-2007, 02:34 PM
#31
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Shift Points Critical
Yes, I actually get very close to the manufacturers stated EPA mileage of 18 in the city. I drive VERY HEAVY stop and go traffic for 16 miles to and from work EVERY DAY. '04 MT 6 speed. 23K miles.
I didn't used to get that good. I used to get 14MPG. What changed, you may ask?
I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL.
If you shift at the recommended shift points, it works out to just almost exactly a 3K rpm shift point. Sure, it's like driving a truck. But, it does work. It also is great practice shifting 4 times before reaching 40mph. Shifting this way also nets a greater highway mpg, provided you stay at or below 65mph in 6th. I average 24mpg when following the owners manual guidelines.
(heresay knowledge follows)...
I understand that there is a point just above 3K rpm at which a secondary plenum opens in the intake manifold, allowing more air (and thus requiring more fuel) to run the engine. Stay below that point, and your mileage will improve immensely. Your 'Grin Factor' will decrease. But, you can't have both.
I didn't used to get that good. I used to get 14MPG. What changed, you may ask?
I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL.
If you shift at the recommended shift points, it works out to just almost exactly a 3K rpm shift point. Sure, it's like driving a truck. But, it does work. It also is great practice shifting 4 times before reaching 40mph. Shifting this way also nets a greater highway mpg, provided you stay at or below 65mph in 6th. I average 24mpg when following the owners manual guidelines.
(heresay knowledge follows)...
I understand that there is a point just above 3K rpm at which a secondary plenum opens in the intake manifold, allowing more air (and thus requiring more fuel) to run the engine. Stay below that point, and your mileage will improve immensely. Your 'Grin Factor' will decrease. But, you can't have both.
01-11-2007, 03:56 PM
#32
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Thread Starter
This is what kills me. Skillmaker gets good mileage is worst traffic then I do, I am not in heavy stop and go.
Here is a little more background info. I normally drive aggressive about 30% of the time. Most the time my shift points are between 3K to 6K and that returns me 11.5 to 12.5 mpg. Now I did do an experiment and did not let the engine rev over 3K for a tankful. All shifts at 3K and my mileage hit 13.5 mpg. So if I baby the car I can hit 13.5 MPG while SkillMaker hits 18 MPG.
PS that was the most miserable tank of gas I ever used up.
Here is a little more background info. I normally drive aggressive about 30% of the time. Most the time my shift points are between 3K to 6K and that returns me 11.5 to 12.5 mpg. Now I did do an experiment and did not let the engine rev over 3K for a tankful. All shifts at 3K and my mileage hit 13.5 mpg. So if I baby the car I can hit 13.5 MPG while SkillMaker hits 18 MPG.
PS that was the most miserable tank of gas I ever used up.
Originally Posted by skillmaker
Yes, I actually get very close to the manufacturers stated EPA mileage of 18 in the city. I drive VERY HEAVY stop and go traffic for 16 miles to and from work EVERY DAY. '04 MT 6 speed. 23K miles.
I didn't used to get that good. I used to get 14MPG. What changed, you may ask?
I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL.
If you shift at the recommended shift points, it works out to just almost exactly a 3K rpm shift point. Sure, it's like driving a truck. But, it does work. It also is great practice shifting 4 times before reaching 40mph. Shifting this way also nets a greater highway mpg, provided you stay at or below 65mph in 6th. I average 24mpg when following the owners manual guidelines.
(heresay knowledge follows)...
I understand that there is a point just above 3K rpm at which a secondary plenum opens in the intake manifold, allowing more air (and thus requiring more fuel) to run the engine. Stay below that point, and your mileage will improve immensely. Your 'Grin Factor' will decrease. But, you can't have both.
I didn't used to get that good. I used to get 14MPG. What changed, you may ask?
I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL.
If you shift at the recommended shift points, it works out to just almost exactly a 3K rpm shift point. Sure, it's like driving a truck. But, it does work. It also is great practice shifting 4 times before reaching 40mph. Shifting this way also nets a greater highway mpg, provided you stay at or below 65mph in 6th. I average 24mpg when following the owners manual guidelines.
(heresay knowledge follows)...
I understand that there is a point just above 3K rpm at which a secondary plenum opens in the intake manifold, allowing more air (and thus requiring more fuel) to run the engine. Stay below that point, and your mileage will improve immensely. Your 'Grin Factor' will decrease. But, you can't have both.
01-11-2007, 04:09 PM
#33
.:. causing mischief
have you replaced the air filter and spark plugs? do you use premium gas? do you have your climate controls set for the "face" option only? how long do you warm her up before driving? is your tire pressure perfect at all times in each tire?
the questions are infinite, and each will give different results. so many variables will make it impossible to actually prove this case in a court of law, imho. but if you are concerned about it, you could try modifying all of the things listed above.
the questions are infinite, and each will give different results. so many variables will make it impossible to actually prove this case in a court of law, imho. but if you are concerned about it, you could try modifying all of the things listed above.
01-11-2007, 05:00 PM
#35
.:. causing mischief
Originally Posted by MikeTyson8MyKids
You went through a full tank of gas driving around in the city, shifting at 3k, in less than 24 hours? 
Thats like 6 hours straight of pure city driving.
Thats like 6 hours straight of pure city driving.
01-12-2007, 12:18 AM
#36
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Originally Posted by puckstopper5
i have an 04 gt, 6sp MT and do a combination of city and highway. I do about 4 miles city and 8 miles highway every day and get about 14.5 mpg. It sucks. but i still love my car.
01-12-2007, 09:09 PM
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I get about 16 around town and about 20 or 21 on the interstate. Mostly normal driving around town with an occasional beep. On interstate, cruise set about 75. Could your winter blend fuel make your mileage lower?
01-12-2007, 11:35 PM
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Originally Posted by lone_wolf025
For a min there I thought this was me cuz you got the same avatar...I dunno how that happened...
But I have this avitar from another website I belong to. Very strange, I have never seen this pic outside of that site.
01-13-2007, 12:24 AM
#39
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Originally Posted by Raptor75
This is what kills me. Skillmaker gets good mileage is worst traffic then I do, I am not in heavy stop and go.
Here is a little more background info. I normally drive aggressive about 30% of the time. Most the time my shift points are between 3K to 6K and that returns me 11.5 to 12.5 mpg. Now I did do an experiment and did not let the engine rev over 3K for a tankful. All shifts at 3K and my mileage hit 13.5 mpg. So if I baby the car I can hit 13.5 MPG while SkillMaker hits 18 MPG.
PS that was the most miserable tank of gas I ever used up.
Here is a little more background info. I normally drive aggressive about 30% of the time. Most the time my shift points are between 3K to 6K and that returns me 11.5 to 12.5 mpg. Now I did do an experiment and did not let the engine rev over 3K for a tankful. All shifts at 3K and my mileage hit 13.5 mpg. So if I baby the car I can hit 13.5 MPG while SkillMaker hits 18 MPG.
PS that was the most miserable tank of gas I ever used up.
Fill it up after that and calculate mileage.
See if that starts to clear up your problem.
Make sure you do this with 92/93 octane...if you get knock, more fuel goes out the tailpipe.
Also, take the time to let your engine warm up to full temp before you start driving.
01-14-2007, 05:52 PM
#41
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Here are my data points... hope they help some. I've tracked every mile in excel since I picked it up new-- not that I care much about fuel economy from an economic perspective, but more as a yardstick of something degrading (plugs, filters) or measuring the effectiveness of a mod that I did to it. The most important thing to keep in mind with these numbers is I drive the car like I stole it almost every day, rarely shifting before 6k, and redlining (BEEEP! : ) at least twice a day.
- 2004 MT6, built in September 2003
- Noteable mods: custom intake with RB ram air and green performance filter, Greddy cat back, RP Supercat (yes, it's loud)
- 31300 miles - ~97% of those are commuting to work and back, which is mostly stop and go city miles around 40-50mph.
- 147 fill-ups, 93 or 91 octane used exclusively
- Averaging 15.51mpg across all three years and all seasons (and seasonal tires).
- Averaging ~16mpg during the summer months, ~15mpg during the winter months
- The rare highway trips yielded 21-22mpg, at ~85-90mph
- Mileage for year one was slightly over 16mpg, and has slowly decreased, but I attribute my increasingly aggressive driving habits to the drop.
Would I like to see better mileage? Sure... but I won't change my driving style to do it... this car is too much fun. The only time I've seen <13mpg was when my air filter was really dirty, which tipped me off to clean it : ).
- 2004 MT6, built in September 2003
- Noteable mods: custom intake with RB ram air and green performance filter, Greddy cat back, RP Supercat (yes, it's loud)
- 31300 miles - ~97% of those are commuting to work and back, which is mostly stop and go city miles around 40-50mph.
- 147 fill-ups, 93 or 91 octane used exclusively
- Averaging 15.51mpg across all three years and all seasons (and seasonal tires).
- Averaging ~16mpg during the summer months, ~15mpg during the winter months
- The rare highway trips yielded 21-22mpg, at ~85-90mph
- Mileage for year one was slightly over 16mpg, and has slowly decreased, but I attribute my increasingly aggressive driving habits to the drop.
Would I like to see better mileage? Sure... but I won't change my driving style to do it... this car is too much fun. The only time I've seen <13mpg was when my air filter was really dirty, which tipped me off to clean it : ).
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