SDB

Has anyone had a chance to check the gas mileage on a 2005? I wonder if Mazda could have slipped in some changes without advertising the fact.

I know that this is probably wishful thinking but the mileage is the only thing the keeps me from getting an RX8. I could live with 18 but these horror stories of 16, 14, 12 keep me thinking.

According to what I have read here I should be under 3750 rpm, under 5000 rpm, not anywhere near 70-78 mph but over 90 is OK, or something like that. I can't remember all that and I really don't want to.

Just looking for some more input.

Thanks

Sullibr

I'm on my 5th Tank and I drive 70% highway and I am getting right at 19MPG on my 2005

Icemastr

If you can live with 18 MPG then go ahead and get the car. Also you can try one of these: http://www.tornadofuelsaver.com .

mysql101

heh heh heh

you said tornado fuel saver.

I have some ocean front property in Kansas I am selling for $69.97 per acre.

clem

I've got 8500 miles on my 6MT. I'm consistantly getting 18-19mpg in mixed driving. I don't baby the car, but I don't drive extremely aggressively either. On the freeway I'll cruise between 75-80mph. I've never gotten the 20+ mpg readings others have claimed but I can live with 18-19.

Soundave

I don't know how everyone does it. I am consistently getting 15-17 mpg and that's mixed driving. I have never hit 18 mpg and the time I got 17 mpg, I was driving 80% highway at around 80 mph. Oh well...love the car, love everything about the car

Icemastr

Its because your driving 80MPH on the freeway, take it down to 65 and you will probably get 3-5mpg better.

Tbone

I agree with Clem. I get 17-19.5 in mixed driving. I haven't take it on a road trip yet. I have one in a week and half, so I'll find out out it does on the Fway. I'm going to try to stay at 70 for one tank, then 80 for the next and see how it does at each speed. Around town I shift at or before 4k, and cruse at about 2700 RPMs when I'm on a long stretch.

Grabitquick

You should do well on the road trip, especially at 70, if you drop it into 6th and use cruise control. I got 22+ a few weeks ago L.A. to S.D. and back without even using the cruise (too much traffic). Mixed driving, I'm about the same as everyone else, although I'm now pushing the RPMs more as I get more experienced with what the car can do in traffic.

Getting back to the thread topic, it would be interesting to hear about 2005 owners as more of them join the board.

Soundave

I'll try to give that a go for a tank or two. But man, trying to keep the 8 at just 65 mph is gonna be tough.

snap-on

The 05's are on the "M" PCM level also.

If the programming were different the level would be different.

RCADAM

I've got 1400+ on my '05 Sport 6 speed...getting right at 19 mpg (all tanks between 18.5 and 19.5) with about 70% hwy driving at 75 mph.

BTW - oil level is now about 1/3 below full line..was slightly above when new.

jgoldstein2000

Just got 14 mpg on last tank

rocketrider2

Well Im at three weeks with my car and about 800 miles. So the car is far from broken in. I do 100% city driving and I am getting a hair over 16mpg, thats not bad for all city driving, heck my accord I traded in only got slightly better. ALso my car is from the supposed "bad batch" of cars. My build date is 7/03. I have the M flash and all is well. Buy the car!

Lane

Twinturbo2800

god... i wish i got 18 mpg.... if i get 200 miles out of a tank im lucky.

8's enough

i drove to raleigh saturday and i got 23mpg and that was 80%interstate driving .i normaly get around 230 miles when my feul light comes on &thats 60%city driving with dsc &tcs turned off.

SDB

What was your speed for that trip. Around here it can vary greatly. Sometimes I have to keep the speed at 65 and at other times I average between 80 and 90. I am curious if this makes a large difference in mileage.

Thanks

8's enough

i crusied at 75mph most of the way. and always had my tcs/dsc turn off

Nubo

I'm in the 16-17 mpg group, usually mixed driving. Once I got over 20 mpg out of a tank for no apparent reason. I don't know why some people get significantly better mileage, but I wouldn't count on it unless consistent reports start coming in that the new models are somehow better in this regard.

BasenjiGuy

When I drive from Raleigh NC to Alexandria VA, about a 250 mile trip, I set the cruise control around 70 - 72 mph due to the speed limits on I-85 and I-95. (You can't use a radar detector in VA so I throttle back from my usual 80mph cruise speed.) I have gotten just over 23 mpg on several of these trips. Believe me, I was really happy about that. I've gotten up to 312 miles out of a tank on these trips- woo hoo!

If I drive from Raleigh down to Wilmington on I-40, I set the cruise control at 80mph and I get right around 20mpg. The car definitely improved its gas mileage as the engine got some miles on it. I noticed an improvement somewhere in the 5k miles range and when the car passed thru 10k as well. I really hate going less than 80mph on a highway trips but I think that from 70 to 80 mph you're going to give up at least 3mpg. That's a lot.

srm858

The gas mileage is just not that bad. Most of us (including me) get around 19-20 in mixed driving and low 20's straight highway. This is a couple mpg less than equivalent sports cars, but it should not be low enough to prevent someone from buying the car.

Plus, you get this ridiculously powerful, smooth running, high revving engine. And the car it's attached to is loads of fun. Yes, I would like to get 30 mpg, but I just drive my Passat when I need good gas mileage.

SDB

Thanks for everyone's input. I guess that most people are seeing 18-20 but I still can't understand those with 10-14mpg. There must be some reason for mileage that bad. If it was my car I would be at the dealer until it was resolved or the car replaced. It seems that those who responded with bad mileage all had 2004 models so maybe it was something that has been ironed out by Mazda.

Pletchrx8

I have an '05 that I just recently completed my second tank of gas. On the first tank I got 18.2 mpg and on the second tank I got 18.7 mpg. During the break-in period I'm trying to keep my rpms no higher than 4k. I use cruise control whenever possible. My first tank was 90% suburban and 10% hwy (avg 65 mph) driving. My second tank was 75% commuting 25% hwy. I'm going on a 500 mile trip next weekend, 90% hwy, so I'll see what improvement I get then. However, when I considered this car for purchase, its gas mileage statistic was not even a consideration. I bought this car for its impressive styling, handling and performance. Also, this is a fun car to drive and I find every excuse to get out and drive it. As soon as I get through the break-in look out 9k rpm!!

So, SDB, evaluate the vehicle as a whole, not just on its mileage, and I think you'll be happy with the decision.

Tayninh

My dealer told me to never use the cruise control during the break in period. You don't want the car going at the same speed for a long time. The purpose of break in is to allow the engine to wear to adjusted speed levels without going to extreme revs and loads. I see difference opinions about saying MPGs if the DSC is turned off during long road trips. Not sure turning off the DSC will improve MPG. Another thread a dealer told this guy that you can get an instant 10 HP by keeping the DSC off. Confused information and the dealers are spreading false information too.

beachdog

Everyone drives differently and "self-assesses" their driving styles differently. Unless you're keeping a diary and recording your highway vs city miles etc, everything is a seat-of-the-pants guesstimate. Those that are getting very low mileage are probably doing all of the mileage killers: lots of turn-on-warmup-turnoff cycles, lots of city/rush hour driving, lots of WOT/high RPM shifting and cruising in lower gears than capable.

I have probably kept more accurate records than many because I keep a diary for business reasons. If I fill the tank, get on the highway, cruise for a 100 miles or so (between 75 - 85mph) and then fill it up immediately, I will get just under 22mpg (did this a few times just to see what was going on). BTW, I have used 89 octane since about the 3rd tank. When I am driving in traffic on secondary roads, I typically shift between 5-6k, rarely lower. When I get onto the highway, I try to shift between 8-9k (not as often as I'd like due to traffic conditions). Having said all that, tank after tank, usually 18- 20 mpg. Lowest tank was about 15mpg and that tank had absolutely zero highway miles.

Bottom line - if you like the car, can afford the car and can afford the fuel, Buy It! If you have economic or social issues with the mileage, then don't.

My 4 cents worth...