Your right, I should have mentioned this in the begining.

There is no jet ski, though :D

Exactly, fresh air + cool breeze.

Other than that how do you drive your car? Shift points? Stop and go vs. highway?

I want to try and find people with similar variables as I have to compare MPG to MPG.

My daily commute is about an 8-mile mix of 'burbs and freeway. No nose-to-tail traffic. Other driving around town is under similar conditions. Around town, I tend to use 3rd and 4th; mostly 3rd - I let the engine purr along at 4000-plus rpm. I'll occasionally redline it through the first three cogs when getting onto the freeway, but mostly I shift between 5000 and 7000. And when I take it out of town for an evening run, I tend to get on it pretty hard.

So I'm hardly driving for economy, but neither do I floor it all the time.

Hmmm, I've been watching this thread, and others on fuel economy, with some concern since I knew I'd be getting an RX-8 soon. The car I'm coming from is a V6 Accord coupe which regularly achieved at least 28 mpg. I drive about 22,000 per year, so fuel economy is a factor for me, and I hoped I'd be able to get the EPA estimate 24 regularly out of the '8'. After reading all of this, though, I revised my hopes to around 20 mpg, and I figured the loss in fuel economy was made up for by the fun-to-drive factor.

Now that I have the car, I thought I'd post my results so far. Admittedly, I only have filled up twice, but have a lot to be happy about, I think.

First tank:
227.6 miles/12.0 gallons = 18.97 mpg

Second tank:
290.0 miles/12.5 gallons = 23.2 mpg

I drive approximately 80/20 highway/city on my commute to work. I have been getting the car into 6th without skipping any gears and then leaving it in 6th pretty regularly. I downshift to 5th or 4th for a burst of speed or to pass. The car has 581 miles on it, so I haven't redlined it yet, but I'm sure I will in ... oh ... about 19 more miles. :) I've been shifting at around 4000 or 5000, but overall haven't taken it over 6000 yet.

My first tank I was idling the car more than you usually would -- showing it off to friends and letting it warm up after moving it into or out of the garage for Zaino purposes, plus playing with the navigation system. Second tank was much more "normal" driving with much less idling. I used 93 octane Exxon fuel. Not sure what the dealer put in it.

Personally, I think the extreme differences in fuel economy that people are noticing points to a difference in some of the cars. I think there may have been an early batch that may have a "problem." Who knows? I'm pleased that so far (fingers crossed!) my car seems to be performing OK in this category, and I hope those of you who are getting less will find an answer soon.

No, you're from Minnesota, you're more likely to be hauling a couple of snow mobiles around instead. ;) Are you sure you not telling us you are also hauling around threee 200 lb passengers, and/or a 1/2 cord of firewood too. ;)

On a serious note, I sincerely hope you MPG's improve over time or you find out if something may be wrong with your car and get it fixed.

Wondering the same thing since I got my car in the first 8 days of deliveries. Another reason to Opt for the "buy-back" if offered.

To Skyline Maniac and Zoomster. I don't want to be a know-it-all, but if someone tells you how the EPA tests, why not put EPA and gas mileage on Google? It will tell you that the folk myths are just that. For example, how about 18% of the city cycle being IDLING, after beginning with a cold start. And highway averages 48, going up to 60 -- but no stops. Is that all? Hardly. The EPA compares test results with real world experience, and lowers the city test scores 10%, the highway ones 22%.
Bottom line: EPA and all sensible people know that results can vary with OK engines for lots of reasons -- temperature, traffic conditions, driving style, AC/windows, etc. If you have experience with your own driving style, in similar conditions, in other cars, you have some sort of benchmark. In other words, if you always get 2 or three miles worse than EPA, and that's what your RX8 is getting, the car is right on. Maybe better than that, if you drive the RX8 harder than the others. Personally, I have hit the highway figures in several cars, regular and high performance, and so far I am driving the RX8 less hard, because of break-in. So I'm inclined to think my car is delivering 2 or 3 fewer mpg than it should.
Mitch
BTW, driving with AC on and windows closed is a bit more economical than opening moonroof and windows.

I see what you are saying, however the EPA's "real world" is not my "real world", your "real world", Skyline Mechanic's "real world", etc. You get the point. Everbodies situation is unique. Although you are right that driving technique is a big factor in MPG's (which I agree with you), your unique driving condition or enviroment also plays a big part.

I agree with your other points, people driving other cars to determine "lead footitis", and driving with AC & windows up as being more economical.

Let's also not forget the effects of gearing on those perceptions (and thus mileage.)

For example, many domestic cars have their automatic transmissions set to making the car feel very peppy in the low range. The Mercury Cougar and Plymouth Breeze, to name two I've rented, both feel as if they must have 400 HP under the hood because if you breathe on the gas pedal you're thrown back in your seat; it's only when you get much above 40 MPH that you realize there's no more power on tap.

Now, drive a car around that's geared like that and then move to a car like the RX-8 and you're likely to rev the snot out of it and shift at high RPMs and get really poor mileage because the old car has colored your perception about what you should be feeling at what point on your speedometer.

Just another variable to add to the "driving style" list...

BillK,

Very true. I failed to mention the car's gearing as variables in MPG's along with the other factors.

BTW, I always look forward to your enlightening and refreshing posts. I always enjoy reading your logical opinions, insights, and factual statements.

P.S. Have you notice recently how many threads on this forum closed immediately after your posted? LOL! Lately, when I see you that you posted on a thread, I quickly get there in fear of it closing.

Does this bother anyone else?
 

I got bored and did a comparison of cost of gas for a entire year between the RX-8 and the 350z(ya ya I know) based on what looks to be the average for the RX-8 at the moment.

Figure your gonna drive around 12000 miles a year.
Figure the cost of premium is $1.70(at least where I am at the moment) and figure 18mpg for the RX-8 and 21mpg for the 350z.

It comes out to be a yearly cost of $1133 for the RX-8 and $971 for the 350Z. A difference of $162, now this really isn't much in the scheme of things but damn with the latest official HP drop from Mazda how the hell is this happening. I realize the rotary isn't nearly as gas efficient as a piston engine but come on. There's a now big difference in HP. I guess I'm just a little dissappointed.

Now don't flame me if I can't afford gas I shouldn't be driving a sports car crap. I can easily afford gas, but I just hate wasting money if I don't have too.

I'm not going to flame you, but it is what it is man. I mean it's just one of those things that you think about before you buy the car. If that $162 makes that big of a difference to you, then get the Z. It's a nice car too.

I realize it is what it is. Actually I was gonna buy a Z till I got lucky and the Head Tech at a local Mazda dealer got in their first RX-8 and was taking it for a break in drive. He let me tag along in the passenger seat with him. And just doing that I fell in the love with the car. I guess I'm just trying to figure out how the hell the car gets this bad gas consumption. *Shrugs* Probably gonna still gonna buy the RX-8, but damn if getting married don't suck up a ton of money :( Gonna make me wait a few more months.

Makes you wonder really if by detuning it for emissions reasons, they actually decreased the fuel efficiency thereby nullifying the point.

On one tank I saw just a little over 12 mpg. Granted I did it on purpose. Accelerating hard all the time. The thing is the tank after that which I did not drive hard on was just a little over 13 mpg. My two worst tanks were right n a row.

worst about 12.7 best 20.5

I'm another person who does virtually all city driving (i.e., drive a block, stop, drive a block, stop), driving moderately, with no one in the car (and no jet ski) and I'm averaging about 12-13 mpg with high octane fuel.

My worst was 11.1 and best was 23.8. The former, fairly agressive city driving, the latter pure speedlight highway over 230 miles.

I have an AT with 2350 miles. I've been getting around 15 mpg in mixed driving. Best was 20 mpg on a day trip with all highway. Hopefully, it will get better.

best 17.2, worst 15.8.

I drive quickly but its not like I am hitting the red line everyday (hardly ever) or something. I do hope it gets better 1500 miles so far.

ok i just got 131 miles on 12.5 gallons. my MPG is getting worse. not really doing that much agressive driving though it was 100% city.

wow, sorry to hear that
at 12.5 I just got 190 when orange light came on
not much better for me

I'm still on my first tank of gas, I do a lot of city driving, and still learning the nuances of working the MT so I'm expecting to see some fairly dismal numbers. However, I knew this going into the deal and figured it was just part of the cost of ownership. I do appreciate the theme of the thread as it's valuable to be able to compare any performance parameter with the experience of others. I get smoother by the hour on the MT so I expect things to improve. I'll post again after my next 2 or 3 fill-ups.

Man jeez, that bites. 10.5 mpg? It's gotta be the temperature & 100% city.

Fill 'er up & take the PA turnpike to Harrisburg & back (or something) to burn up a tank on-highway. See if you still can get 22 mpg or so...worth the $25 ?