tim888tim

I started with ~15mpg. 4 months and 6k miles later I have discovered the following things to get my mpg up.
- Shift below 3750, (This is no fun, plus I didn't get this car to not enjoy some good acceleration. However, I am listing ways that I have discovered will use less gas.)
- Don't cruise at faster than 71-72mph. This keeps it below the 3750 and will use less gas. (Also ruins the fun, see note above.)
- For some reason I get better mpg using AM-PM and ARCO then I do with Chevron or Mobil. 76 is the worst of all. Anyone else gotten similar results?


With these factors in mind, I can consistantly get 20-21mpg on a tank. (That being said, I got this car for the car not the fuel efficiency and still average 15-16mpg.)

Rotario

I just knew that my White '05 got better mileage for a valid scientific reason. Thanks, Gomez.

:D

Billski

eclps0

I am at a point that i can careless if the car gets stolen or blows up, I just dont care. I am sick in tired of spending close to 80.00 a week on gas when this damm thing dosent perform for the gas it sucks up. I hada few problems my ac sucks i had my tranny rebuilt and now 2nd gear is grinding agian they said i need a new clutch. This car is a 2004 which was made in july 03 i have 32,000 miles on it and i cnat wait to trade it in on june, I plan on getting a new Ms Miata or a new o6 Miata which gets a hell lot better mpg then my car. I would be happy with 20 mpg but no i have to get 14-15 mpg.

klegg

In the last month my milage has gone up about 2 mpg, at least for the last three fill ups. Strange.

rx-8_or_?

Exactly! It's how you drive it. On one trip where I got to rev it up only a couple of times because I was stuck in traffic moving steadily, I got just over 20mpg. Otherwise I have got been between 14 and 16. I know I can get 20, but it would be silly to buy this car and drive it like that all the time!

Deslock

Yeah, for someone who drives a lot, the extra cost associated with high fuel consumption adds up. For me it's only an extra $5-$6/week, but for you it's probably more like an extra $20.

If I didn't need four seats, I'd seriously consider the new Miata. I have mixed feelings about the look of its headlights and tail-lights, but that car ought to be a blast... RX8 chassis, mid-ship engine and fuel tank, <2500 pound roadster = some tasty. I'd rather have the RENESIS in it, but it should be reasonably quick with the 170 hp 2.0L.

Anyone interested in the new Miata should read this.

eclps0

Thanks for the link. after driving the MSM it feels faster than my rx8 off the line. I love the sound of the turbo.. pssstttttt :D

klegg

I like the new miata a lot. Has loads of charecter. But if I was going to get a soft top, I would get a wrangler. All the fun of open air driving, and you can go off road.

RotaryJeff

I have gotten over 25 a couple times, and prob average 22-23 hwy.

nsxpowered

I don't think the RX8 gets great MPG considering that most of the fuel is being dumped and running overly rich. My wife logged in 17MPG with me driving it about 60% of the time. I drive it fast only entering onto the freeway and take it easy for most of the time. We had the AC on about 95% of the time because the baby is in the car.

To compare to the other cars with my driving style:
Nissan Frontier XE (2WD) 27mpg
Supra TT (auto) 22mpg stock
1991 NSX 28 MPG stock 240 RWHP
*1992 NSX 26 MPG stock 225 RWHP same car as below*
*1992 NSX 24 MPG supercharged 380 RWHP*
1993 NSX 25 MPG stock 238 RWHP
2001 NSX 29 MPG stock ???RWHP best got 33MPH 100% freeway
1997 C5 auto 21 MPG stock
1999 Mercedes CLK430 20 MPG stock
1994 RX7 TT 18 MPG stock 5spd
1994 RX7 TT 17 MPG stock auto
2001 BMW 330ciC 19 MPG stock auto
1991 BMW 850i 18 MPG V12 6spd stock
2003 BMW M3 20 MPG SMG stock
1996 Nissan 200SX 28 MPG auto stock
2004 Mazda RX8 17 MPG auto stock

The RX7 definately feels faster then the RX8 and seem to have easier visibility. I still think it's an improvement with the interior refinement and exterior design. Hard to image a car like the RX8 to have 4 doors. Excellent concept and sole reason why we got the RX8, thank god I didn't get the IS300.

Antimo12

You think twice a week is alot to refuel???? Try 6 sometimes, 7 times a week to refuel my 01 dodge ram...If i only have to refuel this rx8 2 even 3 times a week...id be ecstatic...

nsxpowered

I noticed the RX8 has a small gas tank for the rated MPG, I'm guessing it might be to get the 50/50 weight distribution ratio as close as possible. When the fuel light turned on, it only took 13 gallons to fill it back up. So the question is how many miles to you have left once the light is on?

Brice-RX8

nsxpowered, the official size of the tank is 15.9 gallons, so you have roughly 3 gallons left when the light comes on, so you basically have around 45 miles left before you run out, taking into account you average aroound 15mpg.

RotaryJeff

My record hiway milage at fill-up so far is 321 miles. I put in 14.615 gallons.
Theoretically, at the same rate of consumption, I could have gone to 349 to empty.

I have a dozen or so trips similar to this one, with over 300 miles and at least 2 gallons left.

On the other hand, my highest ever Hiway MPG was 26.224 MPG, where I put in 9.8 gallons after travelling 257 miles. Theoretically, I would have hit empty at 416 miles. 60-65 MPH during that trip. If anyone was interested, they could go back and research temperature, humidity, & barometric pressure along that route: 11 Nov 2004, from the I-95S Cheasapeak House MD Service plaza to Hampton VA. All on I-95 & I-64.


Jeff

klegg

I have actually you no gas on a few trips...when I have to push it when it floods...






Ok, my car has never flooded, and I tried to do it, but I could not resist the joke..

lethologica

I attached my mileage chart. What I do is I reset my trip B to zero every time I fill up. Then I just write that number on my gas reciept. I have a 2004, 6 speed. So far I have only used Shell V-Power in the car.

allmotorRX8

hey lethogica, did u drive your car pretty hard or somethin?
im lookin to get one soon.... hopefully
a local dealer is offering all in stock 8s at 800 under invoice

PPen131

just curious...do you guys wait till the light comes on before refilling?

lethologica

I don't always drive hard, but I also don't always not drive hard, this is a sports car.


Depends on where I am driving to. Under normal work weeks I generally let it go pretty close.

klegg

If a bear drove hard in the woods...but not when anyone could see it, then drove slow on the road, but hard in the woods...and then started and stoped the car slow...would it flood?

Aratinga

I have no comment about gas mileage other than I've given up driving the 8 in favor of my 15-year-old Miata for the daily commute. Gas here in CA costs $2.59/gal. for 87 octane (what the Miata drinks) and $2.79 for 91 (The 8's beverage of choice).

The real reason I'm posting here is because when I logged onto RX8Club.com, the first thing I saw was Yet another thread about gas..., with Klegg as the most recent poster. Lounge regulars know what I thought this thread was about! I had to see how Klegg could have possibly made it RX8-specific enough to be diffusing into the RX8 Discussion forum. :D

Carry on...

klegg

lol