Just got back from a trip to Boise, Idaho from my home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Waited till she was broke in , did the first oil change at 3,500 miles, then made the run at a fairly high average speed.

Drove 640 miles each way from start to destination, plus about 28 miles around town while there (rained the whole time). Overall mileage was 23.1 MPG average (1308 total miles using 56.6 gallons of premium).

Average speed on the way up was 69.19 MPH (640 miles travelled in 9 Hours 15 Minutes), got bolder and averaged 76.8 MPH on the way home (640 miles travelled in 8 Hours, 20 minutes). Factor in about 20-25 minutes for the one gas stop each way in Winnemucca, Nevada, and my average actual speed while driving was higher, of course. (No stops for food, brought the ice chest with munchies, etc.). Car was fully loaded with 3 adults and LOTS of luggage.

Found out that my cruise control is limited to 92 MPH top speed (145 KPH, it would appear). I'm lazy, so that's the speed we drove whenever possible (which was often). I'm sure mileage will improve with more engine break-in, as well. Used approx. 1/4 quart of (conventional) 5-30wt oil on the trip up, haven't checked yet upon return. Front driver's seat was no problem, comfort wise.

Anybody have a comparison, or comments?

Thanks

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

Outstanding mileage considering the speed and load factors.

<font color=red>GSM</font color=red>
<font color=red>GSM</font color=red>
<font color=black>Silverstone Coupe</font color=black>

 

I've noticed mileage as high as 27/28 if you keep the speed down to 55-60, and down to 23/24 at 85-90 on road trips.

Yes, there is that upper limit on the cruise control. It's a safety/don't-sue-the-manufacturer-for-your-stupidity thing.

 

Sounds like it is about right for the mileage for those conditions. Sounds like you sure enjoyed the car and the zero lift aerodynamics.

 

If I remember correctly, the power needed to overcome drag depends on the cube of your speed. Driving that fast requires a LOT more power than at normal highway speeds. You got awesome mileage (low Cd helps here).

I took a road trip this weekend to Lake Tahoe from the SF bay area. It's about 240 miles each way and about 10,000 feet of altitude change. I drove between 65 and 85 the whole way, averaging about 70mph and I managed 28 mpg! I was shocked, since AC was on the whole way and I wasn't exactly driving sedately. My mileage sucks around town (lead foot), but on the highway, this car is almost as good as my old 4-cylinder toyota.

2003.5 6MT Sedan. Carribean Blue / Graphite

 

Should have mentioned that I was driving through heavy crosswinds most of the way, and into a really heavy rain/sleet storm for over an hour on the way there. Really enjoy the sense of security this car gives me at all speeds and in all conditions - it's hard to outdrive this car's capabilities (much easier to outdrive my own abilities than it is the car's).

I'm lovin' it -and I expect to be making the Bay Area to Tahoe trip quite often myself, so thanks for the input there as well, people.

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

I just drove ~2400 miles from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Los Altos, California. Averaged 70.2 mph (Going 85 most of the time). I got 26.1 mpg. I was alone, but the car was loaded with my luggage for moving. Including the 3 bowling ***** (47 lbs) I would wager it'd be like driving with another person in the car.

My car had ~3200 miles when I left Michigan.

 

Thanks, Chenga - valuable information on a long haul that we can all use.

By the way, do you know what "Chenga" means in spanish? I bet you do, but if not, you'll find out quick in So Cal.



Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

I did a 250 mile road trip when i had about 1800 miles on the car. I averaged 88 MPH, and i got about 20 MPG. yeah my MPG sucked, but we got there really fast.

2004 Sedan
Black/Willow
Premium w/ splash guards
Clear Corners, Z-tube
*On the way*
-Stillen CAI
-Drilled Aluminum Pedals
-Hotchkis sport sway bars

 

Tory: How's your mileage now - has it gotten better (I know better than to ask if you've slowed down, just wanted to know if the mileage improved since the 1800 mile mark?).
Thanks .

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

Just drove to San Diego from San Jose, and got 19.6MPG averaging close to 100MPH

 

How don't you get pulled over for stuff like this?

2004 6MT Sedan / Desert Platinum / Willow / Sunroof

 

Kosmo: For me, I get away with high speed driving over long distances by doing most of my driving at night.

#1) there are way less people on the road at that hour and #2) believe it or not, the cops on duty at that hour (12:00 midnight to dawn) on the major interstates seem far less interested with busting speeders. I think that they, too, acknowledge that you can drive faster in a safe manner when the traffic is very light, and also that they recognize the capabilities of the car itself (example: If you were driving a '65 VW bug on stock skinny tires at 90 MPH, I think you're more likely to get ticketed than maybe a guy in a Mercedes sedan doing the same - his is just a safer car designed to travel at those speeds). Maybe also, the cops are just lazier or more mellow at that time of night.

In December, I drove from Northern California to Dallas, Texas, mostly at night and always on the Interstate, and only had my radar detector go off 3 times the entire trip (3,600 miles round trip!), and I was drivingt 80-85 most of the time (with one stretch across Arizona & New Mexico at a steady 105 MPH for one hour and 10 minutes (in a '96 Accord EXL 5MT).

That's how I do it !

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

On the way back from San Diego, my average speed was around 90 and the mileage was better at 21MPG.

In response to Kosmo's question: I have a Valentine 1 and a Passport 8500 X50 during the trip. The combination worked beautifully. They picked up every single radar on the road.