800Degrees

Okay, it was 90% in-town driving. But damn. I'm still under 500 miles on the motor so I'm taking it easy - haven't gone above 7,000 rpm once, usually shift between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM. A few in 6,000 RPM. I've yet to totally open the Throttle. And I'm getting 13 MPG.

On the plus side, mileage usually goes up as the motor breaks-in. I bought a Honda Odyssey last month. 1st tank: 23 mpg, 2nd: 24.5mpg, 4th: 26mpg (loaded for a vacation, 4 people a dog... 75 mph with the AC on!)

On the negative side, I'm babying the RX right now - I plan on "driving" the car as it was intended as soon as the break-in's done.

Oh well... at least it's doing better than my '88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with a 5.9 Liter V8 and 4-wheel drive, 33" tires, roof-rack, winch... by .5 mpg!

MTCD01

Hell I thought you were bragging. My first few tanks were 12 and under. It does get better but it really favors the highway. If you can't handle less than 20 mpg you may end up getting rid of your 8.

SHOWOFF

:D Hello and welcome to the crappy fuel mileage club. I've been a member since 7-29-2003.

It will get a little better but get used to about 200- 240 miles on a full tank. That's cruising at 70-74 mph on the highway the entire time.

MTLbroker

I just wish the gastank was bigger. I hate stopping every 3 days. It's like a constant reminder of bad fuel economy. If I could only go 5 days without refuelling, I'd be happy.

mysql101

my first tank was about 17.5 mpg. I didn't go over 4k rpms, and it was almost all city too.

What is the build date on your car, and do you have the M flash?

boarder

He's probably just one of us Errr, I mean the low mpg club members. My first few were in the low 13 range, but most are around the 14-14.5 range. Its not stop and go traffic driving, but it is city/urban driving. Unless you keep it religiously under 3700rpms (approx), your gonna see terrible gas mileage in the city/urban environments. If you run highway (as said before), it will get a lot better.

First tank was worst for me; yours may be the same. Also, if you run it hard (as you plan too), it will drink fuel like a frat boy chugs beer.

I agree with the gas tank issue. I am more annoyed at the stopping for gas so much, than the overall mpg.

RX22

I probably shouldn't even post this, but mine is new too. I got 19.1 on my first tank with 60% city driving and 20.4 on my second tank with about 50% city driving. My engine hasn't gone past 4500 RPM, and I am really babying it right now (it's killing me!!). I don't know my build date, but I'm sure it was pretty recent. I basically bought it off the truck when they brought it in last week. You may want to check and see if yours has had the M flash done. If it sat on the dealers lot for awhile it may not have. I'm sure mine will get worse once I start driving like I like to drive. I look at it this way, if you fill up once a week at $28, you're going to spend $1456 on gas in a year, and if you fill up every 5 days, you're going to spend $2044 on gas, so what the hell I'll spend an extra $588 a year to be driving the car I love.

BTW, my wife has an Odyssey. Great family truckster.

RotorGeek

I got 14.6 on my first tank. Second tank was better 15.6. I just got the M-flash and i am hoping it improves. I am running 89 octane

310Guy

LOL!

Man, I've been a member since day one... :D

800Degrees

Gotta check the build date... gotta see if mine's had the M-flash...

Mazda's going get their asses sued again (like the HP thing) - these numbers aren't even close to what's advertised. But, it's no supposed to be a Prius is it. I don't put a lot of mile son a car anymore (have the Honda for the road trips, the Jeep for the mountains) so I won't complain anymore about the MPG... okay a little more... just not now... I'll wait till I put some miles on it...

mysql101

check the bottom left of your car's window sticker. The epa number says 18/24, but the small print shows you the mileage range, which almost everyone fits within, including some of the really low mileage people.

But there appears to be some with abnormally bad gas mileage - people who'll get 10-14 mpg regardless of driving style, and even if they do all highway at 55mph. It almost sounds like the car is stuck on the 'start up' process where it trys to heat up the cat. This problem only appears to happen on some of the older build (made in 2003) cars.

Rob Tomlin

Man, I hate reading these types of things.

What gas were you running?

nt5k

Can we just have mileage forum?

RotorGeek

I think we should. There are just too many threads on this subject allready.

red_rx8_red_int

I think you bought a less than desirable 8, mpg wise, as did I. i m vey jealous of the 8 owners that get 23-25 mpg. I get about 18-19 with my style. The main problem I have is I can not drive granny style. I redline several times a day, and damn I love this car, but mpg is a real problem.

Twinturbo2800

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i hate reading these also......... i get SO PISSED every friken time

i bought my car about 4-5 months ago... i have about 6,800 miles so far.... i get between 175 - 200 miles out of EVERY tank...... and a 1 time best of 220 miles.
(which i guess is about 13-15mpg) what the hell is wrong with my 8?


is this somthing i should bring up with my dealer?

310Guy

Mine is EXACTLY the same way. Are you driving an auto?

nt5k

Here's an idea. Put away your calculators and just drive the car. Or if it's such a problem, sell it and buy an Accord.

_JL

i was told that not revving all the way through the band once in a while during break in period is detrimental. The dealership said that the car's engine is broken in before it leaves the factory, and that to properly break in the engine, it's recommended not to stay in one part of the powerband/ rpm for extended periods. For instance, to rev up to near redline a few times. I may be mistaken but I think that's corroborated by the owners manual. It's not recommended to keep the engine under 4K for the break in period, because the car can't flex...i guess it's kinda like a muscle, if you don't stretch it properly, and to the full flex of it's range.

Twinturbo2800

Yea mines auto, and i drive pretty hard. but stil



hey mr. go buy an accord........ did they not claim 19mpg?

if they wrote 13pmg i wouldnt complain

mysql101

I've never seen any written documentation that tells you to rev it to redline during break-in.

Most will say to keep it under 4k, but to vary rpms, so you're not sitting at any one speed for long. Easiest way is to just switch gears from 6th down to 4th then back up. Another way is to do all city driving.

As ou come out of your first 1000 miles, you can start going to 5k, then 6k, and so on, until you're able to hit 9k at around 2,000 miles. Naturally it doesn't have to be an exact science, but basically don't beat up on it until the parts have properly worn themselves in and run smoothly.

VikingDJ

During break in period with both my cars I got these numbers: Rx8 15.2 mpg 60% highway. The WRX STI 23.5 mpg 60% highway. I have reached 20mpg on one tankful thus far on rx8. I have a feeling the STI will get 26-27mpg on highway, but it gets very good city mpg. Someone explain how a AWD 300hp car gets a boatload better mpg then a 220hp car. I'd like to see the rotary become an economical engine one way, but it doesn't appears to be in the near future. I am getting the m flash done on my next service appointment, so hopefully I can break 20mpg.

800Degrees

Despite the fact that I started this post, I think you're right. It's a performance car - not an econo-box. While the mpg sucks... it wouldn't keep me from buying the car again.

It really does help that my other car (the Odyessy is my wife's) is a 5,000 lb. Jeep with a huge motor and the aerodynamics of a beach umbrella... I've gotten used to rotten gas mileage. Now, with my rotten gas mileage, I get from 0-60 in 5.9 seconds... instead of 15.9 seconds

310Guy

Well, I disagree.

While fuel economy wasn't THE reason I purchased this car, it was part of my decision. What I know now, I probably would have considered something else.

mysql101

anyone shocked at the fuel economy didn't do much research into the car. the rx8 is even better than the rx7 in mileage, but an econobox it is not. any article/review of the rx8, or rotary in general will tell you as much.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=319858