Drove a 650 mile round trip to the bay area this weekend and the trip average was 23.4 MPG. Not a big deal I guess, but 1.2 MPG better than I've ever done. I kept the speeds around 65 to 75 MPH, depending on traffic and posted speed limits. Traffic in the bay area itself required lots of speed adjustments and occasional romps on the loud pedal to get around slow trucks.

As an aside, at my destination, I parked my 8 next to a Lotus Elise (or, did he park next to an 8?) Anyway, both cars drew lots of positive attention.

1.3L

 

25 mpg. I usually get 17 but it's because of lots of city driving.

 

How many miles do you guys have on your cars?

 

15k miles and have never gotten less than 20 mpg. personal best would be 25.

 

I always get over 20 and less than 24. Regardless of where or how I drive. Live in Atlanta too, some of the worst traffic on the planet.

 

2004 RX8 - M Flash - 17k miles - 21.8 MPG (mostly city driving)

 

I've never gone below 18 (with 18.5 being standard) and the best I've managed is 21.2

I was all proud to break the big 20.

 

i feel cheated I am getting 13.5ish

though i do drive "spiritedly"

 

I think it is all in the driving habits. I have seen as low as 14.5 (once) when I beat crap out of it.

 

I've never topped 22mpg.

 

With a steady 70 on highway only with cruise control, I got 24.5 mpg. I don't know what flash I have, it's an new 2004 car bought in June, 2005 and I only had about a 1000 miles on it. I haven't had the recall work done yet (got the noticed a few weeks ago) so it will probably be updated when that is done. City mileage is well below 20 since most trips are short with the engine running rich a higher-than-usual length of time.

 

Seriously guys, do you really get more than 17 mpg?

 

Nothing like your good old NY traffic at from 5-8 pm i usually get 15 mpg city drivin, the longest drive i did on my car was conneticut, and thats only 100 miles round trip.

 

I have 24k on my 04 auto with latest flash. I drove two tanks with the cruse set at 65mph and got 27.5mpg. Then the hardest thing was the one tank(really 250 miles) I did with the trucks in the slow lane. Most trucks passed me as I was doing 55mph. I got 29.5mpg, It takes ALOT of patients! If I am having more fun its 16city and 21 hwy(probably the real norm). Its my 7th rotary Mazda and much more fun when I keep the revs up.

 

I've never been on a trip with my 8 but so far here is my fuel economy with the 8:

Worst ever: 18.7mpg (100% city)
Best ever: 20.24mpg (100% city "trying to save gas type of driving")
Lifetime average: 19.2+mpg (last time I checked, it might be mid 19's now.

Since going over 5K miles (I'm at 5.6K now) my last three fill up's have been: 20.24, 19.7, and 20.18mpg. I honestly feel that something happened at 5K miles because the last two numbers from my last two fill up's have come with normal driving...not driving trying to save gas.

I have a 2005 base 6spd RX8 with 5.6K miles.

 

How do you check your MPG? Guesstimating?

 

miles driven / fuel added

Timmy had a RX8 and he drove 250 miles. When he filled up his gas tank he put in 13.1 gallons. How many miles per gallon did Timmy get?

LOL

 

I figured it out! 19.083969465648854961832061068702 MPG!

Hehe, j/k.

 

MT 21,000 mi. usually get about 22 mpg on 35 mile drive to work. Cross 2 small mountains with 3 trafffic lights and 3 stop signs enroute, country roads. Never got less than 20mpg. Last fill I had 300 miles on OD fuel light was on for about 10 miles. Took 13.56 gallons.

 

Again I am getting SCREWED with the milage of this damn car!
160 miles per tank is the best I can do in NYC. 11 to 12 mpg commuting form Brooklyn to NYC.
IN The summer I commutted from the shore to Manhattan, got 19mpg once the whole summer. NEVER more than 20mpg. NEVER.
GOt 10k miles on a 2004 6spd.
The dealer says, letthe cat break in. Milage will imporve. They have done nothing for me.
I hate it. It's the only thing I hate about the car. Why did I have to get the damn LEMON of a car. The rotary is flawed and a waste. I have a light, small car trhat goes slow and uses MORE gas than a HUMMER!!!!.




Whew, that felt good.


But Im still f**king pissed at the milage.

 

You live in NYC. I think a civic hybrid only gets 18mpg in NYC. The EPA window stickers usually read.

18city/24hwy/12nyc

 

Yeah, I understand. How come others are reporting near 20mpg in city driving?

I never got so far below the estimates.
I got 21-22 mpg with my GTI 1.8 Turbo.

Does anyone else report 12mpg with the rotary?

I watch the gas guage move as fast as the tach.

It's the only thing I hate about the car, and I am at a loss as to how to improve the mpg, and if I cannot improve it, I might not ever buy another one.

 

beefyjoe...there are many many many reasons why and to continue to beat this horse some more....



It's your:

Driving style
Conditions
Or suspect motor

The best example I remember was a friend (poor guy he is my mpg example) who would complain about getting 16mpg but when we all saw a video of his driving we noticed something (well at least I did...can't speak for everyone)...

He drove around in the 5-6K range ALL THE TIME, frankly...I was amazed he could even get 16mpg out of his RX8.

Also, if your stuck in traffic for an hour everyday that aint going to help your fuel economy.

Finally, as it's been reported here before...you might just have a faulty (in regards to fuel economy) engine.

To be honest, I think #1 and 2 are the true reasons but I don't rule out t #3 either.

You really can't blame the rotary...too much at least, because there are enough (go to the polls section where everyone put down what they "normally" get on a tank of gas) people getting the EPA numbers to make 13-12mpg cars the exception and not the norm.

Sorry about your fuel mileage...I would be upset if I were you also.

 

I'd like to hook up some kind of data logging equiptment to prove I drive "normally".

What's wrong with horse beating?

I am driving the same way I drive every car I have ever owned, not too hard. I don't race. I basically stay with the traffic and drive like regular person.

I noticed that I am running between 3 and 5,000 rpm on a regualr basis. I go no faster than 45mph during the commute.
In the city, I am getting 11 to 12 mpg, for many tanks, for many months. No one could drive at 6,000+ rpm everyday, all the time - I dont do that.

How I drive is a moot point, because this car is the furthest from the EPA estimate that I have ever gotten. if I got 15mpg, I would understand and shut up.

I am filling up the tank at 160 miles, approx 13.5 gallons = 11.86mpg.
Sometimes I drive to NJ from Brooklyn, but not enough to get more than 15mpg.

I am going to take this up with Mazda USA.

 

I might have missed it...

What flash are you on and what are your 8's spec's?

EPA states 18/24 (but gives a range of 15/28)

Your 11's and 12's are WAY off that and if you are saying your driving normally, then I would take it up with Mazda USA also.

I made this suggestion to another member a long time ago...

Mazda might ignore you pretty much and blame you for the bad fuel economy. So, make it virtually impossible for them to argue with you.

...and I know this takes more work than you might want to do...

Record your daily commute to and from work. Showing them the dash so they can see miles, rpm's...mph. Then...take a picture of your OD showing the miles driven and the gas gauge.

Finally, let someone else drive your 8 for a day or week...to see if they get the same results.

If the other person get’s the same fuel economy and Mazda can test your car how you drive and they get the same fuel economy…then they WILL HAVE to figure things out.

It does not make sense for the RX8 to be getting such low numbers (if you drive normal and your in "normal traffic") but you wont get far without working to cut each and every possible angle that Mazda can excuse the reason for your high fuel consumption.

Note: Keep in mind that the EPA set those numbers and not Mazda, but my thinking is that if they use it to help sell cars…then they have to stick by it. While they really don’t sell fuel economy as a major selling point for the RX8, they sure use it to sell other cars.

The problem with beating the horse...is that you might learn more (and get more responses) by doing a search into the topic. You aint the first to complain about such low numbers...but to be honest I've heard less and less about it. Maybe people figured things out or maybe people just got tired of talking about it.

Personally...If person A and person B have the same car and person A get's 19mpg city while person B get's 11mpg city (8mpg WOW)...that's too much of a difference (after dismissing driving style and condition) for you not to care about it.

As for me...you saw my numbers, I'm satisfied with the 8's fuel economy. 18-20mpg city (19 avg)...is fine by me. At least...until gas starts costing $5 a gallon...lol