Let's talk mileage

[The Backlash Cometh]

Is it the SUV that is objectionable? Or the mileage? Looking at specs and features for vans and SUVs, there is very little difference between some of them. In some of the expensive SUVs, there is a two miles per gallon difference than vans.

For example, some SUVs advertise 17 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the road. And vans are advertised at around 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the road. Not that much difference.

In this thread, why don't we do a little research and talk numbers. Just how much MPGs does your car, van or SUV get? And name the Make & model.

[meegbear]

1. I drive a Chevy Metro

38 MPG.

Small yes, but in these times, it's nice to know I can fill an empty tank with premium for $18.00.

SUVs and too bloody large! My feeling is Freudian ... the bigger the truck, the smaller the dick.

[Kolesar]

13. Why do you use premium?

Does your engine knock on regular? Does the owner's manual say to use premium (I doubt that)? If not, you are wasting money and resources because it takes more petroleum to produce premium than regular (87 octane). Gasoline companies deviously promote premium as if it is better for your engine, with better additives, but that is not true.

[meegbear]

19. I don't ....

I used that to show that if I wanted to, I can fill my tank up with the "best" and still pay alot less than them.

I don't believe the hype about cost=quality. I usually go with regular.

[Kolesar]

20. understood

[TAH6988]

2. My wive drives

an "SUV;" Lexus SC-330. It gets about 20 in the city 24 on the highway.

[bobd]

3. 2003 Mini Cooper

I've been averaging 30 mpg over the last 3-4 tank-fulls.

[Emperor_Norton_II]

4. 2003 Toyota Prius

Getting around 60 MPG average. :D

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. How long before the Prius comes up with a SUV version?

What I like about the SUV: It's an excellent cargo or passenger medium. That makes it versatile for someone who may be involved in carpooling and home improvement projects. The seats of Vans don't fold down quite as easily. I don't even like the way the seats fold down in the new Pacifica. Though I think it is a creative new vehicle.

[TAH6988]

18. Lexus (Toyota)

Is supposed to market a hybrid version of its RX-330 SUV in the next few years.

[zoidberg]

5. Carbon tax

Get rid of mileage requirements, institute a carbon tax based on how much your car spews out, and let people decide what they buy. If the fear is oil dependence instead of greenhouse gases, then institute a 'Saudi Oil surcharge' or something similar on gasoline. For the record I drive a Lumina that averages around 25 mpg. I'd buy a hybrid next with the proper incentives.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. Don't cars get 40-50 mpg now?

17-23 seems pretty damned wasteful, doesn't it? I can understand having a van if you have a moving company, or a pick up to carry around your equipment, or a minivan if you're carting around 4 kids. But why spend your money on a big expensive SUV truck that's horribly inefficient and bad for the environment? Oh, you get some kind of tax break right?

I would think people would stay away from buying SUVs because all the kids are keying them now-a-days :)

[TAH6988]

11. Wife drives a small

SUV. Works well for us and we get no tax break. If some kid keys her car, he/she should be arrested.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Tax breaks for SUV purchases

aren't they only for corporate fleets? Not individual buyers?

[TAH6988]

16. For SUV's

that are used for business use, not personal use.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

25. maybe yuppie polluters should be arrested?

just a thought, and let's not forget those SUVs KILL a lot of people.

[TAH6988]

26. For breaking which law?

BTW, SUV's don't kill people. Careless, reckless drivers kill people. My SUV has yet to start itself up and go out hunting for other cars to smash itself into. I keep it locked in the garage just to make sure.

[Tyler Durden]

7. 1997 Saturn SL2: >35 mpg

5-speed, goes like a bat outa HELL, funfunfun. Bought used with <70K miles for $2995, now has 80K miles plus and runs like brand new.

I could buy between 7 and 10 of these for the price of one SUV.

[Northwind]

8. What really bugs me about gas mileage these days

Is that people say they get 20 or so per gallon on average and they think that is good. We had cars getting that good or better 20 years ago! 30 in the city should be a minimum requirement. Finding a nice car that gets 40 should be the rule, not the exception.

[Kolesar]

9. #1 Selling Explorer is a gas hog

Too many SUVs are like this or worse--Manual: 15 mpg / 19 mpg (Edmund's)
The best we ever got was 20mpg on a road trip. My Windstar got 25mpg on a road trip and it is much more functional.

[Drifter]

10. I am driving ...

a 1991 Mazda 626, and I get about 30MPG. I drive 50/50 highway/city. I can get up to 40MPG with more highway driving.

On topic: what kind of van are you refering to ? Mini-van or utility van.

Cheers
Drifter

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. I think it was called a

Toyota Sienna?

[htuttle]

12. 108+ Miles Per Gallon

Okay, okay. It only has 2 wheels, but it goes (just) over 55 mph, so it 'counts'. :)

Bajaj Chetak scooter, 150cc, manual 4 speed, All steel body.
Could be called the Volkswagen of India.

Seats Two. Carries a Nation.

http://www.bajajusa.com

We don't get much more than a few inches of snow per year in Madison lately, so I'm going to try to ride it through winter this year. Ask me how I like it in February...

[BigMcLargehuge]

21. My 99 Escort and my problems with SUVs

I get about 36 highway and 31 city.

SUV mileage isn't really an issue with me, it's visibility.

It's impossible to see around SUVs in parking lots, traffic, when they are parked on streetcorners (why are they allowed to park on corners? And that goes for minivans too...), or running two or three abreast on the highway.

I'm not only worried about seeing around them, I am worried about their driver's seeing me beside or behind them.

Also, the placement of the headlights, and this applies to modern big pickup trucks too. They are at just the right height so that non-SUV drivers are treated to the full force of the halogen lights even at low beam.

I shouldn't have to buy an SUV to maintain my safety, driving shouldn't have to be an arms race.

I don't begrudge anyone who has them, I really don't but I'd like to see certain restrictions applied to SUV driving including, but not limited to:

No parking on corners
No travel in the high speed lane like commercial trucks
Downward adjustment of headlights
Special parking spaces in parking lots for SUVs only

[dweller]

22. 91 Subaru legacy wagon

averaging 28-30 mpg combined city/hiway.
gas just jumped 10 cents in the last week, feel sorry for those getting less than 20mpg.

maybe that's why i'm seeing more of those behemoths with 4 sale signs on them. Our local news had a piece on the other day about it being the 'prime time for buying a used car, lots were running above average in stocks', and showed one SUV after another on a lot as examples.

dp

[redwitch]

23. saw a gas bill the other day for a big honking SUV

A chevy something or other. $49.00 to fill it up. How appalling! I drive a ford taurus wagon, unfortunately- I need lots of room for samples (I'm a sales rep). Get decent mileage, but not great- costs me $18.00 to fill the tank. Thank God I drive mostly highway miles!

[SacredCow]

24. About 19 city and 29 highway...

1999 Volkswagen Passat, GLS V6

[cmf]

27. '02 Honda Accord 23/30, '98 Honda Civic 29/36

I like a good compromise between roominess, comfort and fuel economy.

[dpbrown]

28. Next year Ford says their SUV hybrid will get 40+ MPG

http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/autoShows/newYork2003/fordEscapeHybrid.htm

Compromise Nothing with Ford Escape Hybrid

NEW YORK, April 16, 2003—In a small, rugged sport utility vehicle, you want responsive ride and handling, passenger comfort and safety, maximum cargo capacity, and outstanding fuel economy. And if you could get reduced emissions at the same time, wouldn't that be okay, too?

Ford Motor Company's new Escape Hybrid, debuted today at the New York International Auto Show, is the industry's first true "no compromise" SUV and offers enhanced fuel efficiency without sacrificing driving performance or style.

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Unlike other battery-electric vehicles, the Escape Hybrid's battery charges while braking and cruising, so there's no need to plug in your SUV at night. And with 35 to 40 miles per gallon in the city, your fuel stops will be few and far between, leaving more time for the fun stuff, such as off-roading.

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