Real World Fuel Economy

[cadfael_tex]

Did a search and haven't seen one of these in a while for the drop top. What are you getting MPG wise? I'm looking at replacing my '05 S with a '10. I'm leaning toward getting another S but haven't totally ruled out a justa cooper. I'm slightly worried about the loss in power but I'm not a particularly aggressive drive with the throttle anymore.

So help me decide, what fuel mileage are you getting out of you 2nd gen cabrio's? S and non-S.

Thank you,
Tony

[Jeremy1026]

After 2900 miles of 70/30 (ish) city/highway driving I have a 26.11 overall MPG. That includes quite a bit of spirited driving, and 2 sessions of teaching rookie drivers how to drive a stick. That is on my R57 S with JCW Tuning Kit.

[AustinS]

Originally Posted by cadfael_tex

...So help me decide...
Thank you,
Tony

Tony,

I am 65 and a much more sedate driver than I used to be but I hope my spirited driving days are not completely over.

I have driven the coupe, clubman and cabrio; in auto and manual and I don't mean to offend anyone but if I could not have the Cabrio/S/manual, I would not have a Mini. To me, it is the best one of the bunch. I do not have the JCW like Jeremy though but if I were his age, I probably would.

I have never checked my mileage except with the OBC and I do not know how accurate it is. But at 6,500 miles the OBC says I am averaging 34.5mpg.

[Derepente]

Wow, 34 mpg is Awesome. I get only 27. Cooper S Cabrio R57, 2009.
I drive fast 40% of the time and the rest is stop and go NOVA and DC traffic

[cadfael_tex]

Thanks everyone, keep'em coming.

AustinS, my first choice would be an MCSC with the stick but alas the wife can't drive one and with only two cars I need her to be able to drive this one if the need arises.

As a point of reference on my '05 MCSCa is about 24-25 in town and 33-34 on the highway. Sounds like the new S will beat that.

My thought is that it seems there is only a 2-3 mpg difference in the S and just-a-cooper and there's that much more fun or more in getting the S.

[Jeremy1026]

Originally Posted by AustinS

I have never checked my mileage except with the OBC and I do not know how accurate it is. But at 6,500 miles the OBC says I am averaging 34.5mpg.

To show the difference between OBC and Actual. My OBC average is 32.7, compared to my Actual of 26.11.

I have been keeping track of every penny spent on the car, from gas, to upgrades, to purchase price, to interest paid on the loan.

I am also keeping track of all my gas information, fill up date, how many miles, how many gallons went in, OBC reading for MPG, and calculated MPG.

[howie289]

There are too many variables to allow you to compare your current MPG to someone else's (driving habits, car configuration, weather, fuel, tires...). If you're trying to estimate MPG of another car to compare with what you get now, your best bet is to use the EPA numbers for your car and the numbers for the cars you are considering. EPA MPGs are measured under the most controlled conditions and are intended for the comparison you're trying to make.

[Jeremy1026]

I don't know of anyone who ever matches EPA numbers. I think your odds of getting a realistic expectation is in other peoples real world numbers then what the government claims. Sure, the EPA has gotten better since they reworked their formula a few years back, but its still not quite real world numbers.

Remember, the EPA does optimal conditions, we are all doing a mix of conditions which factors into our averages.

[howie289]

Yes, it is uncommon to get MPG numbers that match the EPA values but the best way to estimate any differences between cars is to use the EPA numbers.

[AustinS]

Originally Posted by cadfael_tex

...my first choice would be an MCSC with the stick but alas the wife can't drive one and with only two cars I need her to be able to drive this one if the need arises.

Two thoughts here:

1. You can teach your wife to drive a stick
2. If she can't drive a stick, you will always have the Mini for yourself

And yes the S is great fun to drive.

[TRL]

Just turned 3500 today with my 09 just-a Cabrio stick. Have never reset the OBC and it says 30.2 mpg.

[hellfire]

5700 joyful miles for me, 09 cabrio S stick.

on a recent roadtrip averaging 75mph i got 30mpg on the OBC (and about the same at the pump). sedate highway gets me 34-36mpg on the OBC (never measured at the pump in those cases).

on my daily commute, lots of stop and go, but a bit of clear highway, i average 28.8 on the OBC, but at the pump it calculates to about 26.8

hope that helps

[carverbaby]

i've got about 4-5k on my 09 S automatic. i'm going to guess maybe 60/40 freeway/city? but i calculate mileage each fill up and started resetting the OBC every tank and i've found that calculating it i get between 28 and 32 almost every time and the OBC usually show between 30 and 33 per tank.

i'm pretty satisfied with this mileage since that was a big factor in my justifying getting the car

i do think it's kind of weird that i consistently fill up over 13.2 gallons when i'm down to a notch or two on the fuel gauge. i know there are factors that affect that, but why is it that i seem to be able to fill more than the tank capacity regularly? not that i try to wait til i'm that low on gas, but i get lazy.

[Derepente]

Wouldn't it be because sometimes you tap into the reserve fuel and sometimes you barely do? So either way, your using all the tank capacity and a little or more of the fuel reserve.

[pilotart]

Originally Posted by AustinS

<...> I have never checked my mileage except with the OBC and I do not know how accurate it is. But at 6,500 miles the OBC says I am averaging 34.5mpg.

Originally Posted by Derepente

Wow, 34 mpg is Awesome. I get only 27. Cooper S Cabrio R57, 2009.
I drive fast 40% of the time and the rest is stop and go NOVA and DC traffic

Could be that his OBC is still set for the (default) British Imperial (5 quart) Gallon and 34.5mpg = 27.6mpg in US Gallons.

Originally Posted by Jeremy1026

To show the difference between OBC and Actual. My OBC average is 32.7, compared to my Actual of 26.11.

I have been keeping track of every penny spent on the car, from gas, to upgrades, to purchase price, to interest paid on the loan.

I am also keeping track of all my gas information, fill up date, how many miles, how many gallons went in, OBC reading for MPG, and calculated MPG.

Only way to know for sure Most have reported that the OBC os overly optomistic.

Originally Posted by howie289

There are too many variables to allow you to compare your current MPG to someone else's (driving habits, car configuration, weather, fuel, tires...). If you're trying to estimate MPG of another car to compare with what you get now, your best bet is to use the EPA numbers for your car and the numbers for the cars you are considering. EPA MPGs are measured under the most controlled conditions and are intended for the comparison you're trying to make.

This is very true HERE is the EPA details on how they come up with those numbers.

Originally Posted by howie289

Yes, it is uncommon to get MPG numbers that match the EPA values but the best way to estimate any differences between cars is to use the EPA numbers.

Especially with a Manual Shift, Turbocharged MINI, the EPA numbers can be beat.

look at this JCW
50mpg in fastest-ever MINI! notice that it is using Imperial Gallons

and they had sign on the boot "Caution Hyper-Milage Test in progress"

[ran-o-matic]

I know you are talking about cabrios, but: my '08 Justa Clubman auto gets 34 MPG in slow NoVA traffic (average speed 26MPH) and over 40MPG on the open hightway. My highway mileage is inversely related to average speed. I would use EPA numbers to compare different makes and models as long as they are both tested under the same criteria. They take great pains to be sure the tests are consistent and fair.

[zanary]

Being on the west coast, I'm average what I think everyone else is getting out of their Mini. Between 25 and 27mpg which I'm happy with.

[gawannamini]

My '09 MCS convertible turns in low to mid 30's on the highway and averages about 25-26 in mixed, fairly agressive driving. It is totally worth it to me to have the turbo although - I have heard others comment that a just-a-cooper will give you about 5-6 mpg more than the S for most people. The S is a joy of torque on tap in just about any gear. BMW has been perfecting the flat torque curve for years and the S is a delight to drive (particularly with the manual tranny). Turbos can give you the best of both worlds. Great mileage if you keep your foot out of it or great power if you want to play.

[mullman]

I drive pretty spirited and always get at least 26 mpg in town.
Hwy is a constant 33-34 mpg.

[psybj]

drive my '05 MCS cab automatic only in town in good weather. Any trips are taken in other cars, usually my M6.

I like perforrmance too much, stay on the throttle, the automatic shifts at maybe 5000 rpm for me.

Only had it for a few weeks but every time I fill I'm getting 18+ mpg. Never 19.

Maybe if I didn't like to hear that blower scream...

[Derepente]

I thought my spirited driving was the reason I was only getting 27mpg. Engine light came on after 3 unsuccessful starts this weekend. I took it to the dealer yesterday. Turns out I had a bad "high pressure, fuel pump"?" Could be the reason my performance took a dip in the last 2 weeks. I'll post some new MPG numbers after a week of driving. The dealer rep said he sees this alot on the BMWs, but rarely on the MINIs.

[Jeremy1026]

Originally Posted by psybj

drive my '05 MCS cab automatic only in town in good weather. Any trips are taken in other cars, usually my M6.

I like perforrmance too much, stay on the throttle, the automatic shifts at maybe 5000 rpm for me.

Only had it for a few weeks but every time I fill I'm getting 18+ mpg. Never 19.

Maybe if I didn't like to hear that blower scream...

Your numbers really don't compare to the other numbers here since you have an R52, not an R57. It is nice to see how well BMW/MINI engineered the Prince engine though.

[rulezz22]

09 R57 JCW with 3000 mls. I was getting 28.4 MPG on OBC during hot weather here, around the SF Bay and on a couple of trips in to the country (calculated at about 26.5 of REAL MPG at the pump). Now, it is much cooler outside and I have just noticed 33.6 on OBC the other day... Nice! I drive mostly in the city and often hard.
One thing that is difficult to ignore, however - I manage to get 34.5 of real MPGs (at the pump) in our other car (07 Accord) with four people in it on the hwy. However, JCW is so much more fun to drive. It does not even compare!