Apologies for an MPG thread, but my personal expression of seasonal affective disorder (winter blues) is to get bored and start looking at new vehicles. Generally, if I can get to March, I'm good for the rest of the year. But it's December!

I've got a 74 mile round trip each work day. Currently driving a Justa Clubman. I have had the craves for a CTM over the last few months, and had ruled out the S due to fuel and maintenance costs. See-I'm getting solidly 37+ (calculated, not OBC) MPG. Dropping to 30 MPG in a Countryman S would cost me more than $500 extra a year, just in fuel. That's not including higher insurance, maintenance costs, and a few other things.

So, what I was (probably pointlessly) wondering, is whether anyone else had a longish, mostly highway commute, and if they could share their MPG experience. TIA!

 

I have exactly that commute! I drive 73 miles one way to work, and its 93% all HWY. Although, I work 4-10's, so I only make the drive 4 times a week. For a good portion of that HWY stretch the speed limit is 75. Which really means I average 85, or get ran over. I work swings, and get off at 1am. So on the ride home I set the cruise to the speed limit. With other driving such as trips to the store, and other errands throughout the week, I am filling up twice a week. I pretty much religiously get 28-29 MPG (1-2 less with winter gas). I am not light on the GO pedal at all though! Hope that helps.

 

Thanks, it does! Looking forward to the range of experience. I 'spect you're running premium gas?

 

Yes. 91% here in CO. You may get a few MPG there closer to sea level.

 

I commute right now 60 miles round trip and 95% highway. I average between 28-31 mpg. Although I am averaging 80-85 mph when possible. All depends on traffic driving from NH to MA. I fill up at least once a week.

 

78 mile commute RT in my Justa Countryman. Getting 34 mpg on average (mostly country roads and a little Metro DC highway).

 

50 mile round trip for me. I get right at 30

Half freeway half city/ highway

One thing I am finding with mine is that the mpg at higher speeds suffers dramatically. At 85 I'm only getting mid 20's but at 65 I'm getting mid 30's

Drove to Indiana from Wisconsin for thanksgiving. Going down there against the wind and averaging about 80 got 24mpg

Same trip and load coming home, only with the wind and closer to 70 miles per hour, got 32.

The car is NOT very aerodynamic !!

 

120 round trip 95% hwy speed limit is 75 I am always doing 85-90. My Fwd S is averaging 27-28 mpg and I have to fill up every 300 or so miles 93 octane.

 

That's encouraging! This used one is an "S," but I've also been considering a Justa CTM (if I went with new); is yours an auto or manual?

 

So I also drive about 75 miles a day round trip, 7 days a week. I have over 5000 miles on my countryman S ALL4 in a little over 2 months. I push the sport button immediately after pushing the start everytime I get in and I am definitely heavy on the gas pedal at all times! I also use premium despite being able to use midgrade. I am getting 28.1 mpg. My drive is mostly highway, about 80% highway at 55mphish, 10% freeway at 75mphish, and another 10% in town. I look forward to getting in my countryman every morning!

 

My Justa is a manual. It lacks power but is loads of fun if I keep the Revs up. 25K in and it's as reliable as any car I've ever owned.

 

2011 MCS All4
about 26,000 miles on it

Summer of 2012 I drove from Anchorage where I live to Seattle to visit relatives and take the car in for service at Seattle Mini. There was no Mini Dealer in Alaska then. The trip down I averaged 60mph and got 30mpg. After service and replacing recalled items, etc. I got 32mpg for the return trip of 2300 miles.
I run with Premiun which maxes out at 90 octane up here. Along the AlCan in Canada there were places without Premium, so I put what I could find in the gas tank. I didn't notice any difference. I've done this trip many times. Three times in an Audi A4 that I had tweaked to 240HP. That motor almost blew up with the lower octane gas... still got 30 mpg, though.

Right now in the middle of winter I am running with BMW330ix wheels and studded tires (1 inch smaller diameter) on the Mini with the traction control turned off so I can drift on the ice and snow. Winter gas mileage in the city driving hard (when I can) is 24-26... the speedo and mileage isn't accurate, though because of the smaller tire diameter. The summer mileage to Seattle was accurate as I had the stock wheel/tire setup.

I work at home and drive for fun. My other cars are a 1971 Triumph Stag with a corvette drivetrain, a 2001 Z3 3.0i Coupe and a 1986 BMW 535i.

 

Thanks for the feedback (and keep it coming)! Truth is, due to the costs I mentioned, making this swap makes no sense for me.

But...

I went and drove the used one.

I know that was a mistake.

The only other CTM I'd driven was a Justa automatic. I'd prepared myself for the performance being leisurely, so I was pleasantly surprised by the decent zip, and fun handling of that car. This used S model had pretty good stink! What I was most surprised by was the exhaust grumble at startup. Way different from the Justa and my Justa Clubman. Except for having no sunroof (which I'd like to have), and having leather (which I wouldn't pay for new), it's built up pretty much exactly like I'd do it.

Sigh. Time to get a dry day, and wash the Clubman to see about a trade...

I need talked off the ledge!

 

It's a very real thing... especially in Alaska. I have a SAD light. and still... in the middle of winter I start lusting after new wheels. There is a 2013 JCW Countryman All4 singing to me at the dealer now. It's bright red, though. Maybe I can hold out.

Sorry... I've never had a vehicle with better than 32MPG. I'm not your best consultant.

I did look at the Clubman... a lot... before getting the All4. I do live in a place that when it snows it stays around for six months.

 

I don't have a long commute but have a 75 mile round trip to church on Sundays. It's mostly highway driving and I average 32-34 mpg. In a bit under 17K miles, I've averaged 28.6 mpg overall.

 

"This used S model had pretty good stink! What I was most surprised by was the exhaust grumble at startup. "

Yes! I love the exhaust grumble. Excellent way to describe it. I don't know what i would do without!

 

Well, not that it matters, but I whiffed on the S. Went to the in-laws the week before Christmas, and it sold the day before we got back. Dealer doesn't have anything close to what I want, so new vehicle syndrome is on hold.

 

Okay, Happy New Year, all!

Checking back in for any additional input.

Also wanted to ask about wheel sizes and MPGs: Stock (17") vs upsized (18") wheels. Just found a nice used S model with 18s. Experience says that the 18s will have an addtional mileage penalty. Wanted to inquire about that and about ride quality.

 

In case this will be of any use: my wife just bought a 2014 Countryman S, 17" wheels, with MINI's roof rail base and roof cargo box. On a trip to see family, from Boston to northern New Jersey (Middletown area), we averaged around 28 mpg. During the visit, I fueled up and proceeded to spend an hour in stop and go traffic on Route 1: 32.5 mpg! Just bizarre. I would expect that alternating a minute at 50mph with a minute stopped, lather rinse repeat, would destroy mileage. But it got better.

Car doesn't even have 800mi yet, so who knows if it's running at peak efficiency.

Anyway, hope this helps.

 

Thanks, all info appreciated. In your example, I suspect that the cargo box had a bigger impact at higher speeds than stop and go. When I used to have the bicycles on top of the VW, it was good for about a 4 MPG hit (or worse), The rack and fairing alone were probably 1-2.