We have subgroups for every color of MINI out there (pepper white for the record, with matching roof), so why not a "Forty Mile Per Gallon Club"? Has this been proposed before? Membership would be simple---just keep a spreadsheet of your at the pump calculated mileage (my iPhone can replicate the old HP 12-C calculator of the '80s...its great) and you need to have an average mileage, not an individual tank, but tank in-and tank out, of 40.0 or better. I barely qualify, as my lifetime MPG (although my MINI was used, so the stats are only for my ownership) is 40.79. All on the honor system, of course. My Stats would be better, but I had one disasterous tank where I kept, just as an experiment, my "Sport" button depressed the entire 475+ miles of the tank. That tank turned in only 36 mpg, cutting into my average.

I don't mean to be exclusive, but presume "membership" would be somewhat limited to we R56 types, six speed manual, but anybody would can turn 40mpg in an "S", a "Clubman" or by any other means...welcome aboard!!

Craig
Beaufort, SC
My last fill up---Shell, Savannah Highway, Charleston SC 41.9 miles per gallon, premium fuel $2.709 per gallon.

[IMG]file:///Users/user/Desktop/PWOC-badge-small.jpg[/IMG]

 

I would qualify. I was able to get 40 MPG once in my old '02 MCS... when I returned after my trip to MOTD in 2009. That was after after getting 15% pulley, CAI, and tune. Went 315 miles on 8 gallons of gas when we stopped for a fillup along the way. Was getting the same all the way home. Contributing factors were mild 70-something degree weather and the fact we were basically riding down a long hill from the mountains to home.

 

The only time I ever got over 40mpg was coming through the rural back roads of Delaware & Maryland never going over 45/50 MPH with the A/C off and just enjoying the scenery and drive. Most of the time I get around 32mpg around town plus a little freeway. I don't think my MPG is bad for a JCW that is as fun to drive as this car is.

 

32 MPG for around-town driving is really good. Just keep in mind the computer in the early R53s is very optimistic, while the later ones is very pessimistic. My old '02 MCS would say 28-30 MPG in-city and at least 35 MPG on the highway. My current '06 MCS says 26-28 MPG in-city and 32 MPG on the highway. The only way to know for sure is to divide your gallons fillup by the miles on the trip odometer (provided you reset it at every fillup).

 

I used to be a member with my Justa, with its 175/55/15 I could get 39 to 41 almost every time. But alas no more, I've gone to the dark side put on 205/50/17 and shot my milage to the 35 to37 range. i'm sorry it was fun being a member while it lasted.

 

I check with each fill-up using the old fashioned method of writing down the miles driven and dividing the gas into the miles. If I went by the computer I would always be getting more MPG then I do.

The lowest I got was 26MPG doing hot laps at Daytona. The most I ever got was on that back roads driving at 49 mpg.

My overall milage for the first 10,000 miles was 32.2 mpg using the pen/paper method. I don't think this is really bad for any car.

I'm sure there are cars out there that get more MPG but are thay as fun to drive?????

 

Tater tot, you increased your unsprung rotational weight when you went to the larger tire size. Though there is no solid conversion factor, 10 pounds of unsprung weight is equivalent to 40-100 pounds of sprung weight. Figure (modestly) a 10-pound increase per wheel between rubber and rim, and you theoretically gained about 160-400 pounds of sprung weight.

This is one reason why autocrossers like having 15" rims.

Here's a thread on another forum for reference: http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/rota...ues-46496.html.

 

So I guess the bigger or smaller question is why do we have a tendency to go to the larger tires for our cars. Minis in particular go to 205, 195 or even 215's. What the real reason? Is it just for looks?

 

My 07 MCS is only getting 25.6 mpg but it's fun.

 

I got 18mpg this week

 

When I decided to go to 215/45/17's non-runflats in place of the Dunlap runflats that were 205/45/17. I checked on the weight of the Michelins I wanted to use and found that they were the exact same weight. 22lbs.

JumpingJackFlash is 100% correct on what increasing your unsprung weight does. That is why I want OZ Wheels that I can't afford.

I wanted the better looks of the larger size tire and since I was getting non-runflats I did check the tire weights at tire rack. If I knew the great difference the new tires would make I would have done this as soon as I bought my car. The non-runflat Michelin Exalta PE2 215/45/17 is what I think should have come on my car in the first place. (they are that good) Of course Mini could not do that because they want all saeson tires on their cars from the factory. The Michelin Exalta PE2 is a summer only high performance tire.

 

I'm gonna miss those 500 plus miles per tank. That was fun but sure beats my Jeep Wrangler 240 miles per tank. But I'm still having fun, and thats the important part.

 

There are some threads that explain the weight of most all OEM and many aftermarket rims. I had BBS RK 17x7s on my old '02 MCS. I sure do miss them. They weighed 16.2 lbs. each. You can find some race rims as low as 14 lbs. each. But I have heard and seen many post that one curb check ruins them.

 

I had traded out of a Prius (and got, per my spreadsheet, 53.5 miles per gallon, historical average, over time). But what good is even 55mpg if you are ASLEEP as the car is so BORING! My lifetime 40.75 mpg was important as I promised my Wife (who is greener than that Witch in "Wicked"), that I would still be able to nurse 40mpg out of it, which I have.

My best tanks, however, involved Interstates and drafting tractor trailers. I keep the instant MPG displayed over my wheel (and tank MPG on the Menu in the center console) and even at 75+ miles per hour, find myself getting 60mpg on the instant computer, as there is no more wind resistance (indeed a Prius is more aerodynamic than our beloved MINIs). Following a tractor trailer, the view never changes, but its worth it when you fill up.

Like many a newcomer to MINI I was first taken aback that a 1.4 or so litre engine would require premium fuel (my dealer told me it was required due to using synthetic oil...but I don't know if thats true or not, either way, I have always used Premium...at least as long as it stays under $3), but if getting this good of mileage, its certainly worth it.

Craig
Beaufort, SC

 

wish i could be part of the club.... i average like 24mpg... and i dont drive crazy either...