What is your average rpm's during normal city driving? I tend to stay around 3000-3200. Mayber higher than most? I just like the sound of the engine in that zone, I don't like how the engine feels at lower rpm's. I still manage about 28mpg.

 

The lower the better for the best mileage. That's why diesels get such good mileage. Next time you are in bumper to bumper, try to use the gears instead of the throttle. I bet you see 35mpg or more average.

Also make sure you are taking advantage of how fuel injection works to boost your mileage. Make sure when you downshift your RPM goes above 2K. This cuts the fuel off completely as opposed to just coasting. If you are now costing to a stop with the clutch in or in neutral, adding this technique alone will get you 1-2mpg increase. Take it easy on starts. That helps alot too. Also use the terrain in your favor. It takes more gas to accelerate up a hill so if you see one coming get it done before you get there. Use downhills to pick up speed more efficiently. There are a million small things you can change to get your mileage up without simply going slower.

 

It depends on my mood. The sweet spot for sound on my JCW exhaust is between 2 and 3k, so that's where I tend to be.

 

My car ends up shifting around 3500 in the city the way I drive. I get around 30 mpg in urban Seattle driving, which is a lot better than the 21-22 that my BMW ends up getting in the same kind of driving.

 

I've noticed that at around 55 mph, 5th gear seems to get a better MPG readout than 6th gear, but higher speeds 6th is obviously better. I only have ~700 miles total, so I am still figuring it out.

 

i like to accelerate quickly then come to a constant speed and throw it in high gears. OR if i am just going to school, i will never go about 4th, i stay around 2-3. Unless of course I am not driving slowish.

 

I have said it in multiple threads and I will say it again the best gas mileage you can get out of an S is when you stay out of boost.

 

This may be a stupid question, I am new to MINI, but how do you stay out of boost?

 

You don't put your foot in it.
Mines an auto and if I drive using slower take offs and brake gradual I get around 34.5 mpg combined. If I use the shifter or paddles and run the rpm's up I average about 27-28 mpg.

 

I cruise between 3-4k...still get 30+ mpg cruising...28 around city...only when I'm trying to be "quiet" do I dip below 3k...

 

Basically accelerate without generating turbo boost, lightly accelerating. Also if you let off the gas and keep it in gear the engine wil not put fuel into the combustion chamber and that will save you a little.

 

i have the justacooper, and i usually cruise control @70mph highway @ about 2800RPM, and i never get mileage over 30mpg combined, i usually get around 28 or 29 mpg.

the worst case was that i avged 24 mpg solely logo mileages...

so i think my mileage is kinda bad...

 

dunno if this contributes usefully to the OP's question or not .
i've only turned over about 6.5K on my normally aspirated 2011 cooper and my combined average mileage has been hovering around 30.5- 30.6 mpg to date. my driving style is a bit schizophrenic, i guess, as i usually tend to wind it out to redline or near for much of my regular driving and cruise it well above 3000rpm but will alternately switch myself into mega econo-mode (ie:short shifts, tall gears with a dainty pedal &/or cruise control) on braindead highway & freeway slogs(the best mileage I've ever gotten was just a tad shy of 40 mpg on a short tank).

 

lol... I do like to drive like a complete idiot, (like my hair's on fire...), and the car's lifetime average (25K miles) is 30.8 mpg.

If the wife of 27 years is in the car, I'm a bit more civilized and keep the rpms to a manageable 2500 to 3500...

 

What year and model? If it is a 1st gen cabrio then yeah that sounds about right.

Also a good website to track you mpg is Fuelly.com

 

If you have a first generation Justa (R50, R52NA), and your area is hilly, that's probably about right on oxygenated gasoline. Cruise control can actually hurt mileage, depending on how you would normally drive.

Edit: Didn't see Portos' post before sending mine.