Thought this was helpful info From Mini Mania:
Fuel economy in your MINI is affected by several factors, all of which are under your control. Here are some tips for improving your MINI's gas mileage:


DRIVING TIPS:

Drive smoothly - go easy on the gas pedal when accelerating from a stop and brake gently when coming to a stop. Look ahead to see if you really need more speed.
Observe the speed limit - the faster you drive, the more gas your MINI burns. Driving the speed limit is a good way to conserve fuel.

Use your Cruise Control - driving a constant speed uses less gas than varying your speed.
Reduce Air Conditioner usage - the AC system puts a load on the engine which uses more fuel. Open windows when driving at less than highway speeds. (see below) Use AC when at highway speeds.
Keep Windows closed - Open windows create aerodynamic drag at freeway speeds which uses more gas than using AC with the windows closed. Use AC at highway speeds. Open windows when driving at less than highway speeds.
Take less congested route - stop & go driving is very inefficient. Take a less congested route even if it's a slightly longer route.
Avoid excessive idling - turn engine off if you sit still for more than a minute.
Use up the whole tank - don't fill the tank until it's below 1/4 tank. If you like to keep your tank above the 1/2 mark, your MINI is hauling more weight in your tank!

MINI MAINTENANCE

Keep your tires properly inflated - check your MINI manual for proper tire pressures and check them at least once a month. Underinflated tires requires more energy to roll.
Use the recommended grade/viscocity of Motor Oil - yes, using the wrong viscosity can affect your gas mileage! Look for the Energy Conserving API label. This symbol indicates that the oil is certified, fuel-efficient oil by the American Petroleum Institute (API). MINI approved oils are in SAE classes 5W-40and 5W-30.
MINI diet - if you car is loaded with unnecessary 'stuff', unload it! It takes more gas to move more weight. (You can also improve gas mileage by switching to light weight alloy wheels with standard tires. The stock MINI wheels and the runflat tires are quite heavy.)

Keep your MINI properly tuned. Here are some items that will affect fuel economy when they are dirty/ old/ or damaged:
(Click on item to see a list of replacements.)

Air Filters - Dirty air filters will reduce engine efficiency leading to reduce fuel economy.
Ignition Wires - Damaged ignition wires reduces the spark energy which leads to reduced fuel economy.
Ignition Coil - Damaged ignition coil reduces the spark energy which leads to reduced fuel economy.
Spark Plugs - Worn spark plugs or plugs with the wrong gap will produce less than optimum spark which leads to reduced fuel economy.

MINI recommends the use of unleaded premium fuel with a minimum octane rating of 91 (R+M)/2.
Above all, drive sensibly and safely. Plan your driving so you don't make unnecessary trips. Carpool when possible.
Happy Motoring!

 

most importantly, don't have any fun!

 

Exactly! I mean, the R56 MCS gets close to 30 mpg with AGRESSIVE driving. Is it really necessary to do BETTER than that??? We didn't buy a Prius for a reason!

 

FWIW--Consumer Reports did a study on open/closed windows with a/c and stated that running the vehicle sans a/c and with windows open is more efficient. The additional drag with open windows didn't offset the the a/c compressor. That's their stance. IMHO--if the OAT is beyond my tolerance--which is quite high--the a/c is on. Otherwise the sunroof and windows are open and the tunes are blaring.

 

The "going easy on the gas pedal" was called to question by a couple of independent areas (can't remember the citations now). Results indicated that the best practice is to accelerate quickly up to the highest appropriate gear and then back off when you are at your desired speed. Seems the most fun to me...

 

This is true for the most part -- the throttle body is an obstacle to air being sucked into the engine, so a wide-open throttle body poses the lowest restriction, improving efficiency.

Back in the day, I remember some nutty Honda engineers did a test with Honda Civics on a race track. They would accelerate at wide-open throttle to high speed, then draft tightly together, shut down the engines, and coast for as long as they could. When they got down to like 15 mph, they'd bump-start the engines and repeat. They got over 100 mpg.

So anyway, for NON-turbo cars, full-throttle until you get to cruise speed is most efficient.

HOWEVER, forced-induction cars run richer air/fuel mixtures under full throttle conditions. This extra fuel is intended to cool the cylinder and prevent your motor from going boom under high boost. It also results in worse mileage. So on a turbo or supercharged car, it's going to be most efficient to use the highest throttle angle that will NOT induce this full-throttle enrichment behavior. That's probably around 75% throttle, but it will vary for each type of car.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

But, Dan, these fancy schmancy R56s don't have throttle bodies! (well, at least the MCS)

 

Following many of the driving-related gas savings tips listed at the top of this thread might save a little gas, but takes away the main reason for owning the MINI -- the fun. I have run the wee out of our '07 MC 6 speed and the worst mileage for a tank has been 38 mpg. The best about 41 mpg. I use middle test gas, too! If I wanted just good gas mileage I would have bought a Prius (yuk) or diesel VW.

 

I agree with the fact that we would have bought a 'prius' if we were really looking for great gas efficiency; it was on my shopping list but not too much fun. The MCS is a lot of fun to drive hard and throw in corners, break, accelerate; you get the point.

What I don't get is how some of you are getting 30MPG or better on the MCS with agreesive driving. I have the auto box and the best I ever get is 26-27 mpg w/ 80% city driving; and this is really taking easy.

When I had set my mind on buying another vehicle; I wanted something that would go as far as my previuos 4Runner with a lot less gas. I am definetely there with my MCSa, so I can't ask for much more.

 

Heh! True! So...I wonder what that means for our best-MPG theories?

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

That IS good gas mileage. The '07 MC must be amazing, frugal with all that fun.

Shy away from big rims and runflats.

 

A really effective way to save gas is to carry a grappling hook on a rope, and with practice you can snag that structure large trucks have on the back to keep cars from going underneath...

 

Tried the grappling hook -- worked great uphill, not so great down <G>. In the old days I used to draft trucks for better mileage. When I began riding motorcycles, I learned this wasn't such a good idea due to hidden road hazards (like a chunk of tread coming loose). I thought about getting an MCS for my next MINI, but don't think I can give up the huge difference in gas mileage from the MC and it is still lots of fun to drive. Heck, our BMW X3 gets 25mpg on the highway and I always leave it at home in favor of the MC on trips.

 

I refuse to follow all of those hints except this

fortunatly the slightly longer route is fun, and I can put my foot to the floor

Take less congested route - stop & go driving is very inefficient. Take a less congested route even if it's a slightly longer route.

 

I thought all EFI cars richen up the mixture at full throttle, at least if under a reasonable load. The leanest setting will be at cruise so there is an advantage to end the acceleration period but some mid throttle point should always give better fuel mileage than full throttle. The highest point in the light accelleration range would be best.

 

Nope. On naturally-aspirated cars, full throttle acceleration is MOST efficient. It's not that the car isn't using more fuel under full throttle. It's that it's converting that fuel MOST EFFICIENTLY into power. Yes, there is some enrichment at full throttle compared to part-throttle cruise, but full-throttle acceleration is more efficient than part-throttle acceleration. For NA cars. With throttle bodies.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

You just answered your own question. 6 speed gets a little better mileage than the auto does.

 

I guess you are talking power per gallon efficiency, HP per gallon per minute or something like that? That could be true. We were talking MPG. There is no way 150 HP is going to be more fuel efficient (MPG) than our same engine at 50 HP. I think the MPG meter would confirm this. Actually that's probably the BEST tool for saving fuel.

 

The Mythbusters episode on drafting and gas mileage was really cool. Get right up there, and let that semi pull you right along, but not too close. If memory serves, 20' was optimum. At 12', the gas milesage was heading back down again. I may be misremembering the distances, but you get the idea.

 

Only on flat ground...

And stomping on the gas no matter what car you have, will deliver a richer mixture. That's why it seems that driving agressively in MINIs sometimes improves mpg. Throw it into 6th at 50mph and you'll be pouring gas into the engine trying to get the car to move.

If you're looking for great mileage, having that wide torque curve can work against you.

 

If I was gonna do all that crap the OP posted, I say why get a MINI? With my fun, spirited driving, under the worst driving conditions, the worst average mileage I got was 22 MPG. In my round-trip to NJ, moving a a good clip, I got almost 40. With those results, I'm not gonna drive like someone's grandfather.

 

I think the part you are missing is that at 50 HP it is going to take you much longer to get up to the desired speed. So, the long gentle acceleration will end up using more gas than the quick short acceleration. We are just talking here about the most effective way to reach a desired cruising speed from a slower speed (such as stopped).

The instruction manual for my 1990 Acura Integra also gives the advice of quickly reaching cruising speed for best mileage.

 

I feel like I drive in bad conditions for gas mileage, mainly southern california stop-and-go freeway driving. That said the way I deal with gas mileage is by not pouding the gas from a stop unless I feel the need, the need for speed.

Also, I shift at 4K in every gear unless I want more oomph for putting a Civic in its proper place or for getting on the freeway. I use the cruise control a ton, that helps just like indicated. That's really all the special treatment I give it and I have a ton of fun.

One more thing, running your gas tank low can cause issues with your fuel pump, it makes it work harder. At least its been known to happen. I wouldn't advise draining the tank as a practice.

 

In my normal commute, I do good to get 22MPG (mostly 20 or 21), and that is driving incredibly conservative. It is due to most of the trip being at stop lights. I am mostly accelerating, or decelerating or stopped. Virtually no steady cruise time.

But it is only 2.1 miles, so I cannot complain. Just wish I could get better gas mileage.

 

Hope your car insurance covers glass repair.