So my wife drives the cooper to and from work....maybe about 17-20 miles round trip, all city driving. What is the normal miles per tank? I thought minis with such a small engine would be pretty good on mpg. She might get 230 miles out of the tank right as she reaches the last red bar.
so 12gal tank with a max of 230 miles....that's optimistic too so 19 and under miles per gal.????
Anyone else have the same mpg? or should I start looking into getting the car checked up. Reg oil changes with cast. syn 5-30. Always use prem gas. and the wife does not have a heavy foot.

 

My wife's 2006 Cooper CVT gets MUCH MUCH MUCH better mileage. Averages better than 30 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Highway driving gets 35 or more.

 

would this then indicate somethings up wit the car? i scanned for codes and its clean...car is only used to commute. it''s now just reaching 40k miles.

 

Use good gas #1

I get from 30 - 34 mixed driving up to 38 highway on a 2003 CVT

Unichip and CAI improved from 27 - 30 mixed prior to that

 

I've gotten as low as 22 mpg and as high as 26 mpg for my 11 mile commute each way, in mostly freeway driving, depending on traffic conditions. For the freeway drive, I am constantly having to adjust my speed such as by taking my foot off the gas although I don't usually have to hit the brake). Using the A/C and having a passenger puts it closer to 22. Although my commute is mostly freeway, there is wall to wall heavy traffic, although it usually flows good. I've noticed that if I fill up after only driving a quarter to a half tank and check the mileage (actual mileage, not the computer estimate), I calculate a low mpg, i.e., closer to 22. But if I use the whole tank before I fill up it is a little better. So it could be that weight is important as gas adds weight.

I've gotten 35 mpg on a day trip down the freeway, with 2 passengers without using the A/C.

I think the CVT has really good engine braking, so that hurts gas mileage somewhat. But that helps to make the car such a good performer in the twisties.

 

Wonder why my wifes mini has bad mileage...spark plugs have been changed a few hundred miles ago to denso iridiums IK20. Oil changes on the dot with syn 5-30. right air pressure, i can't think of anything more at this point.

 

air filter clogged (aka stugling to get a breath)

 

also catalytic convertor clogged?

 

well the filter was changed at the same time i did the plugs. cat being plugged could do it, but i've ran the car hard before and drove up on ramps to check things out and didn't notice the cat glowing. Guess i could pull it off and check to make sure....

 

I've got a 2002 CVT cooper and get the same mileage.....Mixed driving is in the low 30's and strictly highway roadtrips seem to be in the 35-38 range.

I generally keep the car in 'D' mode rather than 'SD' when I'm casually driving around on trips etc.

 

Maybe her foot is heavier than she says.

 

How much stop and go driving is there. I don't do cities anymore except when there is absolutely no way to avoid them, but I've seen a lot of city traffic that involves much 0 MPG time, as everyone sits still waiting for the next surge prior to the next stop. All city driving isn't created equal, and perhaps that's a factor in the low MPG.

One thing that's easy to check that could have a sizeable effect is the engine air filter. Has it been inspected/changed lately?

 

I have a 2003 Coop and i get about the same, 27-35mpg. I also have a ProMini CAI and a Borla exhaust. I have noticed that when i buy the off brand gas i get worse mileage than when i buy the brand name stuff.

 

She drives normal. I have yet to see her do any kind of WOT driving.LOL

 

Well she commutes during the peak hours, and it's about a 7 mile stop light to stop light route.

 

Your wife's route sounds very similar to my commute, and I can still get around 26-28 in those situations...