I've had my 05 MCS for about 2 months now and my gas mileage sucks! I average about 25mpg mixed city/hwy.

I've tried driving with the windows up, no A/C, baby footing the gas, checking tire pressures, and changing my oil. But my mileage still sucks...

I bought this car a fun daily driver that gets good mileage, but my mileage is bad! Don't get me wrong I love the MCS, but I need to improve my mileage because my work commute is long. I'm filling up like 2-3 times a week!

Are there any mods I can do to improve my mileage? Even 2-3 mpg would be a huge improvement.

Advice please!

 

I typically average about 25 mpg as well when I drive the way I would like to. However, on the same commute I was able to increase the fuel economy to 33 mpg when the gas prices went skyhigh by driving like a soccer mom. For example: 0-60 in 30 seconds, taking foot off gas as soon as you see a redlight (even if it's 3 miles away), shutting down engine at long stoplights.

A sure way to know when you are doing it right, is that you hardly ever use the brakes (or slow the car by downshifting). If you need another 3-4 mpg, trade your Gen 1 in on a Gen 2 car.

 

Gen 2 gets better mileage?

Dang, I just noticed I posted in the wrong section!!! Sorry mods :(

 

Yes, the peugot turbo engine is more efficient than the chrysler supercharged engine and I think the new body style is a bit more aerodynamic.

 

Do you guys think a CAI will improve my mileage?

 

nope. probably the ladder. its advertised as increased mpg, but youll drive a little heavier footed just to hear the noise.

 

wow your getting 25mpg in an 05 S! I wish i could get that much

 

Q-4000: why do you say that?

 

Drive it like an Old Fart during your commute. I do and get 28-29 commuting 110 miles a day and around 24-26 in city.

 

Did you look at the window sticker or do research before you bought it?

Mixed mileage is rated at 25mpg, so you are spot on what its supposed to be.

 

Oh, that sucks. :(

 

25mpg seems about par for what the R53s got. If you're looking for upgrades to increase economy think like Colin Chapman, add lightness. Lighter wheels and tires will help bother performance and fuel economy (so long as the tires themselves don't substantially increase rolling resistance by becoming more grippy) and eliminate as much needless wieght from the interior as possible.

 

As I constantly remind R53 owners--if you're getting more than 23mpg you're not driving hard/fast enough...

 

+1. for the past three years, I have averaged about 22 to 24 mpg in my 05 S for daily driving. there were two times I have done better. 32 mpg from nyc to boston (during break-in (rpms under 4k)). 27 mpg from nyc to harrisburg, PA.

my buddy with a r56 justaCooper is getting 45 mpg on his commute doing the "grandma" shifting and accelerating and braking.

horses for courses.

 

20 mpg average for me but I'm lucky- I only drive 35 miles a week.

 

yep, 25 mixed pretty good. Its actually the best i've ever managed. Typically I get 23.5-24mpg with mix/mostly city. I don't really baby it, but I do drive conservatively and I am always watching my instant mileage to try and keep it as high as I can. 0-60 in 30 sec sounds like I'd be pissing off semi drivers!

But I too wish I could add 1-2mpg. Even on long highway drives I've never managed over 30.5mpg. I did get ~ 31.7mpg highway when I was on cruise at 60mph...but then I was in a city and that mileage brought it back down. My tire pressures are good (39f 41r), fresh oil, clean air filter, good plugs...thats just as well as this car does.

 

I've posted this many times. You can AVERAGE 30 mpg in your MCS using the following technique (I know, because I have done it, many times last spring and summer): Very light throttle application to 2500-3000rpm in first, then shift straight into third to 2500-3000 rpm, then shift directly to sixth, and don't exceed 65 MPH. I can practically grantee you will avg 30 MPG.

Try this on your next tank of gas and post your results!

 

I shift at ~ 2000-2200, shift from 1st to 3rd to 6th normally. Sometimes I stay in 4th instead if there are a few hills but still below 2.5k. I do get to 70mph on the highway but I don't think that is where my 5mpg loss is. Not complaining...it just doesn't seem to work for everybody.

 

Yes, you could do this, but why?
If you want to get all huggy with the planet, then paint the roof of your house white, replace all the lights with flouros and turn them off.
Do all these things and you can drive your Mini like you stole it.

 

yeah i wish i could get 25mpg i see about 21 wth mostly city, and 23.5 with a mix and it doesnt matter how i drive. so i decided to drive it like it should if im going to get the same mpg's

 

I average 24.5 to 26.5 in mixed driving. No real highway but some 50mph stretches. I use the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th method. Gives me a little thrill without impacting mileage too much. When I replaced the 17" runflats with SSR comp 16"/Yoko AVS ES100 I gained about a 1.5mpg. Since I am an old fart, I can drive like an old fart when I want to. But don't mess with the Mini, I still can drive like I'm 20.

By the way, the other day some young whipper snapper called me an old fart. I informed him all my farts are produced fresh daily.

 

I will be using this in the future.

 

My last tank I averaged 19mpg (manually calculated)... '06 manual MCS - 27K on the clock. I rarely have the pedal floored, but do drive somewhat spiritedly. This tank is almost through and I have been driving like a piddly grandma (shifting between 2200 and 2500rpm, throttle at maybe 15-20%) and still I'm only going to pull about 300 miles out of this tank. That's maybe 22-23mpg. Now THAT's bad mileage. I've got no check engine lights and the car is in a good state of tune. My driving is probably 2/3 city, 1/3 highway. Some of the problem is that I only live 2.5 miles from work, and most of that is highway, so the car is only barely getting to temp by the time I arrive. But still, the gas mileage is not good. It's downright horrible if you even come close to having fun while driving it. It's a good thing the fun factor of this car weighs heavier on the scales than it's fuel cost - at least on my scales.

 

About 16 MPG city and 23only on the highway, 25 after RMW Header.

 

lol, random thought, my sis sent me a "most likely" on facebook and im "most likely to drive it like its stolen".
on a fun week i get 19-22 mpg, but if i drive conservatively (shift 1,3,6 @ 2200) and dont hit the lights (most of my school commute is 50mph, the best speed for gas millage balancing momentum, gearing, and aerodynamics) and i can get ~32mpg, but an average week i get about 24-28 mpg.
oh, and interstates (80mph) kill your gas millage.