What are some of the casues for the greatly varying reports of gas mileage among Coopers? I get 25mpg in the city and 31 highway at best, and I don't drive agressively at all and I almost always shift before 3K RPM. Yet, I see people talking about how they get 30-35MPG even in the city and I have to wonder what causes this wide variation of mileage between the same model of car? Is it variation in parts and construction, or are these people who say they get 40mpg on the highway just full of it, or believing what their OBC tells them?

 

Going by my OBC I'm averaging about 26 mpg. Haven't actually calculated mpg by hand yet.

 

I do primarily city driving to work every day, I am on a highway for about 5 minutes of my 20 minute commute, the rest of my miles are around town...

I get 31 mpg (30.9 by OBC, 31.2 calculated, 416 miles on a 13.2 tank)

 

I just figure it out when I pump gas and check the odometer. I get between 30 & 35mpg. I rarely wind it up, but do wind her up to around 6k when on the interstate.

Driving habits, tire pressure and I'm told the gas octane play a part in your mileage. I'm sure there are other variables too. Have you tried figuring it out by hand instead of using you OBC?

 

I hover around 26 mpg (calculated by hand). I commute to DC during the week (very early so there is little traffic). But I'm a led-foot on the weekends

 

I've found my OBC to be pretty accurate to by hand calculations. In the summer I get 25 mpg in the city, 30 on the highway. In the winter those numbers drop to 20 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway due to a Thule ski rack and winter gas.

 

I didn't realize winter/summer made a difference, but since I've only had my car in the winter, I hope the gas mileage gets better in the warmer weather. Right now I am only getting about 22-24 mpg, but I do nearly all city driving, with occasional fast spurts on the highway. I'm not aggressive either, but I do rev it up around 4500 getting on the expressway sometimes.

 

Computer indicates around 24 mpg for me, pretty consistantly. Mostly city driving. If I just leave it on for a highway trip, it's in the low 30's.

I'm not sure that RPM is a good indication of fuel consumption, though... I think you can burn more gas by shifting too soon than by shifting late -- like trying to accelerate from a standstill in 3rd gear, I think you'd burn more gas doing that than by using higher revs from lower gears to get more power for the same amount of pedal.

 

There are so many variables in calculating gas mileage as to be almost impossible to compare. The EPA attempted to eliminate the variables and they have come up with numbers that have little relatioin to real world experience. Some of the variables are: temperature, road condition, traffic conditions, average speed, altitude, acceleration rate, tire/wheel size, weight of passengers and items in the car, tire inflation pressure, fuel brand and octane, are you a steady speed driver or someone that is almost always acelerating or decelerating, the list goes on and on. To compare two cars and say that one gets this mileage and another gets better mileage is almost impossible unless they are driven at the same time, over the same course, by the same driver, which is phsycally impossible to do.

 

My wife and I work opposite shifts and both drive our MC to work every day. My commute is 30 miles round trip with 5 miles of that being city driving, 5 miles country back roads, and 20 miles freeway. My wife's commute is 35 miles round trip with 10 miles of city driving and the remaining 25 miles country back roads. I keep track of our mileage for practically every gas tank, and with almost 9000 miles on the car, we've never gotten less than 30 mpg. We average 32-33 mpg commuting back and forth to work, and have gotten as high as 36 mpg on a trip once. Even with extra burden put on the car by autocrossing in the summer, I still was able to get 30-31 mpg with one or two autocrosses on a tank of gas. The 36 mpg trip was when the car was brand new, I'm hoping for a little better on trips since the car is almost fully broken in now.

-Keith

 

I'm not agressive, 34psi all around, 93 octane, no OBC, by hand.

 

Oh, and I'm talking about Coopers, not S's here.

 

Ah, yes, I was just realizing that, I drive an MCS, so I don't expect the mpg to be as good as for the cooper. That's me, just not paying attention, sorry!

 

Well since I got my MC back in June of 04 I have been getting 29 - 30mpg in town. I always try to shift before 4K. If I don't drive aggressivly on the freeway I can get upto 37mpg. But I have only done that once.


Art

 

I've tracked mileage by hand for my MC since it was new in July 2005. Average is 32, although it varies by tank between 29 and 34, and on two track days I got 22. It has gone down a little this winter, so I guess the winter-formula gas thing is true. I run the tires at 36psi. I use the cruise a lot, drive it every day, and when the roads open up, I flog it. I would be suspicious of a Cooper that only got 25.

 

I have also tracked the MPG by hand since new (Feb 2005). My average 23.82 mpg. High in the city of 25.89, on the highway 32.60.

Steve

 

Well, I am one of those people who claims 38-40 MPG regularly. I have had my 2003 Cooper since December of 2002. I have only seen 34MPG on 4 tanks of gas since new with 76,490 miles on the odometer this morning. I document this often in my log book so I will be happy to share my average of 37MPG since new with anyone.
Now that said, I commute 35 miles one way with roughly 30 highway miles. Generally on the highway I see on the computer 40+ MPG on the highway. I have observed 55+ on certain trips. I live at 7000 Feet altitude and drive to Denver (5280 Feet) I always calculate my MPG by hand at fillup time. My computer is between .5 and 1.5 MPG low. I have only seen less than 30MPG on a very short calculation done when I was autocrossing one Sunday a total of 7.5 miles came in at 29.5MPG. I like to flog the car but, obviously on my commute I drive sedately since people commuting are generally driving stupid because they left late, the are late, or they were born stupid. So, far right lane at or below posted speeds with the literally thousands of other vehicles seems prudent to me.

I do however, remember driving a loaner from my dealer with the CVT and I was unable to get better that about 33 or 34 MPG for the time I had the car. (obviously computer indicated). But, my 5 speed is significantly better.
Scott

 

I can see how you could get better mileage at higher altitude. The air is thinner so to maintain a constant a/f ratio the injectors should pump less fuel, also maybe since the air is less dense there's less resistance? I'd be curious to see a map of the US with gas mileage (of non-supercharged Minis) posted to see if there's a geographical correlation.

 

When I had Ms. Kitty, mpg was about 38...I was is heaven...with Ducky, my 2nd MC, mpg are about 33 on the highway...

What causes variations in mpg? I have been told (now guys, don't yell at me, I am only repeating what I have been told....) Driving style, High octane vs. low octane fuel being used, payload in vehicle, weather/driving conditions and model/age of vehicle.... Hope I got at least most of that right...I get really nervous before a test...Mick

 

I have 2200 miles so far and I've never gotten better than 24 MPG...but I only do "in town" driving and I drive it hard and fast...so I'm ok with 24! I'm curious to see what I get on the drive to Vegas - a whole tank at Highway should be interesting!

 

I'd be ok with 24 too if I had an S, but were supposed to be talking about MC's only here

 

My apologies...didn't notice the distinction until after I hit send.......

 

OK, most of these posts are "I get 3x MPG" and I think you are really more interested in why you are not. A few things....

Winter Formulated Gas = less MPG
Cold Weather = less MPG
Heavier tires and wheels, wrong air pressure = less MPG
Lower Octane Fuel = less MPG
Brakes out of adjustment = less MPG
When you say 25 mpg in the city and it is constant red lights and stop and go than 25 mpg is probably about right.


Obviously there are many variables but as you can see most of us MC owners who drive sensibly DO average 30 + mpg (my MCC has never gotten less than 33mpg in mixed driving calculated by hand). If your stock Cooper never does better than what you are saying be sure to try different gas and look into adjusting what you can or have the dealer do it.

 

Well, Not sure if you are looking for just MC or MCS but I recently got my JCW and I average 24 MPG with spirited driving done frequently.

Did I tell you I love driving this thing?

Thank you,
JBravoMC

 

Winter Formulated Gas = less MPG
Cold Weather = less MPG
Heavier tires and wheels, wrong air pressure = less MPG
Lower Octane Fuel = less MPG
Brakes out of adjustment = less MPG
When you say 25 mpg in the city and it is constant red lights and stop and go than 25 mpg is probably about right.

Banjoez is very correct with these comments and I forgot to mention that your particular configuration (tires, air pressure, temp, fuel) can have dramatic effects.
I should also have said that I try to use exclusively Shell Premium 91 octane is the best we can do in Colorado but, I notice a significant difference (3-4MPG less) if I use other brands say Conoco or Phillips 66. BP is only 1-2 MPG less and of course the discounter's fuel will never see the inside of my MINI. I run 15 inch wheels with standard non-runflat tires inflated 36 front 40 rear. I autocross the car a bit and have found for good tire wear when not on the track this works best. (For what it is worth I run 40-42 frt and 44-45 rear when autocrossing). 16 or 17 inch runflats would make a difference both from a size/weight perspective and inflation. (My 15" 7-holey wheels, Yokohama Avid V4S tires total weight 22 lbs. vs. 16" 5-star wheels w/runflats 40lbs.) These statistics alone,in combination with underinflation with the same person driving, I would think yields 4-8 MPG difference depending on conditions. Unsprung weight is a serious factor. So is inflation pressure and then driving conditions (stop and go in town etc.) I think you should have someone who is getting mid-30's MPG drive with you to help determine if it is you or the car. Then have your dealer (assuming it isn't anything previously mentioned) go through the car thoroughly.
Good luck with that.
Scott

PS
Yesterday's fillup yeilded 38.8 MPG calculated by hand. (388.8miles/10.01gal) 70% freeway/30% in town driving I would guess.