OK, so I love this car. I've had many cars in my 24 years of driving (yeesh I'm old), and this is the most fun to drive. I hear lots of raving and whining in here, and I don't want to be the latter, but...

I've been getting 15mpg around town! I'm hardly a leadfoot - I usually shift between 2700 and 3500 rpm. The a/c is almost always off. And I'm not towing an Airstream. So what gives? A car this light with a small engine should not be getting these numbers. I previously had an SLK230 Benz which has a larger supercharged engine and an automatic transmission, and I rarely saw less than 20+ mpg around town.

Did I mention I love this car? I do. I didn't buy it as an economy car, but it just doesn't seem right to be getting SUV gas mileage in one of the smallest cars on the road.

That's weird. You may have an electronic engine management problem. I'd suggest having the dealer reflash the software, and see if that helps.

sorry to hear that you are getting crappy mpg. I have an mcs 04 and I get around combined mgp is around 30. Do you drive with your windows down? Have you ask your dealer why you are having this problem?

OK, dumb question, but are you using premium (91 or higher octane) gas? The wrong octane can cause any number of performance problems, including sucko mileage.

But assuming you're using the proper gas, there's definitely something wrong with your car. See the many (many) gas mileage threads, but you'll find that most MCS owners are averaging at least 25 - 28 mpg (town/open road).

I always use at least 91 octane gas - would never think of putting in anything else.
the 15 mpg is what I've been getting in the city. I did average around 30 on a recent trip to Las Vegas from LA.
Definitely gonna bring it in to the dealer this week - I'm sure they'll tell me it's either "normal" or "my fault."

have you tried resetting your on board computer? just go to the MPG screen and hold down the button till it clears and then check your mileage.

There's definitely something wrong. I average 24.5-25.5 mpg overall (not much highway) and have probably around 205HP. So something is DEFINITELY wrong with your stock MCS.

Don't worry, I get about the same 21mpg with the twisty city roads around here. On the highway, I can get 28+ mpg.

>>have you tried resetting your on board computer? just go to the MPG screen and hold down the button till it clears and then check your mileage.

I have the Nav, and I reset the top mpg with each fill up - last tank it indicated 15.1mpg and I took 10.1 gallons on 148 miles.

A dirty air filter perhaps?

>>A dirty air filter perhaps?

I'll check, but the car only has 2500 miles over 3 1/2 months.
Of course, I'm in LA, which has been know to have somewhat dirty air...

Thanks for all your feedback - I knew 15mpg couldn't be right - I'm gonna have it checked out right away.

David

Have you done any mods to the car?


Have you checked your tire air pressure (Cold)?


Do you ride the brakes or clutch pedal?


Do you do "Jack Rabbit" starts from stop lights?

Do you do sudden stops?

Do you use cheapo gas or gas with the wrong octane?

I think you may have a software engine management problem or something else for that matter. I am getting 24-26 MPG in strict driving city with the A/C on all day in my '04 MCS with 5,300 miles.

Get it checked!

The worst I've done after a week of L.A. Traffic is 19mpg. Usually I get about 20-21 in town and 32+ on highway trips.

>>Have you done any mods to the car?
>>
>>
>>Have you checked your tire air pressure (Cold)?
>>
>>
>>Do you ride the brakes or clutch pedal?
>>
>>
>>Do you do "Jack Rabbit" starts from stop lights?
>>
>>Do you do sudden stops?
>>
>>Do you use cheapo gas or gas with the wrong octane?
>>
>>I think you may have a software engine management problem or something else for that matter. I am getting 24-26 MPG in strict driving city with the A/C on all day in my '04 MCS with 5,300 miles.
>>
>>Get it checked!

No, yes, no, no, no, no, I agree and I will!

15 mpg is definately out of the ordinary. That almost sounds as bad as those, who have tied their bypass valve closed. Ryephile recommended to me about a month ago to be more consistent when at speed. I had a tendency to vary a little with the throttle and was getting on the order of 23-25. Now with good acceleration and smooth coasting on the throttle, I easily stay around 28.5 with 50/50 mix city/hwy. With how bad yours is, it would have to be something wrong, unless you are sitting for hours on end in traffic.

Two things spring to mind...the car could still be breaking in with those low miles. My Wife's VW NB TDi took around 2000 mles before it starting getting really good mileage (close to 50 on the freewways!).
Also, my '03 MCS had a problem with the rear brake on the driverside...the handbrake cable was causing the pads to drag on the disk. Only noticed after a few thousand miles when the wheel started to make a moaning noise at speed. This will certainly affect mileage. Could be something similar on your car.

Mike.

>>>>A dirty air filter perhaps?
>>
>>I'll check, but the car only has 2500 miles over 3 1/2 months.
>>Of course, I'm in LA, which has been know to have somewhat dirty air...
>>
>>Thanks for all your feedback - I knew 15mpg couldn't be right - I'm gonna have it checked out right away.
>>
>>David
>>

A Hummer getting 15mpg is pretty good for a Hummer :grin:

>>>>A dirty air filter perhaps?
>>
>>I'll check, but the car only has 2500 miles over 3 1/2 months.
>>Of course, I'm in LA, which has been know to have somewhat dirty air...
>>
>>Thanks for all your feedback - I knew 15mpg couldn't be right - I'm gonna have it checked out right away.
>>
... Your in LA. That could be the answer. Is the driving a lot of stop with just a little go? There are a bunch of people from S. Ca on the forum I would pay most attention to their posts.

I have a MC - not S - but get mid to high twentys in my daily drive. I live in the Wash DC area and I am told our gas mix is simular to yours. My drive is slow but not to much stop and go.
John

>>>>A dirty air filter perhaps?
>>
>>I'll check, but the car only has 2500 miles over 3 1/2 months.
>>Of course, I'm in LA, which has been know to have somewhat dirty air...
>>
>>Thanks for all your feedback - I knew 15mpg couldn't be right - I'm gonna have it checked out right away.
>>
... Your in LA. That could be the answer. Is the driving a lot of stop with just a little go? There are a bunch of people from S. Ca on the forum I would pay most attention to their posts.

I have a MC - not S - but get mid to high twentys in my daily drive. I live in the Wash DC area and I am told our gas mix is simular to yours. My drive is slow but not to much stop and go.
John

With our MC driving near our house we get about 18MPG. S. CA gas, short trips (<2 miles) and hills. get 27-28MPG overall with highway mileage in the mid 30's to as high as 38. All mileage calculated by hand.

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>>>>A dirty air filter perhaps?
>>
>>I'll check, but the car only has 2500 miles over 3 1/2 months.
>>Of course, I'm in LA, which has been know to have somewhat dirty air...
>>
>>Thanks for all your feedback - I knew 15mpg couldn't be right - I'm gonna have it checked out right away.
>>
>>David
>>

I'm also in L.A. and 16/17MPG is also my city average...about 22/23MPG mixed/mostly highway driving (although I hoof it a bit whenever I can). Autoweek also noted in their long term review of the MCS that their average MPG was about 21MPG or 23MPG. I think their offices are located up on Mullholland too, so that would fit the So Cal profile. The MCS is definitely a thirstly little SoB...which makes you wonder why if it burns that much gas, it isn't quicker.

MINI-USA's website has an asterix next to the fuel efficiency specs:

Fuel Efficiency, city/highway 24/33mpg* (premium unleaded)

Scroll down and it says

* Preliminary data. EPA-estimated figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage may vary, depending on speed, weather and trip length; actual highway mileage will most likely be lower.



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>>A Hummer getting 15mpg is pretty good for a Hummer :grin:

Really. My full-size van gets about 15mpg on the highway... going downhill... with a tailwind...

15mpg in a MINI definitely sounds wrong. :???: