The 33 i hit was doing strictly 65 and thats the first time ever i got that high. I usually never get above 26

 

I wonder if skipping gears and just ploping them into place would be good or bad for mileage, like minimal engine rev and light pedal.

boring as hell, but from the test drives (IWANTMYCARDAMNIT), i can tell that it has nice (MCS) torque to keep it afloat.

 

From what i understand, the supercharger is always on, always spinning with the engine (engine powering it). Where as a turbo (coming '07), is at the back end of the engine management system (exhaust), so it can be more efficient. (Probably why BMW have switched to the turbo charger).
Im willing to bet that the new turbo MCS's will have much better fuel milage than the superchargers.

Indy, Formula 1 and other track cars use turbos for their instant power through the gears while in motion. Where as dragsters and other zero to whatever (off the line) vehicles use superchargers to get that 'always on' instant power off the start...(superchargers dont have that turbo lag).
As far as i know, new turbos have little to know turbo lag anymore anway...

Well, thats my 2 cents

 

Ah... makes sense. super is always on, cant run lean, unless you ahve a way to bleed the pressure/air quantity. Do i have the right idea?

 

There are many 1/4 mile race cars that use turbo/s There are cars that have as many as 4. Under the hood looks like the instruments in the Blue Man Group. Superchargers or blowers as they are called on race cars have been around forever in racing and the turbo is newer. The supercharger works well with carburetors and this is what race cars run. You won't see a top fuel funnycar with an EFI any time soon. The turbo works well with EFI cars so that is why it is more common now.

 

Yeah, I miss carburetors. That is interesting that EFI isnt used! Carbs work well and arent a gimic like EFI is. I know many will want to toss tomatoes at me for that, but I never have gotten in v8 's i have played with more power out of a EFI system than I have a carburetor. Also, the gas consumption can be altered at will. Not something people would guess.

 

F1 doesn't use turbos...the cars are naturally aspirated...forced induction is illegal.

I can get 30 - 31 on my '05 MCS on the highway...the highest I ever got was 32.9 but that was when the bypass valve went and I had to short shift to my dealer 90 miles from my house. I told them I never wanted to get that kind of mileage again as short shifting wasn't fun.

 

Your right, F1 is naturally aspirated. I ment track cars in general (the principal behind it) :D

Ill probably be upgraded to the new turbo MCS from my MC in a couple years time...I love that turbo hiss sound!!

 

hey zman,

I thought I was crazy when I saw that I too was getting 46 mpg. On a whim I tested it by driving exactly 60mph on my 15 inch wheels, and sure nuff I was getting the same thing. I just purchased my 06 MC 3 weeks ago and this is the best investment I ever made.

 

Hey folks,

Here's another report from the opposite end of the Mini spectrum--an '06 JCW MCS.

I did another cruise-control assisted test while driving on the interstate at 74 mph and it's fair to say that the on board computer tells me that I was getting 29-30 mpg. There is a construction zone enroute where I slowed down to 60 mph and I definately saw the average climbing.

I will make the same trip this weekend. When I get to the 60 mph zone, I'll reset the computer and see what the average looks like with constant 60 mph. JCW might get up to 34? We'll see.

Any way you look at it, 42-46 mpg in an MC is awesome, but my love for throttle response is greater than being practical, though. Hey, maybe this is a good enough reason to buy a second Mini?

originally posted by mkwabena75I'm not sure about being the best investment (for me), but I would certainly add that my '06 JCW MCS most enjoyable car I have ever owned.

And one more thought... Granted, there probably aren't too many throttle junkies reading this thread, but if so, and you are wondering how someone with a JCW could sit back and putter along with cruise control, might I suggest bringing along a good collection of CD's and cranking up the HK sound system?

Minis, simply put, are AWESOME!
(sorry for off topic rambling)

 

I just ordered last sunday a MCS with LSD/DSC and a few pretty type options... im all about guts yet i dont want to spend money on Arabs just to get to the grocery store or to motor at 5 am from a club at 60mph.

 

We have an 04 MCS 6 speed with climate control, OBC, Nav and HK sound. Purchased used and have driven for 2 mos in WI. Use cruise a lot cause I talk on the phone (with a headset) for work. Overall average MPG is 36.6 per the OBC. I have reached 42.5 MPG on day trips to IN where 98% of the drive was at freeway speed. OBC showed average speed of 69.0 mph. If ZMAN's information on the manual check of MPG (gas consumed to miles driven per the Odometer) is correct (and I am not suggesting it isn't) then my 42.5 MPG may actually have been higher.

 

Not quite true. Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars do use fuel injection, but it's of the mechanical variety. And EFI has been making in-roads into drag-racing. Tuners are discovering it is much easier and faster to tune a car for current conditions with EFI and a computer than by fiddling around with jets in a carburetor. A lot of w/e warrior racers are starting to use it. Especially amoung the younger crowd who are not as afraid of computers.

46 mpg in a Cooper is awesome! I think we average in the upper 20's/low 30's with an '03 MCS (w/ ProMINI intake and a 15% pulley).

 

i don't plan on doing it all the time - as i think the 16 inch wheels look much better and most importantly hold the the corners much better. they are almost done installing the the 5th of 5 roundabouts in our neighborhood. what a blast to blow through them..!

the 15s do give the car a bit of friendlier look...

i was mostly curious to see how well the 15s could do. i am curious as to what mpg i would get cruising at a boring 65 mph, instead of 70mph, on the next trip..

as stated before, i am using tank to tank fillups at the same pump to try to reduce some variability.

 

Drove to a MINI club event from Atlanta to Temple, Georgia on the 4th of July and my on-board computer calculated my mpg at 54.5!!
I was amazed. Drove on the Interstate at a steady 70 mph just to see how high of a mpg I could get at the legal speed limit.
Driving an '03 MCS, Alta CAI & 15% pulley, Detroit-tuned BPV, 17" Sport Edition E1's with Pirelli's.
It was fun to push the mpg to the highest possible amount, but it is more fun cruising at different speeds and passing the sleepers... especially with my "Move Over!" sticker on the front of the little sunroof deflector!!!!