Hey all, I've heard a lot about the awesome mileage some owners are getting out of their MINI's. Naturally, I began to wonder how fast most people drive on the highway, as that directly affects the mileage you can squeeze from your car. So tell me, how fast do YOU drive on the highway? And does the mileage get a lot worse the faster you get or only moderately?

 

Fast enough to get this thread locked if I stated it.

I get 30+ mpg too with the AC on 100% of the time.

 

I rarely if ever exceed the speed limit because 1) there are enough crazy people out there, I don't want to be one of them and give MINIs a bad name, 2) we have a large contingent of highly-trained law enforcement professionals who apparently love to call out the afore mentioned crazy people, and 3) the whole fuel-efficiency thing is a kinda fascinating side of my Cooper's personality which I like exploring.

Besides....the stories of loved one's killed or injured by irresponsible driving are getting pretty wearisome. I'm not contributing to that madness.

 

I definitely don't advocate reckless driving, but, in my opinion, there's a difference between driving fast and driving recklessly. But I see your point gokartride, some drivers just amaze me with their stupidity.

I usually go between 70-80 MPH on the highway, and I usually don't have the AC on; I average 31.7 MPG with 65% City/35% Highway driving.

 

I drive very conservatively on my commute. I get about 30 mpg. When I'm cruising across the country I drive with the fast trucks. My mileage drops to my in town mileage level of about 27 mpg. In the desert sometimes I drive as if I'm the only car on the road. I've had my computer instantaneous MPG down into the teens while cruising (I don't think there is a MPG rule on this forum!). My car is a 2005 Cabrio S.

 

You are right, it probably depends on context to some degree. Around here anyone driving fast is generally being a nuisance, basically because of congestion. I'm shocked to hear some of the normal highway speeds in different parts of the country...it's not that way where I live (although I hear a few miles north things get a bit more crazy).

 

I usually drive fast enough to get me where I am going on time.

 

40+45 (+some bits of loose change) not more than 30+60
Thanks Passport radar
Plus I average 30 to 33 MPG with no A/C no need of that for me.

 

+1, and yes I consider sustained driving at 100mph on the average freeway to be reckless. I do, however, consider most speed limits to be unnecessarily low.

 

I always drive no faster than the posted speed limit, officer.

Let's just say that I could probably be getting a little better freeway mileage.

 

I never gamble on exceeding speed limit by more than 5 to 10 mph.

 

In Texas cops are so leniant especially on I-10 and some parts of I-37, plus I'm no where near wreckless I have my phone off, no drinks, no loud music, and hands at 10 and 2.

 

I'm getting right around 30MPG on average. seems to fluctuate +/- .4 MPG depending on the day.

I would rather not say how fast I drive as risk of getting the thread locked or worse, attracting the fire of others who strongy disaprove of such behavior. I could say that I carefully choose the "time and place" to excercise my thrill seeking... but that would just be percieved by some as an attempt to rationalizing my bad behavior.

That said, the MINI, particularly the R56S, seems to be a car that begs to be flogged. It handles incredibly well, feels so stable and composed at speed and generally "feels" much slower than the speed you're actually travelling... it'll suck you in. Be careful.

 

I am always amazed to see how driving fast here is equated with driving dangerously.

I grew up in Germany and drove a zillion times with no speed limit (which is legal) - if a car is being made to drive 130mpg, going 100mph on a clear and empty road in sixth gear is fuel efficient and safe as long it is legal.

You can go reckless, dangerous and stupid at 55mph if traffic does not allow it and if you change from 30mph to 70mph constantly you will probably burn more fuel than a consistent 100mph due to breaking and accelerating.

Having said this, my average speed on trips on the highway at legal 75mph is both faster and more fuel efficient than driving on the Autobahn in Germany ...

 

Yeah, American "safety" zealots are stuck on the "speed kills!" thing, and it's really annoying. IDIOCY KILLS, and said idiot is travelling faster, then he or she is more likely to be killed. But if speed itself killed, race car drivers would be spontaneously combusting left and right. Last I checked, they're not.

 

Well, first things first, the roads in the USA are not designed for speed so this limits the speed right there.

Here in Germany (my current work location), the speed limit varies but there are some open speed zones. For instance, me driving to Regensburg from Weiden, I will travel about 110 MPH (very legal). I get about 25 MPG with current mods and driving speeds. I don't think that this is too bad for a modded car and my driving style. If I stay off the gas, I could probably get that number up close to 30.

 

I go with the flow of traffic and don't speed on the freeways.. they're straight and boring anyway...but I do enjoy spirited onramp rides...

 

I love on ramps especially when they're metered and you have to stop at the red light and once it's green mash it to the floor and get up to speed

 

I definitely dont drive conservatively, cause on a tank i barely make 300 miles. My other car is a Porsche so, Im used to driving hard and attracting attention

 

Which Porsche a 996 or 997, the first car I ever drove was a 996 turbo (my dads) that was brutal and fierce I loved driving it especially when he wouldn't take it to work and I'd take it to school but it had to go

 

I know exactly what you mean. My old car was/is a 1993 Honda Prelude. Once you hit 80 MPH, the wind noise will inevitably drown out even the loudest music. In the MINI, I feel as if I'm going 50 when I am actually going 75-80. Kudos to MINI for designing a car that makes you feel so in tune with the road, yet also makes you feel like your in a luxury car.

 

Two weeks ago, I was driving on the autobahn, hauling *** on a nice, wide open stretch.

And watchign the distance-left reading on the OBC plummet.

I let off the gas, and worked to find the sweet spot where mileage climbed the most.

6th gear, 4000 rpm. Perfect. Between 90 and 95, but hey, I got great mileage.

So, if there is an autobahn near you, give it a try. If not, well....

 

I haven't yet taken my 07 MC out for a long freeway cruise. I do mixed driving around town and get 38-39 mpg measured at the pump. I pretty much go the speed limit around the town freeway, which oddly, is 65 or 70.

 

Oh I agree...on-ramps are the one place where feel free to open it up!!! Of course, I then slow down to merge with freeway traffic.

 

I couldn't agree with you more!