Not sure if this has been posted. New EPA mpg figures .............. corrected downward to reflect the real world:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calcu...2007&make=MINI

JohnG

 

Same test - They just pressed down the Sport button this time (jk)

 

Another way of looking at it:

For the '06 MCS it says: new 22 .. 24 .. 29 --- old 25 .. 27 .. 32 a 12.5% drop.

For the '07 MCS it says: new 25 .. 28 .. 32 --- old 29 .. 32 .. 36 a 14.3% drop.

With the new numbers, the 07 MCS has 16.6% better mileage than the 06 MCS

With the old numbers, the 07 MCS has 18.5% better mileage than the 06 MCS

I'll run the MC numbers later.

 

The revised estimates are definitely more realistic. I drive mostly highway in a 2003 V8 4Runner (NOT FOR LONG!) and get about 17 MPG. 19 on a good all-highway run. The revised estimates are 15/16/18 vs the old estimates of 16/18/20, so for that car, the way I drive it, it's somewhere inbetween.

My wife's 2003 R50, she seems to average 25 MPG mostly city, the revised estimates are 22/25/29 and the old ones were 25/28/32.

Going through other cars I've owned, the new estimates look much more realistic.

I've always expected to get city mileage combined off the old estimates, and that's generally held up.worked out. So I expect to get around 29 MPG in my MCS. Which is now just about 16 hours away.

 

The R53 Cooper (non-s manual) went from 28/36 to 24/33, a drop of 11%. Interesting as I have an average lifetime (30,000miles mixed driving) MPG of about 33 mpg. I guess I went from where I should be (31mpg combined) to way over where I should be (28mpg combined).

 

My 01 Z28 with a 5.7L engine is "rated" at 16-19-24 mpg's. I typically get 21 MPG 'combined' which is biased about 2/3 hiway and 1/3 stop-go.

Based on that comparison it looks like these are fairly accurate #'s from the EPA.

JohnG

 

The tests are being applied to 2008 models not 2007 models.
If I read this site correctly these "estimates" are a result of using a calculator to subtract a set percentage from the cuurent MPG figures.
If I read correctly the 2007 MINI or other cars for that matter were not physically tested to come up with the new "estimates" instead they used what looks like a simple calculator.
Look at the last bullet on the page linked below (Convert old MPG estimates to new estimate.)
They even give a handy calculator so you can create your own estmates just like the government. Boy if this is what they are doing then here is another wonder use of our tax dollars at work.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml

 

Well, now they seem unrealistic in the other direction. To only get 33 mpg on the highway in a 5sp R50 MC (which is what you mean... R53 is MCS), you've got to be going at least 80 mph, and/or driving very inefficiently, lots of accelerating and decelerating. If I keep my average speed to fairly constant 65 mph, I get 38 to 40 easy.

24 in the city seems roughly right, though.

Also, I believe the rating on the MC is 28/37, not 28/36. Unless it's changed since '05.

 

Check my post 2 up. If I'm right all these figures are estimated "estimates" and I might add a total joke.