I have an 07 non S 5 speed no modifications and average between 550 and 650 per tank of gas. I drive 35 miles highway going to work, average speed of 75, and 45 miles on country roads on the way home, average speed of 50, makes for a more enjoyable drive with the top down. I have been very happy with the results, much better than I expected and way better than my truck 12mpg there.

 

On my 08 MCSC I'm actually pleasantly surprised by the mpg. It's rated at 21/29 and on my most recent highway trip, I average 28.5. I consider that to be outstanding, given how close it is to the advertised rate.

For me to expect anything better than advertised would just be silly. In daily driving, I get about 25.5, which is better than the Audi TT convertible I had previously, so I'm happy with that as well.

HTH,
Ivan

 

I haven't read all the pages, but my car was JCW from the dealer and flog the thing every day. My combined MPG from the OBC was 22 for the first 22K, which matches my calculated at the pump. On the freeway I can easily get over 30mpg with some speed restraint(65-70). Still gets 25mpg at 80(on private roads of course). I think this has been great for as hard as I am on the car and couldn't hope for any more.

 

I'm surprised. I average 25mpg in my Boxster and I like nothing better than some hard driving. If I cruise on the highway I can get 30-33mpg.

 

In my MCC, I average 28mpg in mixed highway/city driving (80-20). It's of course the 5sp manual tranny. According to the 2008 epa numbers (which imo are very close to realistic, much more so than the old numbers) the MCC should be getting 23 city/32 hwy, 26 combined (50-50). So, the 28mpg number I'm getting is pretty much in line with the specs. I really wish though they allowed the 6sp on the MCC; according to an MCS I drove for a while, there was a 2mpg increase between using 5th and 6th gear on the highway. That would really help the non S attain at least a respectable highway fuel efficiency.

 

We averaged 28.7 mpg on a round-trip (Minneapolis to Denver and back) ~ at 84 MPH across Nebraska (almost half the overall mileage in Neb) and 72 MPH overall average for the trip. We are VERY HAPPY with that - and will be doing it again in 5 weeks! Enjoyed every minute of the 15 hours each-way! (Yeah MINI! ...and yeah H-K sound system )

 

I have a 7 mile commute one way, city driving. I'm averaging 25mpg. It's not stellar, but it's better than the 21mpg I was getting in my previous Subie. When I take a decent highway trip down the shore, I easily hit 34mpg when I strictly go 65mph.

 

Hey, you passed right through my neck of the woods! Gotta love 75mph speed limits.

Btw, the last two tankfuls of gas I managed 30mpg and 29mpg. I don't know if that's a fluke or not, but I have been driving mostly with the top down during those times. I wonder if the cabrio has better aerodynamics with the top down than up.

 

I get 33-36 mpg in 50-50 mix of freeway and urban/suburban. My freeway speeds are typically 75ish. Around town I am fairly light on the pedal (I can't run over the car ahead me anyway). Recently, I tried an experiment with my 1998 Odyssey Minivan (four banger) while doing family driving around the SF Bay Area. On the freeway, I set the cruise control at 60mph. I got 28 mpg in 30% city/70% freeway. The next time I did the same duty but set the cruise at 75 (the prevailing flow of traffic) and got 24 mpg. I presume that if I did the same in the mini I would get 15% better mileage as well.

Political comment - If people or the government wanted to reduce fuel consumption, they would bring back the double nickel or even "60" as the speed limit. I would not expect this to happen until gas hits $7 to $8 per gallon (may be next year at the rate prices are going up).

 

Hmmm, not sure I'd endorse government mandated "nanny" laws like the double nickel. I do agree there is a mileage benefit from going slower on some vehicles (notably suv's, minivans and yes, the mini also), but in general, the more aerodynamic a car design gets, the less the effect of speed on mileage. I would bet that the Prius suffers much less mileage drop between say 55mph and 75mph.

From a transportation industry standpoint, dropping the mileage back down would be an economical disaster. Truck drivers are already strapped between driving slower and paying less for gas and driving the limit and hauling more product per day. Even at today's ruinous diesel prices they still do better going faster than slower. Forcing them to slow down would probably put a good portion of them out of business, and causing consumer goods prices to rise.

Best thing I would say is inform everyone about the effect of speed on mileage and let them make their own informed decisions about how fast to drive. After all, they pay the ultimate penalty at the gas pump.

 

I have no idea if this works, given that I never average below 90mph in Blimey.

 

Lol Paul, you must've gotten your license in Nebraska... or Florida.

Yeah, I could save some gas money if I slowed down, but then it wouldn't be as much fun!

 

I can see people slowing down going to work now.
But it's all according on how you drive and when you want to get there. Going to work - 75-80mph? Why? Are you really that excited to get there or are you running that late and trying to make up 2 minutes? I just want to ask people, 90 miles/hr for 10 miles gets you there how much faster and puts everyone in danger around you that are going 70-75.
I'm not getting the mpg that I do in my Toyota Celica GT at 36 but the shear pleasure of driving Winnie makes up for the 4-6 mpg difference.

 

True, 90 vs. 75mph for 10 miles = less than 2 minutes.

But 90 vs. 75 for 400 miles = almost an hour...

And overtaking other traffic 90 vs. 75mph is no more dangerous than overtaking other traffic 70 vs. 55 mph...

And someone going 120 on the open road endangers no one but the driver (and their passengers, if any)...

There are CERTAINLY drivers in this (and every) country that drive both too fast for conditions and dangerously. But it's also possible to drive quite fast, AND safely. Limit your speed differential when overtaking other traffic. Don't weave or make erratic moves. Anticipate the stupid, erratic moves of others. Drive assuming no one else sees you, not assuming that they're gonna politely get out of your way. Don't out-drive your sight distance, or your braking distance. Stay off the cell phone.

I don't think it's anyone's business but my own how fast I go on an open, controlled access highway. Nor is it their business how much gasoline, or beef, or ammo, or toilet paper I choose to buy.

Residential neighborhood, totally different situation. I'm glad my neighborhood has a 20mph speed limit.

 

And all of that is lost when the wife/companion/friend has to pit stop every hour to either fill or unload her tank.
And the point there would be what ? Morons drive at every level of traffic speed? All I was trying to say was that in traffic don't think that it is your mission in live to overtake every other car on the road. Someone, not paying attention that you have a NASCAR tag on your car, and thinking you are Richard Petty incarnet, will pull in front of you without warning of a blinker or looking over thier sholder to see you persueing your dream to die early or kill them.
My previous point exactly which was self imposed speed limit. IF you want to go fast (MONTANA open flat roads, Dragon with no one else on it, Pikes Peek road race ((I was there last year, that's nuts)) and conditions are right, DO IT.
And quit trying to text all of your former freinds (cause you will be dead) telling them how you can do two things at one time and stay in control of your car.

Totally agree!
Same here and we still had to put in 10' wide raised brick speed bumps to slow the kids down.
Believe me Blimey, I'm all in favor of speed and drifting in the corners, but not in my driveway.

 

I just bought a mini s convert with factory JCW---anyone have JCW and can share the mileage they are getting-just wonder what to expect!

 

I'm on my third tank at about 500mi. Of course, I've got the JCW and a right foot made of depleted uranium.

 

I think a lot of low mileage would have to do with if your top is down or up. When the top is down, there is an awful amount of drag which is going to affect your mpg. Recently a study found that open windows are much worse for mpg than using your AC, so imagine what that would mean if you have your top down all the time

 

By MINI Law you have to to at least 90% top down driving!

 

I am getting about 24 MPG right now...all city driving and a heavy right foot.

 

is that 24mpg with a JCW? i am afraid i have a heavy food so you might be a good example. thanks

 

I drive 65 miles daily to work round trip and was getting 32 mpg. I have slowed a bit and am getting 35-37 mpg. Mostly all on back roads and in manly 5-7 mile stretches. I did drive a MCS 3 days while mine was in the shop for a top wiring issue and got 23 mpg on the same route.

 

I have had my mni since October '07 and my average mpg is 29.7-32. I restart the average mpg counter each time i fill up. I drive in city and highway conditions (a lot of hills), but still maintain good gas mileage.

 

That's about the same as I get with my 07 R52

 

Nope. It has intake/exhaust, so the ECU may be dumping more gas to compensate for the higher AFRs at lower RPMs. I think Im going to get an ECU reflash like GIAC or something to lean it out hopefully...