Gas mileage

[TimStevens]

Ok... so the WRX gets crummy gas mileage, we all know that. Throw in 25% more displacement and, I'm presuming, more boost, and are we going to be looking at high teens for highway mileage, and 12's for city driving? As it is I get around 23-25 in normal driving, and i might get 30 in solid highway driving.

I know, probably nobody cares, but I think this is a pretty important factor in a new car.

-tim

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[AndyWRXWG]

good point, but I think the Varable Valve Timing might help that out a bit. And it said something to the effect that this car has a lot better low end performance, which is IMOP what caused some of the milage issues on our cars.

[Skyline]

But it's got AVCS! Look what VTEC/VVTL-i does for gas mileage.

I predict 31/26 gas mileage!


















not

[Benjamin Tang]

it does have 6 gears... maybe the ratios and the overdrive 6th will help things out?

[gills]

Ha, skyline is very correct. VTEC/VVTL-i destroys a cars gas mileage in cars that have it for performance reasons(not civics or camry's). When i engage VTEC often in my prelude my gas mileage almost gets as *****ty as a Ferrari.

[Skyline]

Well, it is true that if you drive a variable valve timing car like a Grandma, you will improve your gas mileage greatly.

So I suppose if you keep the RPMs under 2000, it'll have good gas mileage. You'll sure be shifting a lot!

[driggity]

Originally posted by gills
Ha, skyline is very correct. VTEC/VVTL-i destroys a cars gas mileage in cars that have it for performance reasons(not civics or camry's). When i engage VTEC often in my prelude my gas mileage almost gets as *****ty as a Ferrari.

If by "engage VTEC" you mean increase the RPM then of course you're going to get worse gas mileage. The same thing would happen if you didn't have VTEC.

As for the 6 speed. Who knows what that will do. I believe the Type RA 6-Speed has the gears so closely spaced that 6th is actually lower than the WRX's 5th. In theory the extra displacement could help out by allowing you to stay out of boost more than with the WRX. Unless you do everything at WOT.

[gills]

Originally posted by driggity


If by "engage VTEC" you mean increase the RPM then of course you're going to get worse gas mileage. The same thing would happen if you didn't have VTEC.

It won't be as bad in a car with one cam profile. Sure reving your motor gives you bad gas mileage but the more aggressive VTEC cam lobe gives you even worse.

[dmitrik4]

Originally posted by gills
Ha, skyline is very correct. VTEC/VVTL-i destroys a cars gas mileage in cars that have it for performance reasons(not civics or camry's). When i engage VTEC often in my prelude my gas mileage almost gets as *****ty as a Ferrari.

but who spends a lot of time in that range? no one. that's the whole concept behind VTEC...good economy and (yes) decent torque during normal driving, lotsa power only when you need it.

in my 200hp RSX-S, i could go thru a 1/4 tank in one day of autocrossing (6-7 runs)...almost entirely spent above 6k.

but i got 30+ mpg (usu. about 32) in highway driving and a steady 26 in fairly aggressive city driving. NO complaints there.

(as a comparison, my 130hp Protege has yet to top 30 mpg on the highway and 25 in gentle city driving...not taking it over 4k. but at least it takes regular gas as opposed to premium.)

[ANZAC_1915]

I think it fair to say the STi is not for the gas frugal.

[meebs]

Originally posted by Glenn Wallace
I think it fair to say the STi is not for the gas frugal.

Agreed... I think a lot of people have forgotten what exactly the intent is of this car.

[Skyline]

Originally posted by meebs


Agreed... I think a lot of people have forgotten what exactly the intent is of this car.

Not at all. It's an interesting question regardless of the "intent".

[jk147]

Get an civic dx if you want good gas mileage?

[tolnep]

Here's what you dont know yet... final drive, compression ratio, turbo size actual gearing of the 6 speed.. What I find interesting is that the 2.5 puts it out of the rally specs (I think). I bet its designed for the US market for what the US market thinks it wants. I'm guessing that the compression ratio, final drive and gearing make for a car with lots of on-demand torque and decent gas milage as long as you drive it without 'gusto'. I expect it to be a little less raw edged than what people are thinking currently. Until the physical specs come out we wont know (weight, CR, turbo, boost, gearing, final drive..). If it has the same base line as the WRX it will be awesom. Think, its fairly easy to mod a WRX from 227 to 300. Apply the same ratio and the STI goes to 396. If they tighten it up with a higher compression ratio and high final drive it may be a little less appealing at the price. Expect about 35,000 out the door for the 1st year or so. This is car, tax, tag title etc. Maybe a tad more the first 6 months...Unless the economy is still in the doldroms this summer. Then you may be able to pick one up below MSRP if you just play vulture.

[gills]

Originally posted by dmitrik4


but who spends a lot of time in that range? no one. that's the whole concept behind VTEC...good economy and (yes) decent torque during normal driving, lotsa power only when you need it.

in my 200hp RSX-S, i could go thru a 1/4 tank in one day of autocrossing (6-7 runs)...almost entirely spent above 6k.

but i got 30+ mpg (usu. about 32) in highway driving and a steady 26 in fairly aggressive city driving. NO complaints there.

(as a comparison, my 130hp Protege has yet to top 30 mpg on the highway and 25 in gentle city driving...not taking it over 4k. but at least it takes regular gas as opposed to premium.)

Your forgetting the fact that your RSX has i-VTEC and my prelude doesn't. The torque curve is much smoother and comes in earlier due to the intelligent timing. I need to rev more to get more power from my H22A.

[SUBE555]

I don't think it will get less than 18/24 for city/highway. It may perhaps hit 20 city and as high as 25 or 26 highway if you barely touch the 'happy' pedal. As tolnep stated, there are a lot of factors who don't know much about yet.

[SUBE555]

I looked up to see what the JDM-spec STi with EJ20 & Twin Scroll is producing for average fuel economy (mixed city/highway driving) and they average about 24.5mpg and their 250ps WRX model averages about 27.75mpg using the same measurement. I doubt we'll lose any more than 1 mpg, if that to the JDM-spec STi. Remember, we probably are running a little less boost too. I guess we'll all find out on saturday.

[TimStevens]

Originally posted by meebs
Agreed... I think a lot of people have forgotten what exactly the intent is of this car.

I know it's a sports car, and really wasn't designed to be frugal. But, I personally would have a hard time shunning SUVs if I were driving around an STi that made ~15 mpg.

-tim

[dmitrik4]

Originally posted by gills


Your forgetting the fact that your RSX has i-VTEC and my prelude doesn't. The torque curve is much smoother and comes in earlier due to the intelligent timing. I need to rev more to get more power from my H22A.

good point.

[mtb_dude]

Originally posted by TimStevens


I know it's a sports car, and really wasn't designed to be frugal. But, I personally would have a hard time shunning SUVs if I were driving around an STi that made ~15 mpg.

-tim

And as a daily driver, so true. The reason we hate SUVs is because people use them like grocery getters instead of off road utility vehicles getting 7-16 mpg. Now you have Joe Racer driving his STi everyday instead of privateering it for race or rally getting 15 mpg. Just slightly hypocritical. Still no rollovers or danger of causing major damage to non HUGE vehicles though.

[TimStevens]

Originally posted by mtb_dude
Still no rollovers or danger of causing major damage to non HUGE vehicles though.

Absolutely true, but if the WRX is any indication, we'll be seeing "invincible drivers" in STi's flying off of roads into who knows what...

[pio!pio!]

Originally posted by TimStevens


Absolutely true, but if the WRX is any indication, we'll be seeing "invincible drivers" in STi's flying off of roads into who knows what...

into ice

[TimStevens]

[allythom]

At least the gas will be being used for a good and worthy purpose: absolutely flying down back-roads, instead of lumbering to the local Safeways.

As for not causing damage to non-huge vehicles, The STi may be half the weight of an SUV, but in an accident it is quite likely to be travelling at much higher speeds.

Purely in terms of energy, a 3500lb STi (or any car) needs to be doing only 42mph to have the same destructive capability as a 7000lb SUV weighing doing 30 mph. Though at least this energy would be directed at a height regular sized vehicles are designed to try and absorb.

Remember your physics:
Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * mass * velocity^2.

As you can tell, I'm bored at work today

Cheers

Alun

[Benjamin Tang]

honestly people.... if u can afford this car, i'm pretty sure u can afford the gas! you would be more concerned about the stupid grin on your face