[Janos]

I don't think this was posted elsewhere and if it was mod you can delete the thread.

Source: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

 

[Janos]

I'm not agreeing one way or the other with their estimates however the small sampling of users for each tend to support the mileage.

From my own use I have averaged 20 city. And although my last highway mileage was just over 24 it was as high as 28 when I drove, shall we say more responsibly.

 

[Janos]

.... unfortunately no one cares. The gov't is just a bunch of talking heads and the automakers are just a bunch of smoke blowers who'd rather r and d the glitz. That's why the mileage has been the same and in some case worse for the past 30 years. An article in the WSJ touched on that today. Over all these years they can make a car that parks itself but not a markedly more efficient engine.

All I can say about the ratings is that it's a reference point for buyers. Like any other rating or survey don't expect it to be gospel.

 

[Janos]

And I do not think that their new EPA standard is based on reviews.

The figures themselves are not based on "reviews" I was referring to the bottom # (MPG Estimates from Drivers Like You) on the chart that I believe is submitted by users.

 

[Janos]

Those new number are even sillier than the old ones.I have never gotten worse than 25 MPG,no matter how hard i drove my 06 Rav,and consistantly get 27 to 28 MPG all round daily driving.They had better stop useing mindless Harry leadfoot as their standard of driver efficiency.

Jimbow......... I believe you're the exception not the rule. So the figures would be more representative of actual drivers.

** note - I didn't say accurate.

 

[Janos]

Well, you may be right,but that dosen't speak well of todays drivers in a day when we are trapped in an oil addiction fed by murderous fanatics.I'm not doing anything special and it dosen't take much training to drive efficiently,considering whats in the balance,it might be worth a few simple modifications in driving habits.Maybe not.

Just remember there's the school of thought that if you stop paying these murderous fanatics (who in many cases sell oil as a primary source of income), all you'll have is poor, desperate, murderous fanatics.

And I'm not ready to speak on everyone of today's drivers driving habits, because when the day comes when every destructive guilty pleasure has been eliminated from life, that'll be when you tell someone not to punch the pedal. Hmmm won't things be boring.

Why is every issue balanced on the backs of the middle class? The poor don't buy gas, the rich can afford it all and don't much care and the gov't gives you mph ratings. So is it left to the stiff paying the freight, to not enjoy his V8 or V6 or even 4cyl?

Not saying I agree or don't with you. Devils advocate. :twisted:

 

[Janos]

And I do not think that their new EPA standard is based on reviews.

The figures themselves are not based on "reviews" I was referring to the bottom # (MPG Estimates from Drivers Like You) on the chart that I believe is submitted by users.

Yes, indeed. But either is the user data correct (especially if it is a small number of submissions) when taken into consideration.

Also we should never forget that the EPA numbers listed are the best expected, they never list the lower end.....

And yes, I went under 17 mpg a few times in city with my Rav4. I am still fine with it. Although I love the rumble of good American V8s, I cannot afford a second car payment spent on gas.....

agreed. mph ratings are just a reference. stop me from buying a jeep a couple of times. 15/19 too damn low.

 

[Janos]

Oh man,you must not paying be attention to near future car technology.In the not too distant future production electric cars that develop hundreds of horsepower,and develop all that power and torque...Instantly,will assure that punching the pedal will continue to thrill enthusiasts for generations to come.Right now the internal combustion is pretty much the living dead whos days are numbered,for many reasons,most concerning health,safety and security of humans.

I really hope you're not holding your breath...lol

So it seems we will be all held hostage to the thieving electric companies because of the new demand on electric and the lack of capacity to generate it and the now poor, desperate, murderous fanatics. Sounds like a good deal. :thumbs_up:

 

[Janos]

Does anyone know what the test conditions are?

I haven't fully read it but maybe they're here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml

 

[Janos]

Just look at the average speed row......

And your point is..................?

 

[Janos]

everything is probably simulated in a air conditioned lab on a dyno............what a joke....... :roll: .........realistic my @$$........... :x

And why is it a joke? Exactly what mileage do you expect from and "estimate"?

 

[Janos]

its a joke because its not realisatic........its my opinion!!!!!!!........and im not getting in another pissin match w/ you over something stupid........... :roll:

Not looking for a pissing match. Newbies come to the forum or others just trying to learn something. It's fine you give your opinion but most readers would just out of curiosity would like to know why.

I've actually measured my two vehicles against their ratings and found them to be fairly close for an "estimate". I don't understand why it's a joke that's all.
:? :?:

I just took a trip with my pontiac and have found that their new ratings are very accurate per the cars mpg display. The ratings are 17 - 28. I got as high as 30 without traffic but as soon as traffic increased it dropped and stayed at 28.4. My pure city driving has always been 17 - 18.

 

[Janos]

I see your point but how to you propose that buyers get an "estimate" on mileage for comparison.

While vehicles aren't tested on the road and instead in lab, they're still tested in the same environment and under the same conditions. Therefore the mpg comparison is based on the same external conditions. So whether they are inaccurate or not, they in theory should all be inaccurate to the same percentage. This in turn provides a basis for comparison.

You've discovered and pointed out that your wife drives very responsibly and you drive with a lead foot. This is in reality irrelevant to judging the mpg on a vehicle due to the fact that your drivings styles are not average and would impact any car the same. responsible = better mileage and lead foot = poorer mileage. Jimbow gets fantastic mileage. I couldn't get that good of mileage even if I cut hole in the floor and pulled a fred flintstone.

The sticker clearly indicates in the lower left hand corner what drivers can expect in terms of mileage.

Any experiment (epa or nhtsa) tries to eliminate as many factors as possible initially to form a baseline. Then other factors are added as necessary to determine what effect and to what extent they have. To test every vehicle to the extent of a perfect real life condition would not only be cost prohibitive but also impractical. The goal is a estimate basline for comparison shopping.

 

[Janos]

I guess I don't have that much difficulty in using their "estimates" as a comparison tool.

RAVXD you're one tough cookie.... Keep rallying against the "establishment". :thumbs_up:

 

[Janos]

I don't know what 's going on but i'm at 1000 mile mark in a v6 awd , mostly city driving, no lead foot.and the way i figure it i'm getting 17 mpg. now granted the engine is not broken in yet but jeez, this sucks. i just hope mpg gets a whole lot better soon

Let it break in, it'll come up.