We are looking at replacing the wifes van, and the MPG of the "new" car is high on the list of importance. So I was hoping to get some real numbers on certain cars.
short list
RX8, mazdaspeed3, mazdaspeed6, WRX/STI, focus st (what other turbo sedan/hatchs are we forgetting?), hemi magnum, G8, E46 328i/323i,.....
She really just wants her SRT-4 back, but its near impossible to find one not hacked up/crazy money near us.
SWMBO has a 2007 Saab 93 wagon. 2.8 turbo v6, gets 20mpg combined with normal driving.
Actually we can get closer to 25mpg if I don't drive like a complete idiot (but what's the fun in that?)
https://www.fuelly.com/
fuelly.com is one of my go to sites when car shopping.
fuelly.com
ecomodder.com garage
Don't forget to adjust the nut behind the wheel.
If fuel mileage is a concern then take the WRX/STI off your list. Subaru's are notorious for mediocre fuel economy. I am getting about 17.5 mpg in town right now and in the summer I probably get in the low 20's in my 2002 WRX. The STi's are worse from what I have heard.
NGTD wrote: If fuel mileage is a concern then take the WRX/STI off your list. Subaru's are notorious for mediocre fuel economy. I am getting about 17.5 mpg in town right now and in the summer I probably get in the low 20's in my 2002 WRX. The STi's are worse from what I have heard.
I agree ... And also forget about the RX-8. As a matter of fact, almost none of the cars you mentioned deliver good mpgs.
By decent MPG, we are looking for at least mid 20s out of town. Her tweaked SRT would get low 30s on the highway. I've looked on fuely, but you never know if they are honest or if the cars are modded.
Turbo hot hatch you say ? And good mpg ? Golf TDI . Just a few mods will get you 400 pounds of torque . 
Manual transmission E46 should be able to get you to 30mpg in pure highway driving, maybe 25 combined, if everything's right.
scottdownsouth wrote: Turbo hot hatch you say ? And good mpg ? Golf TDI . Just a few mods will get you 400 pounds of torque .
And still about the same power as a 2.0. For the expense, if you hate shifting that much, just get a 1.8t with an automatic.
Supposedly RX-8s can get low 20s. My brother has only seen 18mpg from his. Good friend with a 2005 Legacy GT typically gets 22mpg mixed. The best I could muster all highway with it on a long drive was 26.7 and I was really trying. The speed3 with a tune should get upper 20's maybe very low 30's highway.
Fiesta 1.0L. 45mpg highway. 
Gen 3 prius with wheels, tint, suspension, sways, and debadge? Can be made into a driveable and decent looking hatch...
2.0dohc wrote: By decent MPG, we are looking for at least mid 20s out of town. Her tweaked SRT would get low 30s on the highway. I've looked on fuely, but you never know if they are honest or if the cars are modded.
A modded WRX will often get better mileage than a factory tune.
My WRX does much better on the highway then it does in town. In the summer, I have seen close to 30 mpg. This was on a trip where I stayed below 120 km/h (75 mph) and it was all highway. I am running a Cobb V1 on the Stage 1 map.
I got 27 mpg combined when my E36 328i 5 speed wasn't broken. It's hard to beat a Jetta TDI or Passat TDI for mpg.
25 to 28 in the X3 6 speed on the highway depending on fuel and how hard i push it. 19-20 in town
The TDI Golf is also fun to drive. Almost bought one, as we love hatchbacks. But we ended up with a Avenger R/T with the 3.6 liter. 0-60 in 6.2, fun as a srt4 on the street. 25 average around here, 32 on the highway.
My Neon ACR got 35 mpg from day one til the day she died.
That was bankable, combined city/highway/banzai mountain road driving.
Some data: E36 M3 = 32mpg or better * (easily over 27 combined on a regular basis, but ****) V8 Miata = 27+mpg * Pantera = 22mpg * Torino big block 4 speed drag pack = who cares?
I'm an old fart - 75 on the highway when I can stay awake. * No body wants to drive like that! We all want to drive like some coughhooncough grm nutcase. Admit it, when some ricer nutbag pulls up next to you on the interstate . . .do you not say "Oh, this will never do . . " ?????
Please be careful out there!
Stock 2005 WRX : 23MPG mixed driving. Premium gas, BTW
DavidinDurango wrote: Some data: E36 M3 = 32mpg or better * (easily over 27 combined on a regular basis, but **********) V8 Miata = 27+mpg * Pantera = 22mpg * Torino big block 4 speed drag pack = who cares? I'm an old fart - 75 on the highway when I can stay awake. * No body wants to drive like that! We all want to drive like some coughhooncough grm nutcase. Admit it, when some ricer nutbag pulls up next to you on the interstate . . .do you not say "Oh, this will never do . . " ????? Please be careful out there!
Are you really getting that much from the E36 M3? I'm getting 21, maybe, combined. Hwy 25 give or take at 70-80. It's a 95, so maybe they put the unicorn poo magic in the others, but I'm highly skeptical of that 27 combined figure. Never touched 30 on the highway even at 60.
NGTD wrote:2.0dohc wrote: By decent MPG, we are looking for at least mid 20s out of town. Her tweaked SRT would get low 30s on the highway. I've looked on fuely, but you never know if they are honest or if the cars are modded.A modded WRX will often get better mileage than a factory tune. My WRX does much better on the highway then it does in town. In the summer, I have seen close to 30 mpg. This was on a trip where I stayed below 120 km/h (75 mph) and it was all highway. I am running a Cobb V1 on the Stage 1 map.
I hate to say it, but my '02 WRX is that... I got 25 on a few tanks of pure hwy. Mostly mixed driving I'm pulling 21 generally. Sometimes below 20.
Teh E36 M3 wrote: Are you really getting that much from the E36 M3? I'm getting 21, maybe, combined. Hwy 25 give or take at 70-80.
On hwy drives, the ex's '97 M3 would get in the upper 20's without trying. Usually cruising at NJ flow-of-traffic speeds (75-80). Her local mileage was dismal, but that was mainly because her commute was maybe 5 miles at the time and the engine barely had time to warm up.
By comparison, her '03 MCS was only a few MPG better. Usually around 32 mpg hwy. The Tritec is surprisingly piggy for being a 1.6L engine. Even our non-supercharged Cooper never got about 37 mpg.
I average 17 in my RX8. The Best I have done is just over 20 all freeway.
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