Great Mileage a Figment of Imagination.

6550 Views 48 Replies 35 Participants Last post by Twilightzero, Sep 24, 2009

aEsop

Discussion Starter · Jul 26, 2009

HA! We were reading the best mileage thread and some of the claims are completely unbelieveable!
We have A LOT of unnecessary accessories on ours that certainly contributes to our poor mileage (19-20mpg) but when we didnt have it decked out with accessories we cant recall EVER GETTING OVER 22MPG.
Quite frankly we think that those people claiming upper 20's are either doing serious drugs or what we call Honda Syndrome.
We've noticed in past that Honda owners are extremely loyal but also have a mindset that their car is the best in the UNIVERSE and try to PROVE it frequently by outright lying! Whatever you bought or can afford is basicly the Best despite reason.
Just the other day we ran into a guy who has a custom license plate "NOTA SUV" on his element.
We of course inquired and he went into some longwinded story about cafe standards and his excellent mileage, Yada Yada Yada. We chatted about his other vehicles, several of which we own/owned and he refused to in ANY way admit their fuel or otherwise superiority over his element.
We confirmed our suspicion that he indeed suffered from Honda Syndrome when he maintained that the element was the best off road vehicle ever made and not only could go anywhere a Jeep Wrangler could but was actually FAR Superior offroad. Is there a looney bird smiley?

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MikeQBF

· #2 · Jul 26, 2009

HA! The reverse corollary here is "there are reports of great mileage and it all can't possibly be a conspiracy, so, clearly, I'm doing something wrong". I would respectfully suggest LFS, or "leadus footus syndrome". Plying the turnpike at 75+ and jackrabbit starts/stops is hell on mpg, especially in the E.

I regularly see 27-29 in ours these days even with 100K miles on it, and gnash my teeth when it drops to 25 because of prolonged freeway driving. Granted it's a six-speed manual and our favored routes are leisurely country two-lanes, but, still - it's possible.

Also, on teaching my wife to: 1) quit the hard braking at every stop sign, 2) not wind it out on every shift and 3) get to 5th or even 6th before 40 mph, she improved her running-around economy by 10-15%. It clearly is possible to teach an old dog new tricks (and good thing she doesn't read the forum!).

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rojogan

· #3 · Jul 26, 2009

It's not a figment of my imagination!

Well, I just had to pull out my gas mileage notebook to see what my mileage really is, and my mileage is pretty close to what I thought! I had a low of 21.33MPG(mostly in-town driving), with a high of 27.91MPG(mostly highway). I'm averging in the 24's, with more highway than city(Chelan is a small town. Don't have to drive very far to get anywhere!). That's still better than the EPA's average MPG for the E!

I drove a 4X4 Nissan Pickup for over 17 years and, except for ground clearance, the E does a pretty good job on back roads. I wouldn't want to take it off road, because of the ground clearance issue and no serious skid plates.

As far as "Honda syndrome" is concerned, I'm proud to be infected with it! No, the E isn't perfect and neither are Hondas. Car & Driver still thinks the E has the edge over other CUV's on the market and most auto critics think a lot about Hondas in general! I agree with them!

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IRV

· #4 · Jul 27, 2009

I started this Thread to give a realistic view of MPG....for me.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45970

I see my last post is a month old and about 5,000 miles behind. I'll update later this week. But on our recent 2300 mile trip I did have a tank that got me over 26 MPG. Flat Illinois roads at 55 MPH no a/c...best possible conditions.

With 450 fill ups over 4 1/2 years.....it's pretty accurate. Have I screwed up once or twice? Sure. One time the gas pump automatic turn off didn't work. Gas spilled all over. I gave myself the average MPG for that fill up. And at least twice I dead out forgot to write on the receipt the mileage, (Senior Moments.):lol: Had to work back wards. How many miles did I drive from the gas station?

But I'll stand by these results and they are not figments of my imagination.

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saramoniel

· #5 · Jul 27, 2009

My mileage ranges from 22 to 30

Much to our amazement, my husband and I got 29 mpg driving to New Mexico from CA in our 07 SE Honda E 4wd automatic. We were not using ac (it wasn't in the summer) and we were doing 80 to 90 mph on I-40. We were amazed, as we routinely get 25 mpg in our rural area of northern CA.
However, now, in the heat of summer, with the ac on most of the time, we are only getting 22 mpg.
I bought new tires (Michelins) by the way, which are filled with nitrogen. I don't truthfully notice any huge difference in handling or noise level, which I had hoped I would, but at least I know they'll last a while!

Chasester

· #6 · Jul 27, 2009

aEsop said:
Quite frankly we think that those people claiming upper 20's are either doing serious drugs or what we call Honda Syndrome.
We've noticed in past that Honda owners are extremely loyal but also have a mindset that their car is the best in the UNIVERSE and try to PROVE it frequently by outright lying! Whatever you bought or can afford is basicly the Best despite reason.

It's America, you've the right to buy a different vehicle or say people are lying all you like.

ORANGEE

· #7 · Jul 27, 2009

I have never gotten over 25MPG and avg around 20-22
the Element is what it is, it will NEVER be able to go where a Jeep Wrangler can go off road (I know, I've owned both)
I'm not un-happy with my mileage but I sure wouldn't mind getting better.
We do have a new CR-V and we got 29.8 on our trip from Cincinnati back home to Overland Park, now that is sweet (was loaded with the pups and our luggage)
I know the newer ones get better mileage than my 2003 (gear ratio's,3sp vs. 4sp,etc) - but I've only got 112k miles on her so there is no new one in my near future

xequar

· #8 · Jul 27, 2009 (Edited)

Those are from last year, and that was the gas gauge in relation to the mileage driven on one tank. My personal best was 401.2 miles on one tank, taking just over 51 litres of gas to fill (I drove from Detroit, MI to Kingston, Ontario on one tank of gas).

Even last night, having driven from Kalamazoo, MI to Chicago, doing about 20-30 miles of driving in north side stop-sign-every-three-feet neighborhoods, and then back to Kalamazoo, I got 25.9 mpg and pumped 12.920 gallons of gas into the E averaging 70-80 mph. Mind that western Michigan is flat as a board, I had the windows up, and I didn't have the a/c going. But absolutely one can get good mileage in the E if they don't have it full of crap and keep their foot out of the gas. Hell, I've gotten over 19 mpg in my '92 extended-wheelbase Astro van driving around suburban Detroit in traffic because I know how to drive and don't have it full of crap all the time.

And for the record, I have no real favoritism toward Honda. I work at Ford, and I've openly declared on these boards that my next car is going to come next year when the Fiesta is released in North America. I'm not a Honda-bot and I don't have "Honda Syndrome."

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ElementaryEd

· #9 · Jul 27, 2009

I regularly get 21-23 in my normal commute. It does make a huge difference if your just cruising at hwy speeds. I saw 27+ on my last little road trip that was all hwy and cruise set around 70 the whole time. I think the E is great and gets ok milage. I don't really care about the milage as it is much better than the F150 I've had in the past

nextgenxx

· #10 · Jul 27, 2009

I have never got over 20 mpg, sad I know

I usually get around 18-19 mpg. I also have a yakima rack, and 18" wheels, and sometimes a heavy foot. I also live in a 55mph only state and lots of hills & windy roads. I want to get the Injen CAI to see if it helps the MPG improve. I too can't believe some of the 25+ mpg reports...

xequar

· #11 · Jul 27, 2009

nextgenxx said:
I have never got over 20 mpg, sad I know I usually get around 18-19 mpg. I also have a yakima rack, and 18" wheels, and sometimes a heavy foot. I also live in a 55mph only state and lots of hills & windy roads. I want to get the Injen CAI to see if it helps the MPG improve. I too can't believe some of the 25+ mpg reports...

Rack, bigger wheels, lead foot, windy hilly roads... And you're surprised that people who don't have a rack, drive gently, have the stock wheels, and live where the roads are flat and straight get decent mileage? If I drive 80-85 mph with the a/c on, my mileage drops down to 22-23. Add hills to that and it drops another mpg. Add more speed to that and it drops another mpg. Add two passengers to all of that and it drops another 1-2 mpg.

Yep, that drive with me and two passengers, plus our stuff, while driving 140-150 km/h (87-93 mph) with the a/c running up the 401 in Eastern Ontario was EXPENSIVE!!

Copper

· #12 · Jul 27, 2009

nextgenxx said:
I have never got over 20 mpg, sad I know I usually get around 18-19 mpg. I also have a yakima rack, and 18" wheels, and sometimes a heavy foot. I also live in a 55mph only state and lots of hills & windy roads. I want to get the Injen CAI to see if it helps the MPG improve. I too can't believe some of the 25+ mpg reports...

Ok I have a 2007 AT. Bone stock except the K&N filter, the roof rack and the bikr racks(2) attached to the roof rack.

I've never seen anything less than 21, and that was city driving with the AC on all the time.

If there is only one variable then that must be the difference. Driving habits.

I hit 25MPG on a pretty regular basis.

plamlam

· #13 · Jul 27, 2009

I've constantly gotten 18-22mpg in my car... 18 during winters and 22 during summers with a daily 1 hr commute around the suburbs of Chicago.

My overly heavy Pirelli Scorpion ATR's probably aren't helping the cause... Might have to switch to lighter tires next time around.

Overall best was 25-26 mostly highway.

Copper

· #14 · Jul 27, 2009

plamlam said:
I've constantly gotten 18-22mpg in my car... 18 during winters and 22 during summers with a daily 1 hr commute around the suburbs of Chicago.

My overly heavy Pirelli Scorpion ATR's probably aren't helping the cause... Might have to switch to lighter tires next time around.

Overall best was 25-26 mostly highway.

The other thing is the 2007 and up have a 5 speed AT. the extra gear really help the mileage. Some of the people with the 6sp MT mod are getting closer to 30MPG

nextgenxx

· #15 · Jul 28, 2009

Ok so I like to drive a little fast....so how long does it take you to get up to 60 mph, or do you just let the engine get there when it gets there? I like to pass people on the FW and make a statement that I drive one of the best vehicles on the road. I even pass yellow porsche's on the FW if i see them...

xequar

· #16 · Jul 28, 2009

nextgenxx said:
Ok so I like to drive a little fast....so how long does it take you to get up to 60 mph, or do you just let the engine get there when it gets there? I like to pass people on the FW and make a statement that I drive one of the best vehicles on the road. I even pass yellow porsche's on the FW if i see them...

Well, professional drivers were only able to get the E to 60 in 8.8 seconds. For me, during the course of normal driving, it's probably more like 20-30 seconds to get to 60. And if you're stomping on the gas to pass people, you're killing your mileage too.

Take the lead out of your foot and keep the speedometer needle on the left half of the gauge and see what happens.

in2steam

· #17 · Jul 28, 2009 (Edited)

I would suspect if we did not have blended gas here I could 27.5 + MPG, but I only get 26.6, it gets 87 octane.

I use the cruise, I drive 33 miles to work of which 32 are at 50+ MPH no stops, most of that is at 61-62 MPH. Its nearly flat, nearly straight, and I don't stomp on the gas. I have nothing on the roof, and its all stock with AWD and a 4 sp auto. I only have one of the two rear seats in during this last mileage check, it took from monday to friday. I filled the tank to the top, at fill up I replaced 12 gallons to the top w/320 miles. The vehicle does suffer over 62 MPH for mileage, I think thats becuase I pretty much go right to 75 MPH when I do go that fast. I did do a few miles of in town driving just right the mix a little.

I would suspect if I drove in rush hour traffic and in the city I would get only 21 to 22 tops.

Chris

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rojogan

· #18 · Jul 28, 2009

Well, it looks like some of us are getting better than EPA average MPG's with our E's. Considering the '08 EX 4WD AT is rated for, what, 24 MPG highway, I'd say 26-27 MPG isn't too bad. Especially considering 4WD, a really wind-cheating design and a little overweight!

hotrodder

· #19 · Jul 28, 2009

A burst of trivia here------A couple of years ago, I was yapping with this guy in the electrical dept at Lowe's who gave me a business card stating he was a solar, green energy engineer. His stories were half-way believable until he told me he was getting 55mpg on his 1990 Ford Ranger, so I perked my ears up and readied for the revealing of the secret. He said there were no engine or fuel modifications, he just put really tall tires on it.

I threw that card away as I checked out of the store.

Our E gets between 22 and 25mpg, but we drive like there is an egg on the gas pedal.

USAFRET

· #20 · Aug 5, 2009

Two weeks ago a 1000+ trip to Lexington, KY, I averaged
around 25mpg. Was half loaded going and loaded, 4 people and a bunch of luggage, coming back. I am satisfied with that as the E did perfect.
u

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