These suggestions revolve around removing the unknown variable in your problem, the way you drive. If you drive like a maniac, or if you hold high RPMs by manually shifting up in your automatic, you're going to slaughter your gas mileage.

If you're car is brand new and only has 3k miles, this should be expected; it's a common problem with most new vehicles. Brand new engines need to break in, so both your gas mileage and your HP are going to seem less then they should until it does. I don't know how long this takes for the MIVEC, since I got mine with 20k on it, but I believe the common number is between 6-12k miles.

Another reason for your poor mileage may be because of the automatic transmission. My Ralliart has the auto too, and I personally believe that the OD gear on the automatics sucks; crusing at 70MPH has my car in the 3k RPM range, which is high. I generally get around 23-25MPG combined driving out of my car, and this is worse then my previously owned Buick LeSabre, which managed 27-30MPG. When OD kicked in on that car, it would usually run around 1800 RPMs at 70.

Hope this helps.

 

Just filled up. 31.86 mpg, almost all fwy miles.

 

The AT Ralliart has a better top gear ratio than the MT version. Autos are at around 3000rpm at 70mph, while the MT version is at around 3300rpm. MTs actually get worse gas milage at realistic highway speeds.

 

I did not know that. I still think the OD on our autos is teh suck though, but that would explain why the stick guys are more vocal about their gas mileage.

 

interresting...you'd think the lower rpms at hwy cruise speed on the automatic o/d would give it better fuel mileage. As mentioned before, the key for me is to keep it below 120km/h which is 3500rpm (72mph?). Also, cruise control will definitely improve your mileage on the hwy as it avoids all the subtle ups and downs that your foot will do trying to maintain a certain speed. Question - anyone know exactly when mivec kicks in? Is it 3500? 3550? 3650? These are all numbers I've read from different sources.

 

it comes on at 3600 or so(depends on oil pressure so it will always vary slightly) and goes back off at 3400.

 

Best mileage I've _ever_ gotten out of my RA was about 27 and that was driving 'gently' in my opinion. Be happy with your 30s folks...I avg about 22-24

 

Wow,what i wouldn't give to get 25mpg. I usually get 18-20mpg. But then again i do have fun when i drive . But i am taking my first road trip in the RA, when i go to LA to play a show with my band later this month, so then i will see if i can get any better. But yea, usually gas mileage sucks! I guess i could tone it down a bit

 

I have an auto and on a normal tank of gas I usually average 27-28 mpg. That's combined driving and having fun. I have babied a few tanks and never got to WOT on those and I got 29.5 mpg on them. As far as road trips, I took my car down to Vegas back in September. It was me, my wife, my buddy, and his girl. The trunk was loaded full of crap and my back end was squating so much that I couldn't see the top inch of my rear tires when nobody was in the car. Now we set the cruise control at 85mph when we were on the flat areas and drove the car normally through the mountains. On that trip I averaged 25-26 mpg on each tank. I'm not sure how everyone gets such bad milage in their RA. I've always averaged 26 and up in normal conditions. You might want to try switching gas stations to see if it makes a difference. I've noticed as much as a 2mpg change between stations with my car. Also, don't forget, if you live in a cold area, they put winter additives in the gas that lowers the mpg.

 

i get 28 mpg and that is with um aggressive driving. but i also do a LOT of highway driving.l

 

Do they put ethonol in the gas in CO. Here in MN they put 10% in the gas to keep our air cleaner. It also hurts millage, when I go to Indy and fill up with Indiana gas in the summer with no ethonol I can get about 24 mpg city driving for the weekend. I think IL does the same thing by putting ethonol in the gas, it makes your millage suck.

 

Yeah, I believe that's what it is that they put in it. They only do it for the winter to keep the gas from sludging up and turning into kind of a jelly substance. Even with that though I average 26 and up for my all around driving. During the summer I get pretty close to an average of 28 mpg. Plus I am a lot higher in elevation than most people on here which should decrease my mpg. Who knows, I'm happy with my mpg though.