C5 Mileage ?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 24,921
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03 thru '26
I tend to be on the road alot and each time, typically a 300 mile leg on an interstate, I check mileage. This last month:
98 Pace MN6 with some mods and 102k miles got 35 mpg at 78 mph.
98 Vert MN6 with NO mods and 78K got 30 mpg at 78 mpg.
97 Coupe A4, 110k miles, with all bolt ons for 11.9 1/4 times got 27 mpg at 78 mph.
MN6's ran at 1800rpm, A4 at 2400rpm (3.42 gear).
Who knows what my town driving mpg is, I go all out between each red light just to hear my exhaust!
98 Pace MN6 with some mods and 102k miles got 35 mpg at 78 mph.
98 Vert MN6 with NO mods and 78K got 30 mpg at 78 mpg.
97 Coupe A4, 110k miles, with all bolt ons for 11.9 1/4 times got 27 mpg at 78 mph.
MN6's ran at 1800rpm, A4 at 2400rpm (3.42 gear).
Who knows what my town driving mpg is, I go all out between each red light just to hear my exhaust!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by 98Pace97Coupe
I tend to be on the road alot and each time, typically a 300 mile leg on an interstate, I check mileage. This last month:
98 Pace MN6 with some mods and 102k miles got 35 mpg at 78 mph.
98 Vert MN6 with NO mods and 78K got 30 mpg at 78 mpg.
97 Coupe A4, 110k miles, with all bolt ons for 11.9 1/4 times got 27 mpg at 78 mph.
MN6's ran at 1800rpm, A4 at 2400rpm (3.42 gear).
Who knows what my town driving mpg is, I go all out between each red light just to hear my exhaust!
98 Pace MN6 with some mods and 102k miles got 35 mpg at 78 mph.
98 Vert MN6 with NO mods and 78K got 30 mpg at 78 mpg.
97 Coupe A4, 110k miles, with all bolt ons for 11.9 1/4 times got 27 mpg at 78 mph.
MN6's ran at 1800rpm, A4 at 2400rpm (3.42 gear).
Who knows what my town driving mpg is, I go all out between each red light just to hear my exhaust!
Dayuumn! Great mileage!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Broomfield Colorado
Originally Posted by vermjpv
Mines nearing five years and 38K, I still get around 30MPG at about 70-75 on the highway (6spd). I usually get around 21-22MPG around town, with just a little "goosing" the throttle!! 
Me too
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: MD
I don't mean to spoil the party but remember that the DIC algorithms underestimate fuel comsumption by 10-20%. I got my FRC 2 weeks ago and have filled her up twice. First time, as I was driving her back from NC, the DIC estimate for the trip was 32.5MPG. Actual MPG was 28.5. Second time around town, DIC said 22.5MPG. Actual was 19.9. I've driven 80 miles in town since the last time I filled up and the DIC estimate so far on this tankfull is 15.1MPG. Based on my experience with the first two times I filler up, I'm afraid I'm actually running 13.5MPG.
In the first week I was often shifting at 2500RPM. Now that I'm getting more used to her, I shift her at 3000 80% of the time (used to shift at redline in my Honda) and in the 3000-4500 range the remaining 20% of the time. Maybe that accounts for the highly disappointing MPG.
IMO, whoever really gets 25MPG in town with a C5 must upshift her below 2K RPM and be slower than a stock Civic.
In the first week I was often shifting at 2500RPM. Now that I'm getting more used to her, I shift her at 3000 80% of the time (used to shift at redline in my Honda) and in the 3000-4500 range the remaining 20% of the time. Maybe that accounts for the highly disappointing MPG.
IMO, whoever really gets 25MPG in town with a C5 must upshift her below 2K RPM and be slower than a stock Civic.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 9
From: Camdenton MO
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I never check my "city" mileage, but my highway mileage is usually above 30 MPG. On a loooong stretch of highway, I averaged near 38 MPG cruising at 80 MPH for nearly 200 miles. I stopped at the end of that run to fill up and see how I did. I was more than happy. 
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: Owatonna MN
City is about 15, highway is about 30.
I averaged 32.5 on a trip from Phoenix to Minneapolis. Stopped about every 500 miles, give or take, for gas. Made good time too (averaged about 83MPH, which is only ~1800 RPM in 6th).
This is one hell of a fun to drive ecomony car!
Sorny
I averaged 32.5 on a trip from Phoenix to Minneapolis. Stopped about every 500 miles, give or take, for gas. Made good time too (averaged about 83MPH, which is only ~1800 RPM in 6th).
This is one hell of a fun to drive ecomony car!
Sorny
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 0
From: TN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by starshifter
To those of you with the MN6, what RPM do you typically upshift to get city mileages in the 20es? Do you upshift 1-4?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: MD
Originally Posted by The Nuts
You can do the 1-4, but I dont like to. I'll just light throttle out of the hole, shift about 1400-1500rpms(CAGS eliminator suggested) in all gears(or you can skip some, but try not to let her go below 900-1000 rpms). Coast out of gear to stop signs and lights, try to time lights as much as possible so your not standing still. And don't do the "tapdance" (on and off the throttle and brake), try to drive smooth. It's really simple and not hard on the car at all. Every now and then, stomp on her hard and clear her throat!!
It doesn't sound like a lot of fun though. You must have civics and corollas glued to your rear waiting for the first opportunity to pass. Coming from a Honda which I was redlining all the time, I thought I was driving with a light foot when shifting the FRC at 2500 RPMs. I guess I have to get used to the LS1's broad powerband.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 0
From: Prosper TX
Originally Posted by HiLandR
I just took a day trip to Des Moines for business. i drove my C5 coupe. This is my first road run, I got 29 mpg. Just curious how everyone else does. I got 19 on my first tank of mixed hwy and city miles. Is this pretty standard?
If you're driving an A4 with 2.73 rear end, you are right on the money.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 23,340
Likes: 379
From: Marietta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
Originally Posted by HiLandR
I just took a day trip to Des Moines for business. i drove my C5 coupe. This is my first road run, I got 29 mpg. Just curious how everyone else does. I got 19 on my first tank of mixed hwy and city miles. Is this pretty standard?
