Gas milage 2003 six speed
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 66
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From: Saugus CA
Gas milage 2003 six speed
Hi Corvette lovers
Does any one care that these cars not only have great performance for the money but also get great mileage? I purchased my third Corvette in Aug of 2007 and have been amazed at how much better it is compared to my 1965 stingray with the 365 HP engine. My 2003 has more power than I will ever need and gets great gas mileage too, I'm getting 27 to 30mpg if I can keep it in 6th gear on the open road that is just terrific.
Does any body out there check their mileage or is that old fashioned for sport car owners, I'm sixty four so maybe I'm out of touch, after all I haven't had a vette for over 40 years.
I absolutely love my car and look forward to the next ride to the beach.
Ron
Does any one care that these cars not only have great performance for the money but also get great mileage? I purchased my third Corvette in Aug of 2007 and have been amazed at how much better it is compared to my 1965 stingray with the 365 HP engine. My 2003 has more power than I will ever need and gets great gas mileage too, I'm getting 27 to 30mpg if I can keep it in 6th gear on the open road that is just terrific.
Does any body out there check their mileage or is that old fashioned for sport car owners, I'm sixty four so maybe I'm out of touch, after all I haven't had a vette for over 40 years.
I absolutely love my car and look forward to the next ride to the beach.
Ron
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
When I purchased my '99 FRC, I drove it from Fort Wayne Indiana, to Flint, Michigan, and averaged 34 mpg! That was a five hour drive. I was astounded...Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
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From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Well, I'm 60 and performance minded like any of us are, but try and do the mods to the drive train that don't detract from the great highway mileage these cars do get. So with a Callaway Honker, AR long tubes, high flow cats and X pipe, 4.10 gears and a tune the car is much more fun to drive and on flat roads here at 3/4" above sea level at 65 mph in 6th gear at 1700 rpms I can get 31+ mpg. I'm very happy with the results.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 438
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I absolutely love it. That great highway gas mileage and larger than average gas tank also give the C5 a long cruising range. I can fill the car up at home, go on a 300 mile trip and still have plenty of gas left in the tank! Not to mention I have luggage space and a good sized cabin.
I know someone will flame me, but I wonder how much more power vehicles really need? I mean, a 2008 Honda Accord has 260 hp nowadays and could probably run with a stock Mustang GT from just a few years ago...and that's a family car!
I know someone will flame me, but I wonder how much more power vehicles really need? I mean, a 2008 Honda Accord has 260 hp nowadays and could probably run with a stock Mustang GT from just a few years ago...and that's a family car!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I absolutely love it. That great highway gas mileage and larger than average gas tank also give the C5 a long cruising range. I can fill the car up at home, go on a 300 mile trip and still have plenty of gas left in the tank! Not to mention I have luggage space and a good sized cabin.
I know someone will flame me, but I wonder how much more power vehicles really need? I mean, a 2008 Honda Accord has 260 hp nowadays and could probably run with a stock Mustang GT from just a few years ago...and that's a family car!
I know someone will flame me, but I wonder how much more power vehicles really need? I mean, a 2008 Honda Accord has 260 hp nowadays and could probably run with a stock Mustang GT from just a few years ago...and that's a family car!
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From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
The MPG's the C5 gets are great.All attributed to great gearing,aerodynamics,and body weight.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Good Eh?
I get 20 around town with regular driving. The best I've had on a run was 28. Never seen the 30+ figures soe get but then again I have an A4.
To answer the question on whether I check the gas mileage, with gas at $8.50 a gallon, I certainly do.
I get 20 around town with regular driving. The best I've had on a run was 28. Never seen the 30+ figures soe get but then again I have an A4.
To answer the question on whether I check the gas mileage, with gas at $8.50 a gallon, I certainly do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Yep, low weight, great aerodynamics, final drive ratio of 1.72, and stiff OEM runflat tires (these add 3 mpg) make it possible to get great mileage.
I get 22.5 mpg driving to work and have gotten over 32 mpg on a trip (very level roads).
I get 22.5 mpg driving to work and have gotten over 32 mpg on a trip (very level roads).
and I thought $3.20/gal for 93 octane was $$$!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
I use to run from Raleigh NC to Baltimore up I95. Traveling at normal insane highway speeds( 80+ mph and still being passed) I would average 29-30 mph. Then I switched wheels and tires to Mich PS and mileage went up 31-32 mpg
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
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From: Brentwood TN
I have never calculated mileage by filling, driving to the next fill, filling again and dividing into the miles traveled. I reference the DIC info and some have said the DIC reads higher than actual but I don't know for sure.
That said - I was averaging about 31 mpg running 75 mph in combo of level and some hilly country. I changed plugs and wires at 90K miles and indicate mpg increased to 31.7 over the same route. I changed tranny fluid and rear end lube and mileage went up to 31.9 but I don't think that is statistically different from from the earlier improvement. I have heard stories about mileage goiong up a bit just by changing out fluids, but I didn't see it.
Charlie
That said - I was averaging about 31 mpg running 75 mph in combo of level and some hilly country. I changed plugs and wires at 90K miles and indicate mpg increased to 31.7 over the same route. I changed tranny fluid and rear end lube and mileage went up to 31.9 but I don't think that is statistically different from from the earlier improvement. I have heard stories about mileage goiong up a bit just by changing out fluids, but I didn't see it.
Charlie
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 66
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From: Saugus CA
DIC info.
Hi Charlie
I check my cars DCI by doing the math and the info is very acurate and that makes it all that much more fun, where can you buy a car that has the performance the Corvette has for the money and still get 30MPG. I can tell you on a good day my 65 Stingray would only get 16 mpg but it 411 rear end gears and a for speed, no over drive.
My 2003 vette is the best performance car I have ever had and I have had some great cars, I'm just amazed at how good these cars are and think GM did a great job.
Thanks Ron
I check my cars DCI by doing the math and the info is very acurate and that makes it all that much more fun, where can you buy a car that has the performance the Corvette has for the money and still get 30MPG. I can tell you on a good day my 65 Stingray would only get 16 mpg but it 411 rear end gears and a for speed, no over drive.
My 2003 vette is the best performance car I have ever had and I have had some great cars, I'm just amazed at how good these cars are and think GM did a great job.
Thanks Ron
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
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Enjoy while you can... we're gonna be there in short order... We're pushing $4.00/gal for premium in San Jose and it's going up every day since the price of crude went above $100. Parts of Calif are likely close to $5/gal as I write this. ( I know of two places that where already above $4/gal when gas was cheap)...
I wish I was getting 20mpg now, I'm lucky to get 16-18 mpg in my z06... even on freeway... of course I drive too fast 95% of the time.
I wish I was getting 20mpg now, I'm lucky to get 16-18 mpg in my z06... even on freeway... of course I drive too fast 95% of the time.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
I drove from Atlanta to Charlotte, keeping up with traffic. The DIC said 34.2 mpg, but I've calculated my DIC to read about 2mpg too high, so it was probably closer to 32mpg. We rarely used the A/C.
I don't understand why every performance car under $40k now has to weigh so much. I'm primarily thinking of all the Hemi powered cars that are over 4,000 pounds, as well as the new G8.
The new Camaro better be less than 3,700, otherwise I probably won't bother getting it.
I don't understand why every performance car under $40k now has to weigh so much. I'm primarily thinking of all the Hemi powered cars that are over 4,000 pounds, as well as the new G8.
The new Camaro better be less than 3,700, otherwise I probably won't bother getting it.