MINI Named Most Efficient in Class

GSKChicago Oct 15th, 2004 Link

Okay, so why am I getting no where near the gas mileage they speak of?

I've had my '05 MCs for 2 months and roughly 2500 miles so far. I am averaging about 17 to 21 MPG depending on conditions.

Now, I do admit I tend to accelerate quickly at times, etc, but overall I should get better mileage?

I've been trying hard to make sure I shift into higher gears to keep the revs lower to help with the mileage too.

I have been told at about 4500 miles I will notice an increase in power and mileage at the same time as there is more break in at that level, but I'm a couple grand away from that.

I did not buy the MCS to get great gas mileage, but as prices creep up, better mileage certainly wouldn't bug me.

Anyone else have similar mileage experiences?

G.

monkey_punch Oct 15th, 2004 Link

G.

There are two many variables to try to explain your gas mileage. My commute is 80/20 highway/surface. I have an MCS too and if I want to get my my weekly average up to 33mpg – I have to drive with extreme discipline. That means no over or under revving. And with gas at 2.61 in my neigborhood there is every reason to drive nice and smooth!!

Good luck

D

Neal Clark Oct 15th, 2004 Link

The latest issue of Car and Driver has an editorial explaining why the vast majority of car owners don't get the mileage reported by the EPA.

njpaguy Oct 15th, 2004 Link

If your car has the on-board computer, set it to the instantaneous MPG readout. While you're driving to maximize fuel economy be sure to listen to the engine note. You'll soon learn to drive by the tach and not the speedo.

My 04 MCS has achieved 38 mpg doing pure highway driving. I generally average between 30-32 mpg combined. And I don't drive it like a little old lady! I've found the “sweet spot” is around 3000 rpm in most every gear.

17 mpg? You must be winding the p*ss out of it! And it probably isn't increasing your performance or cutting your 0-60 times either.

ChrisLW Oct 15th, 2004 Link

I'm getting 26.1 with my JCW '04. I shift at about 4000 (that's the torque peak for JCW) and have seen 28 max on a all hwy run.

I don't beat the snot out of it, usually do 70-72 on my hwy commute.

GSKChicago Oct 15th, 2004 Link

Neal Clark… So basically the article says if we don't get the EPA ratings or anywhere near it, it's probably the driver's fault. I kinda figured that much…

njapaguy… I do have the on-board computer but it says my mileage is better than what I calculate when I go to the pump, refill and do the division of gas put into the tank into the mileage on the odometer since last fillup. So either my math is off, the on-board is off or both.

Finally, I don't wind her too bad. Much worse when I first got her and I was learning to drive the 6-speed (never drove manual before I got her). But, I have gotten comfortable with manual now and don't rev too high out of fear of killing the engine. When you say “sweet spot” is 3000 RPM, you mean you change gears at 3 grand? I'm really not that bright. :o) So help a brother out please. :o)

GW Oct 15th, 2004 Link

I have had my MCS for a couple of weeks and rarely travel on highway roads. I drive semi-aggresively and have been getting between 25 and 26 mpg

Scott Oct 15th, 2004 Link

GSKChicago – yeah, shift at 3000 for the sweet spot.

I've got an '04 MCS JCW with 10K in 7 months. I've seen everything from mid 25 to 30 mpg in those 7 months. I spend 20% local roads, 40% highway (at, um, speeds a bit above the limit) and 40% highway traffic (20mph tops). I'm sure that the OBC is slightly off in it's calculations, but I'm still higher than the 17-21.

Frank Oct 16th, 2004 Link

Keep in mind that the MCS is not tuned for high fuel economy but rather performance. I think people in general have some unreasonable expectation when it comes to mileage in the MCS model. Also remember that 6th gear in the S is not even overdrive.

I have managed to pull around 27-34 MPG in the highway with my unmodded and 100% stock '04 MCS. In the city I get between 20-24 MPG depending on traffic conditions, A/C usage and driving style. If you go easy on the E-gas pedal and keep your shifting points at no more than 3K RPM, you should expect fairly decent fuel economy.

My '02 Cooper CVT, on the other hand, is extremely economical. With over 25K miles in the clock the car consistently returns 30+ per gallon in the city and between 35-40 MPG in the highway.

If you are going after high calibre fuel economy figures, then the regular Cooper model (5-speed or CVT) is the one to consider. If your goals are performance and power, then the MCS is the one to get.

elmor fudwel Oct 16th, 2004 Link

GSKChicago:

I've experienced the same issue with the onboard computer. I have an MCS'02.

Can't understand why the computer calculates the gas differently than the tried and true method of calculations by other means.

Hans Mansa Oct 16th, 2004 Link

My wife and I just returned from a 5000 miles trip from southern Florida through the N. Carolina & W. Viginia mountains to Canada and accross the mountains in New England. Lots of high speed highway driving and of course putting the 'S' through the gears in the montain. Average mile based on both the computer and actual gas receipts vas a stunning 31.3 mile per gallon. ( i did calculate the liter use in Canada.) I car performed flawlessly and with 2 people, golf club, tennis rackets and and luggage I was pleased with the performance.

OctaneGuy Oct 16th, 2004 Link

You will experience vastly difference mpg whether you are city driving or highway. With Highway, I can get close to 400 miles on a tank. In City, I do about 300 miles. I've got a 2003 MC with 26,000 miles on it. I recently did the MTH CarTune chip mod, and my mileage actually improved while gaining more horsepower. Previously, I was lucky to get 24mpg in city driving, and now I do 27 to 28mpg with the same variables–hard driving–6,000 rpm shifts, AC on, etc.. Might as well enjoy the driving experience!

Ian C. Oct 17th, 2004 Link

Just paid my first ever >$30 to fill GBMINI today :( I have got over 30 – last summer (before the JCW) driving smoothly with max speed around 65. These days, encouraged by JCW, with max speed nearer 75 and quicker acceleration, I see about 27 as a long term average – but that is about 2% below true due to the undersized tires.

I am certain on a highway journey stuck at 55 with smooth driving and no fun, I could get 400+ miles out of the tank – but I am not going to prove it ;)

Jared/pezboy Oct 17th, 2004 Link

I got 430 on a tank once. I drove from Boston to Albany and back, and one day to and from work on one tank of gas. I set the cruise to about 75 or so.

Ian, >$30? I usually do about $26. Did you pay >$2.30/gal?

RICHARD May 1st, 2005 Link

I HAVE A 2005 MCS AND AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED FOR THE LITTLE ENGIN THAT IS HAS THE GAS MIALSGE SUCKS!!! MOST HYWAY DRIVING WITH VERY LITTLE STREET USE I GET NOT EVEN 22 MPG I AM VERY DISAPOINTED WITH THIS. THE ONLY MOD I DID WAS A ALTA COLD AIR INTAKE. AND IM NOT REVING HIGH AT ALL I LIKE TO SHIFT AT 3000 AND CRUISE AT 70-75 MPH ON HYWAY. I HAVE 2,700 MILES AT THIS TIME. ANY FEED BACK ON THIS WOULD BE HELPFULL.

Ian May 1st, 2005 Link

Richard, Don’t SHOUT – we can all read you!

Gas mileage is very much a matter of driving style – your

RICHARD May 2nd, 2005 Link

didnt mean to shout caps was locked on i guess.. well today my speedometer was changed due to telling me my speed was faster than i was realy going,i had the dealer check why i might have bad gas milage, of course everything came back as working properly, so i left dealer fill up gas to the top, went for a 77.9 mile run driving no less than 65 mph averaging 70 on the highway then filled to the top again, witch was 1.6 gal of gas . do the math 77.9 divided by 1.6 = 48 wow my driving style must have changed. figure this out? cause i dont understand it.

richard May 2nd, 2005 Link

ok scratch that last gas estimate , the gas pump i used to fill up last didnt fill it up all the way, i was short about another gal, so in reality its between 27-29 mpg witch is more like it. i will definately be keeping an eye on this to see if it stays this way.

Jim H. May 21st, 2005 Link

2002 Mini Cooper, 28K miles. Get 24-25 mpg around town. Best on highway so far has been 34 — I owned it for a month.

Is it easly to replace the 2002 computer with a later one that calculates instantenous mileage? The “computer” functions are pretty worthless. Instantenous mileage may be. I have found I have to drive easy to get 27 mpg in the city.

scott Sep 15th, 2005 Link

can you make a cheaper car

Craig Oct 10th, 2005 Link

I have a Mini cooper 02 with cvt and get a consitant 25mpg out of her. I also work with Land Rover ( another British auto maker) Land Rover early models got terrible gas milage due to the fact that they did not use an EGR system to control knocking in the engine. Their method was to use a system called fuel dumping. Yes that is exactly as it sounds, They dump extra fuel into the engine to cool the combustion and stop knocking. I could not find the more fuel saving EGR system on the Mini engine so I am afraid that they may be using the same type of technology. Thus reducing fuel economy for such a small car and engine. I love my Mini however I would love it more at 40-45mpg. I hope I am wrong but that is what I think is going on. If anyone knows better I would be glad to hear it.

Spaced Oct 31st, 2005 Link

Hey at least you guys dont have a crappy neon like me, an ‘03 Neon Se with ATX to be exact, has a N/A 2.0L, 12.5gal tank and I get….drumroll, 14mpg, yes my friends 14mpg!!!! Somebody shoot me. Oh and BTW, thats with everything brand new, as in wires, plugs(properly gaped), PCV, breather filter, air filter, tires nicely inflated, fresh oil job. Ride it hard or ride it like a granny, its the same every time.

2004 MCS JCW Jan 4th, 2006 Link

For me it was more frequent oil changes… Waiting for the service indicator to come on around 12K-15K miles is just too long on the same oil. With changes around the 6K mark kept the highway mpg around 32. Any longer and mpg drops to 20.

Burt Mar 17th, 2008 Link

Just bought an 03 MCS with 20K miles on her….yes 20K. All stock…basically new I have filled up twice…24.8mpg first time 25mpg second time. A little disappointed but I still love the car. Keep in mind I was driving a 2004 F350 diesel that $100 would not fill. My driving is suburban with a little of both city and hwy. I drive like it should be driven. I bet I could get 29 if I really tried, but then I may as well drive a Prius.

2 questions..Does my car have the on board computer? (I know I could look it up but I’m lazy) and Ian, How do you like the JCW?