Cost of Gas in the US and How it Affects You

Sections: Efficiency May 1st, 2008 78 Comments

While these questions are meant primarily for our US readers, any feedback is appreciated. With the cost of premium petrol in Chicago at the $4.29 mark we thought it was time to discuss how rising prices will affect you and your MINI:

Does this change the way you drive? Even though the MINI isn’t terrible on gas, the R53 MCS (for example) isn’t exactly stellar when it comes to MPG.
Could the price of petrol potentially change what you drive? Anyone out there thinking of selling your selling your MINI altogether?
Does this change what you value in the MINI?
And finally, at what point do you start to reconsider the fastest MINI out there and opt for the most effecient? With the new Cooper getting over 40 mpg on the highway and the Cooper D (for our European readers) getting getting over 70 mpg, we’re curious if it will start to look a bit more tempting.

And for those in the US considering these questions, remember the US still has it relatively easy at these prices. For example our readers in the UK are currently paying around $10 a gallon.

Written By: Gabe

Alpinamike

people always asked why I did not get an S? Mcc 5 speed gets the best gas.
Glenn

wow, some of you get some pretty amazing numbers. My 2006 MCa only does 24 or 25 in the city. Highway I can get up to about 40 mpg max. If I do a lot of highway driving on a particular tank of gas I can average 29 or so mpg.

I already don’t drive much as I take the subway to work. So I only use the car for errands or trips. Less than 8500 miles in 2+ years. I have started walking to the grocery store more since it is probably only about half a mile away.

So I only have to fill up once a month or so. But I was a bit bummed that my last fill up was over $40 at $3.96 a gallon. That was about a week ago.
Ken B.

Give up my MINI? Never! I love it. In fact, I had a 2007 Cooper S and traded it for a 2008 Cooper S. I look at it this way. I went from burning over 1100 gallons a year with my 2003 Chevy K1500 pickup that got an average of 15.5 MPG. Both of my MINI’s have consistently gotten 32 – 33 MPG commuting, and that’s combined city / freeway driving. Even paying the extra 20 to 25 cents a gallon for premium fuel, my fuel savings for out weigh the extra added cost per gallon. I also had taken my 2007 Cooper S on a 700 plus mile road trip last summer and averaged 40.6 MPG, and I know I’m not the only one to average over 40 with the “S” version. You drive your baby 60 MPH and you’ll get Excellent fuel economy. If the Cooper D would come to the US would I buy it? Most definetly. The Cooper D would cut my fuel usage in half again and the C02 emissions would be one of the lowest of any car out there. 2007 MINI’s on are excellent on gas. I have two friends who have a 2005 & 2006 and their mileage is quite a bit less than mine, though they love their MINI’s. The new MINI’s are one of the most fuel effecient cars you can get in the US. Even the new Smart cars ratings aren’t impressive, especially when you look at the size of that thing. It’s rated at 33 & 41…. Hummmmmm…. why drive that when you could have a whole hell of a lot more fun in a MINI and get the same mileage?
gokartride

I’ve always enjoyed the frugal side of the MINI equation more than the power side…a by-product, I suppose, of being around classic Minis that were in no way screamers. I’m now on my second Cooper…first an ’03 and now an ’07. I ride commuter rail to work and so my daily commute is a bout 15 minutes and all city driving. This R56 Cooper (manual) routinely gets over 40 mpg in city driving and even more when I coax it. Pretty amazing.

Gas prices aren’t a strain on my budget (not at 40 mpg), but nonetheless I did stop driving across DFW a few years back when gas prices spiked…I found plenty of things to do and plenty of other ways to enjoy MINI motoring than traversing the metroplex.
Stephen

I actually own an 03 Mini Cooper and have an 08 Cooper S on order.

It seems rather silly, as I am not a crazy fast driver. However, it will be fun and I live in a fairly mountainous town and make a decent salary, so I believe I’m going to follow through with my plan.

I’ll admit to have been tempted to keep my first Mini in storage in case gas prices hit the UK level….
Shamus

Here in eco-friendly San Francisco, I’ve adopted some fuel-saving measures of my own: Slowing down only will result in you having to speed back up again. Save momentum by slaloming around slower traffic which also reduces wear on precious brake pads (a non-renewable resource). And, since walking is a leading cause of calorie burn resulting in a major drain on our food supply, reduce your personal carbon footprint (carne-asada burrito emissions) by eating less and driving more often. Driving more also eliminates exercise-related injuries thereby lowering the cost of health care in America. We really should stop being so selfish and think of the future by driving a bit more often. Please, think of the children and do the right thing…drive!
Dave

Last weekend I drove up the Sacramento Valley, CA on I5, nearly flat, good weather, light winds, and kept my R53 S at 60 mph (limit is 70). I got 35.9 mpg calculated (36.1 on computer). I usually get 31-32 mpg on this stretch going about the speed limit.

We plan to replace our station wagon (26 mph highway) with a Diesel vehicle later this year. Mini needs to bring in the Cooper D!
VMMVMMM

nice
Philip

Today’s price of one gallon 98 ROZ in Frankfurt, Germany = US$ 9.24
john mcilroy

The US gallon is nearly a liter less than the UK version.Gas is now over $10 a gallon in the Uk now. The $ is in the toilet because the FED is printing money like its going out of fashion. Thats why Gas is so expensive. A $1 1940 WAS WORTH ABOUT $14.11 NOW. That make your $ today would be worth 7 cents .
glangford

I’ve always been sensitive to gas mileage in my driving. I remember the gas lines of the 70s all to well. I’ve always driven four cylinder cars since then. Even in the late 90s with one dollar gas I kept telling my wife this isn’t going to last. In 04 I drove a friend’s MCS and loved it. I thought about getting one, in researching MPG the Accord got about the same mileage, so I got it. When we decided on the Accord, I toyed around with the V-6, but opted for the 2.4 L four cylinder. (Also partly due to the fact the V-6 used the timing belt, the four had gone to a timing chain.)

Then the second gen came out and I bought a MC as a second car. I had toyed around of getting a 250 cc vespa for my 8 mile commute to work, but my wife really didn’t like that idea. When I told her I was going to look at one, she suggested the mini and I started researching the second gen. Opted for the MC rated at 32/40 and absolutely love it. Around town in mixed driving my OBC is usually around 37-39 mpg and on a highway run it is 43-46 mpg. I drive conservatively try to stay around the speed limit and as noted this does affect mpg. Just monitor the instantaneous mpg with varying driving and you’ll soon realize that your driving habits matter.
Ken E.

Lee L May 1st, 2008 Link I am just tired of people coming up to me at gas stations to tell me how I must be so glad to have this car with gas prices so high! When I tell them I get 24-25 MPG with a 75-25 mix of highway and city and it takes premium, they shut up real fast. I wish I could get the mileages people are saying here. I have a 2004 MCS. The best I ever got was drving pretty early AM on a trip of about 140 miles putting the cruise right at the speed limit of 65 mph and that was just a tick over 30 MPG.

Lee, You didnâ€™t say auto or manual, pulley exhaust or any other mods. I have a Milltek exhaust, 15% pulley, JCW intake and 17â€ wheels. I donâ€™t the wheel size makes much difference but I know the exhaust, pulley and intake, w/a free flow filter, do.

If you are running bone stock, get a pulley installed and see if that helps. The factory pulley should have been the 15% reduction that everyone seems to be adding. Once you do that, go to a free flow filter with your current air box, add an exhaust down the road. That should get you better mileage and performance. Those mods will improve mileage. Well that and lifting between lights and easing off the line. I get 24 city/highway on a 20 mile commute and 33 with out trying on longer trips. I’m sure it helps that Illinios is as flat as a pancake.
http://el.blu-iguana.us J/C

Does it change the way I drive? I haven’t slowed down my driving but I do tend to drive less. Part of driving less is to save for our annual trips to my wife’s hometown. Last summer we drove my MC from SoCal to Chicago and back, putting in about 4500 miles. Will fuel prices stop this? Nope. (air travel is also affected somewhat)

Could petrol prices potentially change what I drive? No, I’ll still want to drive a MINI. It’s the most fun car I’ve ever owned.

Does this change what I value in the MINI? I believe I answered that in my response above.

At what point do I start to reconsider the fastest MINI out there and opt for the most efficient? I’m already at that point.
ie

I have definetlly changed my driving habits in my 06 MCS and have noticed a significant difference- 30MPG average. I’d say that’s pretty damn good. Keeping the tires at 40, my foot light, and the K&N filter make all the difference.
But, if the diesel came over here…I’d trade in a second for 70 MPG!
allenski

I am definately more conscious of my speed, and I’ve cut down the number of ‘long’ weekend trips this year. But I’m still content with my R53 2006 MCS.
http://www.motorkultTV.com iriemanhq

I will admit that my situation is pretty odd/unique so please don’t hate me: I have a 4-minute commute and tend to drive roughly an additional 50 miles a week beyond that. Throw in the occasional 100-200+ mile “fun run”/road trip per month, and I’m still far under average fuel usage. I could walk to work but when you calculate time (12 minutes walking) vs. money (filling up once a week, maybe), it is still more efficient for me to drive. Or I could just be really lazy, I don’t know. Everyone else I know drives big trucks or luxury cars so, while I am feeling the pinch, I am still very much not in a position to complain about gas prices within my circle of friends.

I still put in $40 per fill up- Although it don’t go as far, so I’m still not feeling it mentally. Perhaps when $40 only gets me 3/4 of a tank, reality will set in.

I am in SoCal where, as I post this, Premium is at about $4.15 at the “expensive” stations.
Rocketboy

4 Nos.

And Iriemanhq.. I have you beat, I have a 3 minute commute… :)
Scott

I have an R56 MCS, and do mostly around town driving. Average MPG is 23.75 as I calculate, and 24.7 as calculated by the trip computer. Is anyone else noticing that the trip computer MPG varies between 1 and 2 MPG compared to actual?

Overall I’m quite happy with the fuel economy – having traded in a Volvo wagon which averaged about 15 mpg.

When you compare MPG to FPG (Fun Per Gallon) the MINI is a winner in my book.
Johan

Witch Mini would you guys choose if you had the Swedish gas prices? About 8$ a gallon?
modboi

riding my fixie more than driving my mini
Paul Atkins

In the UK at one of the cheaper petrol stations I am now paying Â£1.08 a litre (UK) Â£4.91 a gallon (UK) . I think that works out to around $9.69 per gallon (US).

I am getting 40mpg (US) from my Dec07 Mini Cooper. On a weekly run of 85% 60-70mph and the rest urban driving.

1 gallon US = 0.83267418 UK.
Evan

I have an ’04 MC manual. If I only drive in the city I get 25-27mpg. And that’s not being too agressive with the throttle. Once I add in some highway it bumps up to 30mpg. Then, if I do only highway I’m consistently around 35mpg.

However, my last drive from Chicago to Massachusetts, I did the test of lowering my average speed from 75-78mph to cruise at 72mph. I got to 38-39mpg. So, I’ve changed my highway driving style due to gas prices. An extra 30-40 miles per tank makes a difference.

We’re actually moving to Boston, so we’re selling my wife’s Civic which is great on gas- better in the city than the MINI but not as fun with the same highway mileage. We’ll also be biking/walking everywhere and using the MINI to get out of the city when needed.

Next car will be in 3yrs. If there’s a Clubman Cooper D, that will be it. If there’s a 4-cylinder BMW diesel (1er or 3er) that will be it. Otherwise, we’ll be going for a Clubman S. The mileage is good and the fun to be tapped into is quite deep!
http://www.riotcomputertechnology.com zoomer

I have an ’06 MCS SB/S Manual, and it’s been ok on gas; also about 25-27 mpg (average). I live in Southern Connecticut. I don’t blame the car itself, and I do like the performance that the R53 gives me. With that, I think that we should be proud to own a car that gives us such reliability and performance. There are several other options out there, but are they in the same category as the MINI? I think not. I was looking at the Smart and you wouldn’t catch me in one of those. The competition between both cars, the MINI comes out waaaay ahead, and I’m not talking straight fuel economy. My point is this; we should be proud that we are doing what we can to drive as efficiently as we can – and we need to try and enjoy our cars as much as possible. If financial constraint is a problem today, that is understandable. I think the ones that should be ashamed are not the R53 drivers, but rather the under-18 mpg vehicle owners, because most of the time those types of vehicles are just not necessary, in my opinion.

Then there’s the political reason of why the gas price is so high, which I won’t get into, but if the price were much lower, then we’d see more of those under-18 mpg vehicle owners out there, so which one’s better? Drive the R53 and enjoy its reliability, quirks, and performance ;-)
http://N/A Craig

Just a gas update here. Gas DROPPED 6 cents a gallon overnight. At first I thought I had one to many last night!! But no the 92OT was down to $3.79 a gallon and with my .30 cents off using my Martins Gas card I filled up for $27.30….7.8 gallons @ $3.49 gal and averaged 23mpg. Pretty good as this was all stop and go driving and no highway with a bit of a heavy foot, the weather was just perfect, a good enough excuse!!!!! I’m happy and so is my wallet!!!
Lee

What? You drive a MINI and gas is killing you?? Are you serious?
http://dbmini.us DB

Whatâ€™s the best way to juice my R50 for all itâ€™s worth MPG-wise?

My ’03 R50 (with almost 190K miles on the odo) is still pulling down 30-32 average with my horrible, traffic filled 110 mile round-trip commute. If I’m driving highway only, it gets closer to 36 (with A/C on at 73ish MPH).

If you are looking to boost the mileage in your R50, get rid of the factory exhaust and intake. I installed the Borla Exhaust and K&N Typhoon Intake and realized 5mpg increase immediately. As an added bonus you get a bit more horsepower (about 11 in my case) and the sound is awesome! Especially those times when you need to push the revs in 3rd to overtake that numbskull in the SUV on the freeway, Starbucks in one hand, texting on their iPhone in the other.
Aussom

I’m happy with the fuel economy of my ’02 MCS due to economies of highway driving. Increasing fuel prices mean I take it out for less trips on the weekends and shop around for cheaper Premium fuel. Have tried to use lower octane E10 blend fuel with the engine experiencing a misfire into ‘limp home’ mode.

The only modification I’ve made to my ’02 MCS is to upgrade the air filter to a K&N performance model. I’ll upgrade my exhaust system when the current one from new breaks down (6 years old and still counting).

When you sit down and do the calculations it’s not worth paying a small fortune to upgrade engine components for marginal fuel efficiency gains unless if it’s tied in with a major service, plus you can lose a lot of money trading in for a different model.

I’ll wait for turbo (or twin turbo ‘S’ models if available) diesel model to come out.
Big Jim Swade

I would have ordered a Clubman D if it were available here, but I went with the Clubman S. I still haven’t taken delivery of it yet, but I sure wish it would get here (scheduled for June).

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