Fuel Mileage

[focusyn]

Originally Posted by Gasaraki

I have a AT and the very best I can do is 25mpg and that doing 65 on the highway. City driving I get like below 20mpg which sucks! I change air filters, oil, etc. Is there anyway to improve this. I was thinking of getting a cold air intake and catback. Will that improve my gas economy?


BTW how big is my gas tank? My calcualtion is that it's around 12 gallons.

The A/T Subaru uses is just awful. IMHO, The first three gears are too short and the overdrive is too long for the amount of power the engine has. Apparently the A/T is designed to "torque" the engine along, but it doesn't have enough torque to really do that. Unless you live someplace flat, then it could be OK.

But the combination of 165hp 4 cylinder and AWD is too much for the gearing of the automatic. My wife doesn't drive standard shift or else we would have gotten a 5 spd. The extra ratio would make a big difference. I'm interested in seeing how the new Turbo car drives with a 5 spd automatic. That would fix the problem of low power and not enough gears. Except the turbo version I saw at the Detroit auto show gets worse mileage period.

Not sure if a CAI or cat-back exhaust would improve the mileage enough for the cost.

[whynott10]

I bought a 04 35th anniversery sedan in June, I've gotten as high as 28 mpg and as low as 22 mpg. My average is around 26 mpg, this is on a daily drive of 50 miles (each way to work). It is all highway and I drive around 62 mph, but with each tank I'll have a couple spells of 80 - 90 mph for maybe 2 or 3 minutes. I pass any thing I come up on, so I'm sure a more conservative driver could get the average up on my car.

I agree; I also bought an 04 last year and my mileage was up around 27-28 mpg - all highway. Now I have 25k on it and my mpg has slipped to around 25mpg. At 25k now is the time to start changing filters and stuff so my mileage should bump up a bit. I am having trouble finding an air filter that wil fit, it seems they put a 6cyl type air box on instead of the traditional 4. All the numbers at the auto stores are wrong now! But I digress...
As for tires I have upgraded to Goodyear Assurance. With 5k on them I have to say they're awesome!!! My wife claims she "floats" to work and the snow traction is great!

[Gen JeFT]

Originally Posted by Will2

After reading all mileage information ,I sure appreciate the 90 Legacy I have. What ever happened to Time=Improvement in technology= Better gas mileage. Sure my car is not as new and it's 2 wheel dr. But I wouldn't give up my consistant 31 mpg for all that other BS. As far as acceleration, it'll snap your neck when it needs to. But it hardly ever needs too. The speed limits, here in MI., are 70 and 55 on secondary Rds.. Why would I need to go any faster than that?

Ive got a 90 subaru legacy as well. Im getting 31-34 mpg average with a bad clutch and poorly inflated tires (Im saving up to replace the clutch and the old tires at the same time), and this car was rated for 28 mpg at most on the highway. Its also only FWD and the engine probly produces less then the rated 130 hp (its 15 years old afterall) but I love the car for its reliability and efficency. The headgasket was replaced 2 years ago after sitting in the driveway for around 3 years without being driven and in the 2 years since its been fixxed it has never failed to start, it can be -30 with a -50 windchill but when that key is turned it starts everytime. I love it, I wouldent give the car up for anything else.

[rmoore5]

Gen Jeft.. Thanks for the info on the filter, I'll watch for the problem when I replace mine.

Focusyn.. I think the manual transmission would make this car much more fun to drive.

I didn't test drive a manual Legacy but will next time. I did drive the WRX with a manual, it was awesome. I would really consider it if I got the factory discount that I get on the Legacy. Since we don't make the Imprezza at SIA we don't get the money back from the factory like we do on our products.