Gas mileage for a '96 expresso (auto)

[eclipsekid]

I had a conversation with my pop about gas mileage on his '96 Dodge Neon expresso (automatic) that he used to own. He claims that he would get as low as 25 mpg, and once he got 44 MPG's! Now, it's not that I don't believe him, it's just that I find it highly unlikely that he reached 44 mpg's (the 25 mpg's I can see, city driving and all). The car was completely stock and let me say again, an AUTOMATIC. Can everyone clear this up for me and give me your best comparative figures. If this is the case, then screw Hybrid cars, go get a '96 neon!

On another note, my girlfriends 2000 Plymouth Neon only gets around 20 mpg's or so. What gives? As technology advances, shouldn't gas mileage get better with newer models, or at least stay around the same? Did the car get waaay heavier or something, what am I missing? Thanks

[csmoot_213]

Its hard to say one of my buds has a 97 neon and he gets around 600 k to a tank of in city driving and his engine is the dohc where as my 95 neons port only gets say 350k a tank, so i realy dont know, it also depends on how u drive the car to i guess weatehr or not u satrt off slow and dont "burn" gas or if u drive liek me and go balls out off the start

[Beastiek2]

I was getting 300-350 out of a tank on the 97 Expresso. If your getting bad milage have your fuel filter check/replaced and your lines cleaned. Check your plugs and wires as well.