97 Mountaineer w/ 302 MPG

[SN95GT50]

What are people getting around town with this vehicle? I am only going about 6 miles each way to work and the vehicle hardly gets a chance to warm up. I am getting ~10MPG. Seems a bit low, what is everyone else getting?

John

[shorod]

Well, it seems like this topic comes up quite often. There are many factors that play into individual fuel economy. Driving style, environmental conditions (such as temperature, altitude, and number of hills), how acceleration from stop habits, how much "junk is in your trunk," vehicle maintenance habits, etc.

I use ethanol fuel and drive rather aggressively. I have a 3.5 mile commute to and from work (7 mi round trip) and the drive is pretty flat. I get around 11 mpg in city. Highway I usually get around 15-17 mpg. If I run regular unleaded, my city economy improves slightly, but the truck doesn't seem as responsive to the throttle. Plus, here in Iowa, ethanol is less per gallon than regular unleaded.

-Rod

[SN95GT50]

Sounds like we are in about the same boat for mileage, sounds like our driving habits are quite similiar. Where are you in IA? I just moved to Des Moines thus the reason for the Mountaineer, 5.0L Mustang just was not cutting it.

I am driving up to Spencer this weekend, I will see what I get then.

SN95GT50

[shorod]

I'm in Cedar Rapids. Welcome to Iowa!

If you're ever in Ames, make sure to eat at Hickory Park!

-Rod

[SN95GT50]

I just moved here from Atlanta, started in MN, graduated BSEE ISU, then Chicago, then Atlanta then Iowa. Been to Hickory Park many times, always a good recommendation.

Thanks,
SN95GT50

[shorod]

Ahh, a fellow Cyclone, I'm also a BSEE.

-Rod

[SN95GT50]

I graduated in 90 from ISU.

[shorod]

You were a few years ahead of me then, I graduated in 1999.

-Rod