Fuel Economy

[Ron]

to give you guys an update, just finished a 4200km road trip from Vancouver to Yellowstone National Park and back. Total overall average was about 6.1km/100km for the whole trip, or 38.5mpg. Not a fantastic number imo, but taken into account that 1/4-1/3 of the driving was done at 110km/h-130km/h (70-85mph), it was to be expected. I drive a 5dr auto liftback, had my fiance and myself in the car with the rearseats folded down and the back packed with camp gear. Even managed to fit a wedding dress in the back on the way home :)

In Yellowstone Park, we saw a fantabulous reading of 405km with the 4th bar of gas just expiring from a regular fill up, on the way to a 700km tank! I usually read about or just under 300km at this point when I am commuting to work and driving about in the city. I attribute this to travelling at speeds of 70-85km/h (~45'ish mph) and longer trips than typical city driving, although we did stop, start and go to see all the different things and wildlife in the park.

This was not my ideal choice in roadtrip vehicle, but her car was in the bodyshop due to an accident. The versatility of the hatch was great, we would have preferred to have the privacy of her trunk though. My lowering springs provided a decent but stiff ride. The only thing I really wished for was cruise control, but life goes on. We found out that it was a great roadtrip vehicle for the future, for the two of us anyways, and came up 20% under our planned fuel budget for the trip if we were to use her car!

[swng]

Thank you Ron for the vivid description.
I believe the 38.5 mpg number you quoted refers to the US gallon. It is perfect to quote mpg numbers in US gallons terms but for additional reference purposes I would like to add that 6.1 liters per 100 km should be about 46.33 miles per Imperial gallon, good considering the load that you carried and all other factors that you described in your above post.
You mentioned something about a wedding dress. I wish to say "Congratulations!"
Also, nice pictures!

[Goalie]

I put this on another 07 VS 08 thread but did you guys notice that the 08 brocures reduce the mileage estimates reduced from 40 down to 36 MPG. Any info there or thougths?? Does this reflect 07 false estimates???

Just got my 07 LB today!!! Sweeeeeeet.

[BailOut]

The 2008 MPG numbers are lower because the EPA has changed their testing to be more like how a country full of aggressive, testosterone-infested, jerk-headed and inattentive drivers drive rather than how intelligent, level-headed and attentive people are expected and intended to drive.

[alhope34]

So basically, more realistic mpg then? Seems like the better idea, nobody who would drive normally would ever get the mpg most companies claimed their cars to get. The most mpg I've calculated on the Yaris for one tank of gas was 32mpg. Refilled at 1/4 tank, forget how many km's but it was 100% highway.

[bnther36]

I went through 3 brand new cars in 7 months for exactly that reason...they didn't do what was advertised on the sticker. I've only ever had 2 cars that exceeded what the sticker said. The first was a Chevy Cavalier and the second is my Yaris.

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by BailOut

The 2008 MPG numbers are lower because the EPA has changed their testing to be more like how a country full of aggressive, testosterone-infested, jerk-headed and inattentive drivers drive rather than how intelligent, level-headed and attentive people are expected and intended to drive.

I agree, I just had my worst FE by far on a tank and it's because I was going 120km/h with the A/C trying to stay ahead of the insane long weekend traffic using e10 gas. We avoided the traffic, but I got 5.889 l/100km over that 448kms of Highway driving.

Currently in Canada the Yaris Sedan Auto is rated at 5.6, so you have to definately drive outside of the bounds to not get the epa.

[black2yaris]

if I can keep my foot out of it .. I get about 39/40 mpg just driving normally as half my commute is freeway ,the rest is crossing San Francisco on City streets ..

[roxy84]

sorry, but i think its B.S. when people say "no one can drive normally and get posted mileage figures" or "we need more realistic figures."

on this forum and corolla forums, there are tons of people who drive their corollas and yarii "normally" (that is which minimal effort, just driving reasonably) who get or exceed the pre 2008 mileage figures.

i think MOST drivers are in denial about their driving habits. some people may have gotten cars that are mileage "lemons", but those are few and far between.

[black2yaris]

Originally Posted by roxy84

sorry, but i think its B.S. when people say "no one can drive normally and get posted mileage figures" or "we need more realistic figures."

Hey most people who say they can't get the listed milage figures, have No Idea on what their driving style really is ! They don't seem to look way down the road at all .The clueless slam on brakes just when they get close to a light , nail it when it turns green just to slam on brakes agin a block down the road at the next light , these are the same people who creast a hill with their foot in it then hit the brakes & stay on the brakes , half way down the other side of the hill . These people are the ones on yer ass following way to close, hitting the binders & gas petal in rapid order all the while Yakkin' on the cell & flashing their lites at you just cause you got 2 M/T car lengths in front of yourself . Now i'm no pussy when when it comes to driving , I nail it when i have to, pop off the line when needed to change lanes / pass someone . but I am aware of what is going on around me & in front of me . My brakes last a long time . a clear sign that i drive Smart ! OK, Rant Over !

[Goalie]

You would ditch a car if it did not get the mileage advertised??? How did you pull that off at the dealer. Did they actually take the car back or penalize you on miles, depreciation and the like?

My 96 Ford Aspire 1.3 ltr did anywhere from 37-42MPG in summer and 34-38MPG in winter. I assume the warm ups and cold did that. The hotter it got, like over 85Deg, the better mileage it got. Hate to see it go. Bought it for 300 bucks, put on 70K and sold it for 500. People were having bidding wars at work to get that car from me. Took care of it and did good maintenance on it. It leaves tomorrow.

[swng]

I agree to some salient points raised in some of the above posts and appreciate members' interest in the subject of this thread.
Most people who regularly visit this forum/thread know why some people don't get good fuel economy. In fact, as far as the Yaris is concerned, if the goal is just to achieve EPA rated fuel economy, particulary the numbers that have been made more "realistic" recently, a driver just has to follow the free advice published widely by concerned parties all the time (http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid...l+economy+tips). Basically, the guidelines consist of steps more or less like those shown here:
http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/sea...cles/1687.aspx
There may still be many other sites that offer very similar advices. Some links have already been suggested in several previous posts here.

[sherryberry]

I already know what my driving style is. Sometimes I am in a rush so I do gas it and I don't like people passing me so I go faster to keep them from passing. I don't slam on the brakes a lot though. Just reasonably normal stopping. However, I have always gotten the posted city mileage.. except once when I wasn't the one driving. I always drive city and it's always 35mpg so it's accurate enough for me.

[swng]

Originally Posted by sherryberry

I already know what my driving style is. Sometimes I am in a rush so I do gas it and I don't like people passing me so I go faster to keep them from passing. I don't slam on the brakes a lot though. Just reasonably normal stopping. However, I have always gotten the posted city mileage.. except once when I wasn't the one driving. I always drive city and it's always 35mpg so it's accurate enough for me.

Good to know! Your post confirms my observation that one does not have to exert undue efforts to get the EPA rated fuel economy. One just has to follow the guite general guidelines suggested by my humble self and other members here time and again. Thank you! As far as not letting people pass you, do it as you like and as long as it is safe. Your results are already quite satisfactory and from what you have described, it seems that you only have to pay a little more attention to the various fuel saving techniques to accomplish an even better result. Shouldn't be difficult. Also, "my" Yaris is now driven by my wife more. I do not have absolute control over the car's overall F.E. Yet, I have to let her drive. More mileage on the road generally means better safety.
Safe and happy motoring to you and everyone!

[landrym28]

Originally Posted by sherryberry

I already know what my driving style is. Sometimes I am in a rush so I do gas it and I don't like people passing me so I go faster to keep them from passing.

Seriously, I hate it when people do that...but since you're driving a Yaris, I'll let it go

[sherryberry]

well, it's more like when the lanes are turning into one lane and I can tell this person who has been behind me this whole entire time and they suddenly speed up to try and pass me and I know that they are going to get right back to being slow once the road has merged. That's usually why I do it. Other than that, I'm nice enough

[Goalie]

Does Toyota mess around with Flex Fuel set up's like Ford and Chevy? My 06 Camry is not approved. Nor is the Yaris. Never looked into that with any of the Toyota line up. Lots of E85 here in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

[swng]

Originally Posted by Goalie

Does Toyota mess around with Flex Fuel set up's like Ford and Chevy? My 06 Camry is not approved. Nor is the Yaris. Never looked into that with any of the Toyota line up. Lots of E85 here in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

You are probably right. According to P.178 of my owner's manual, ethanol up to 10% or MTBE up to 15% should be acceptable. The descriptions about what fuel to use are actually found on P.178-179. My car is a 06 RS Hatchback (Canadian model). I think the manuals for other Yari should probably contain similar descriptions. They are too long for here and I recommend that interested members read their own manuals for accurate and detailed information.
BTW, P.218-219 of my manual are about how to get good fuel economy and help extend the life of the car.