Member Engine Poll (1 of 3)-Displacement

[theholycow]

Five cylinders... All the power of a four-banger, all the fuel economy of a six

36mpg. And you?

[watkins]

If thats highway I can easily match or beat that. Ive gotten 33.3 on 35mph back roads without trying

[theholycow]

60% country/town roads, 40% highway.

Edit: I guess I'd see if I could pull that off with a V6...

[RITmusic2k]

2.3L, and under pressure.

[watkins]

Having you and your damn Viggen on here makes me want one even more. Its like Im being haunted

[RITmusic2k]

BOO!

Yeah, I know that feeling. I bought my first Saab back in April, and it was a base model 9-3. The envy went all the way up the ladder.

I got very lucky with the opportunity to buy the Vig. There are deals to be found, and I'm sure there's one near enough to you to check out.

[Bawked]

If thats highway I can easily match or beat that. Ive gotten 33.3 on 35mph back roads without trying

Who tries for fuel economy??

A car is for thrashing, especially if its turboed. I never try for economy, i just drive for fun. 21mpg so you can tell how i drive.

[watkins]

I try for economy when Im unemployed but still drive a lot. Or now when my driving situation is such that I would be getting about 18mpg without some minor hypermiling.

[noob5,000,000]

I don't even want to know what kind of mileage I got in the FC when it was somewhat driveable. Since it ran on 1 rotor, you have to go WOT everywhere and shift at redline in any gear just to get anywhere. Glad I only drove 34 miles (over a span of a few weeks) that way.

[comingbackdown]

If thats highway I can easily match or beat that. Ive gotten 33.3 on 35mph back roads without trying

Who tries for fuel economy??

People who don't have the cash to f**k around wasting gas, like me and a lot of people who are and aren't on the forums.

[jory543]

I drove my Spirit like it was a diesel, didn't even have to go over 1200 to get going at a good pace. Damn I want another 3 liter car to drop my motor into. Low end torque FTW.

[permabanned]

theres no point in trying to get good gas mileage in the winter with the winter blend flammable piss at the gas station and the dense cold air making your shit inject more gas. winter is snow dorifto time

[theholycow]

theres no point in trying to get good gas mileage in the winter

Yes there is...making my mortgage payment and buying heating oil is more important than indulging in a little extra speed.

with the winter blend flammable piss at the gas station and the dense cold air making your shit inject more gas. winter is snow dorifto time

Dense cold air doesn't make your car run rich; the more fuel that's injected isn't out of proportion with the more mass of air that has entered the engine. It just means you have to back off the throttle a little; the end result is that it's slightly less efficient due to extra pumping losses as it struggles to pull denser air past the smaller throttle opening.

Some of the other factors contributing to lower winter fuel economy:
- Winter blend gas may contain less energy, I don't know.
- Idling to warm up the car.
- Extended warm-up time even if you don't idle; it's less efficient when it's cold.
- Extra electrical usage; headlights and wipers don't make the alternator suck down 10% of your horsepower, but they DO have an effect.
- Rolling resistance as you slosh through snow and potholes.
- Driving style changes to compensate for, or exploit (donuts and powerslides, anyone?), slick surfaces.

Still, when it's all said and done, winter doesn't mean it's time to give up...at least not if you've got bills to pay.

[watkins]

Winter = Poor man's turbo

[theholycow]

No. As a demonstration, try sucking water (thin) through a straw (large), then try sucking a milkshake (thick) through a coffee stirrer (small). See how much effort it takes to get the same mass of each into your mouth.

I know there must be something wrong with that comparison, but I can't think of what...