Gas prices (and diesel prices) aren’t exactly great right now. There is a war on, or a few actually, and that’s doing little to help the situation. That leads me to today’s Autopian Asks—what’s the worst fuel economy you’re willing to put up with?
Of course, this applies strictly to cars that burn fossil fuels. We can argue about how many fathoms per joule you get out of your EV, but it’s just going to confuse things. We’re talkin’ liquids here, baby.
This question is one that is important car enthusiasts and normies alike. If you’re into cars, you’re probably willing to trade off some fuel economy for better performance, or for a vehicle that truly lights up your heart. If you’re a normie, you might see cars as appliances, and you just want the best efficiency possible. Alternatively, you might demand a certain level of luxury or cargo space at the cost of some extra fuel burn.
I grew up during the turmoil of the second Gulf War, albeit in the safe confines of Australia. We saw our gas prices hit new highs, and I was stuck driving a 1992 Ford Falcon. It had no working odometer, so I couldn’t accurately measure its fuel economy. Regardless, that 4.0-liter six sure loved to suck down the dino juice, and I’d estimate it was pulling down around 15 L/100 km around town, or around 15 mpg in your American money.
That formative experience routinely sent me broke. Since then, I’ve owned a wide variety of cars, and I’ve settled on a figure I find comfortable. It’s 10 L/100 km, or about 23 mpg. My 1998 Mercedes E240, 1992 Daihatsu Feroza, and 1992 Mazda Miata all hit about this mark. They were all cool in their own ways, and they justified their fuel use in turn.
I’ve had more efficient cars, of course. My BMW 320D routinely achieves 29 mpg or better. My 1989 Mazda 121 was a star at 36 mpg. That made them more attractive. By contrast, I felt strongly compelled to sell my Volvo 740 Turbo wagon when its fuel economy mysteriously slipped from 19 mpg to 15 mpg over a few months.
My question to you is thus—what’s the worst fuel economy you’re willing to put up with and why? Maybe it’s for performance, maybe it’s for seating, maybe you’re making a trade-off by running big chunky mud tires. Sound off and tell me how much pain you can take at the pump!
I get about 13-15 mpg in my Chevy Avalanche, and I can live with it. Then again, I work remote so I don’t have to commute with that kind of mpg.
Wife drives roughly 8k a year. I drive roughly 9k. We could probably get by with one car getting 20 mpg or thereabouts as long as one vehicle was getting 30+.
Currently I drive a prius and wife drives an Elantra. And the plan is for whenever its time to replace a vehicle to get something large like an explorer, Siena, or highlander that can tow a small trailer for home depot runs or tow my lawn mower. Also considering a nissan frontier with the 6 foot bed option and getting a camper top to keep cargo dry.
Wife drives roughly 8k a year. I drive roughly 9k. We could probably get by with one car getting 20 mpg or thereabouts as long as one vehicle was getting 30+.
Currently I drive a prius and wife drives an Elantra. And the plan is for whenever its time to replace a vehicle to get something large like an explorer, Siena, or highlander that can tow a small trailer for home depot runs or tow my lawn mower. Also considering a nissan frontier with the 6 foot bed option and getting a camper top to keep cargo dry.
The worst fuel economy I could put up with is 15 mpg and that would have to be a working truck. I had an old Dodge Ram (yes, that old) that used to get 13.3 mpg no matter what I did with it. Unloaded driving to work? 13.3 mpg average. Towing a uhaul trailer with a fully loaded bed to help my friend move from Tacoma, WA, to SLC? 13.3 mpg. I’d like to think we’ve progressed in terms of technology in the past 15 or so years so that I could expect a work truck to get 15 mpg.
In terms of family haulers or a daily I’d say 20 mpg (average) minimum since that’s my current life. My 2000 STI averages about 22-25 and that’s with me beating on it at least once a day. Mrs. GK’s family haulers typically average 20 mpg and I don’t think that’s bad considering we like to road trip with 3 kids and I am not a small man (I like space to maneuver). All that said, I’m hoping my next daily can pull a respectable 30+ mpg average.
Bro, it only has to be older than 2010 to be a Dodge and a Ram at the same time, and that’s not old at all.
The worst fuel economy I could put up with is 15 mpg and that would have to be a working truck. I had an old Dodge Ram (yes, that old) that used to get 13.3 mpg no matter what I did with it. Unloaded driving to work? 13.3 mpg average. Towing a uhaul trailer with a fully loaded bed to help my friend move from Tacoma, WA, to SLC? 13.3 mpg. I’d like to think we’ve progressed in terms of technology in the past 15 or so years so that I could expect a work truck to get 15 mpg.
In terms of family haulers or a daily I’d say 20 mpg (average) minimum since that’s my current life. My 2000 STI averages about 22-25 and that’s with me beating on it at least once a day. Mrs. GK’s family haulers typically average 20 mpg and I don’t think that’s bad considering we like to road trip with 3 kids and I am not a small man (I like space to maneuver). All that said, I’m hoping my next daily can pull a respectable 30+ mpg average.
Bro, it only has to be older than 2010 to be a Dodge and a Ram at the same time, and that’s not old at all.
20 mpg is the lowest, for a car thats a drivers car. I.E. Acura Integra S. 30 or so highway
20 mpg is the lowest, for a car thats a drivers car. I.E. Acura Integra S. 30 or so highway
My Z4 M Coupe averages 17.6 MPG and I can’t imagine getting worse than that for my daily driver, so that’s my floor.
That’s about what my LS400 averages (on premium, no less) and that’s my floor too. I only justify it because it’s cheaper to fuel the beast than buy a new car
My Z4 M Coupe averages 17.6 MPG and I can’t imagine getting worse than that for my daily driver, so that’s my floor.
That’s about what my LS400 averages (on premium, no less) and that’s my floor too. I only justify it because it’s cheaper to fuel the beast than buy a new car
My old daily (105 series landcruiser – 4.5L 6cyl) would get around 20L/100km or 11mpg in freedom units doing the usual errands, and an absurd 30L/100km (7.8mpg) when towing. At the time petrol here was hovering over $2/L and this “cheap” old truck was getting pricey quick.
It would be hard to justify a daily driver that consumed the old dinosaur juice at such a rate of knots, a weekend toy maybe…..
My old daily (105 series landcruiser – 4.5L 6cyl) would get around 20L/100km or 11mpg in freedom units doing the usual errands, and an absurd 30L/100km (7.8mpg) when towing. At the time petrol here was hovering over $2/L and this “cheap” old truck was getting pricey quick.
It would be hard to justify a daily driver that consumed the old dinosaur juice at such a rate of knots, a weekend toy maybe…..
I’m currently living with 7.5mpg until I get my r53 put back together. But as my commute is only 14 miles each day it’s only costing me about $8 so I’ll deal with it until I can have the mini back.
Sheesh. What vehicle?
1990 f350 4×4 4 door long bed with a 460 big block. Only 130k miles on it though so there’s that. I bought it because I actually use it for truck jobs, but was using my old commuter as a daily then the mini but that’s out of commission for the time being so now I get to watch the fuel gauge move.
lol – My Model 3 can travel 246 miles on $8 worth of electricity!!!
I could drive your commute 17+ times before I spent that amount of money ????
I’m currently living with 7.5mpg until I get my r53 put back together. But as my commute is only 14 miles each day it’s only costing me about $8 so I’ll deal with it until I can have the mini back.
Sheesh. What vehicle?
1990 f350 4×4 4 door long bed with a 460 big block. Only 130k miles on it though so there’s that. I bought it because I actually use it for truck jobs, but was using my old commuter as a daily then the mini but that’s out of commission for the time being so now I get to watch the fuel gauge move.
lol – My Model 3 can travel 246 miles on $8 worth of electricity!!!
I could drive your commute 17+ times before I spent that amount of money ????
I put up with ~25mpg from a 2004 Mazda3 beater. If I were to buy a new ICE car, I wouldn’t settle for less than 30mpg combined.
I put up with ~25mpg from a 2004 Mazda3 beater. If I were to buy a new ICE car, I wouldn’t settle for less than 30mpg combined.
My daily driver is a 95 525i that averages 24-25mpg on the highway, and that’s some of the best mileage I’ve had out of any car I’ve owned. If I drove any slower than 85-90 everywhere I’d probably get better fuel economy, since my 5th gear is a 1:1 and the engine is screaming at 4000rpm on the highway.
My daily driver is a 95 525i that averages 24-25mpg on the highway, and that’s some of the best mileage I’ve had out of any car I’ve owned. If I drove any slower than 85-90 everywhere I’d probably get better fuel economy, since my 5th gear is a 1:1 and the engine is screaming at 4000rpm on the highway.
My 2002 F150 with the 5.4 does 11 city 15 highway, but is only driven 4000 miles a year so what I save by having an old and paid for truck offsets the fuel cost. For my primary ride I want 20-30 mpg.
That’s really bad, I’m used to modular motors getting at least 15, and I’ve heard of as high as 19 in a crew cab pickup. My Expedition gets like 13-14 city, and it weighs literally one Volkswagen beetle more than your f150.
I have a suspicion that my mileage is off from oversized tires and the engine has some kind of tune, still better mileage than my son’s Suburban with a 350
My 2002 F150 with the 5.4 does 11 city 15 highway, but is only driven 4000 miles a year so what I save by having an old and paid for truck offsets the fuel cost. For my primary ride I want 20-30 mpg.
That’s really bad, I’m used to modular motors getting at least 15, and I’ve heard of as high as 19 in a crew cab pickup. My Expedition gets like 13-14 city, and it weighs literally one Volkswagen beetle more than your f150.
I have a suspicion that my mileage is off from oversized tires and the engine has some kind of tune, still better mileage than my son’s Suburban with a 350
Two different answers to this one. Useful driving? At least 45 MPG, as I am spoiled by owning a Prius in various versions since 2006. My two trucks get around 11 MPG, and that’s on a good day, but they are old trucks, so whatever.
Two different answers to this one. Useful driving? At least 45 MPG, as I am spoiled by owning a Prius in various versions since 2006. My two trucks get around 11 MPG, and that’s on a good day, but they are old trucks, so whatever.
I own a 35 Foot Class A motor home that is running a 6.8 L V-10 engine and gets 5.5 – 6.5 MPG, I really can’t expect it to be efficient!
I own a 35 Foot Class A motor home that is running a 6.8 L V-10 engine and gets 5.5 – 6.5 MPG, I really can’t expect it to be efficient!
Our 2021 F150 Lariat with the 2.7 has been averaging 10L/100km, or 23.5mpg. I’d say that’s about as much as I feel comfortable with for a mixed-use, everyday work and personal vehicle.
Qualifying that, our previous 2011 Forester got about the same or worse, which makes the F150’s similar fuel costs seem very reasonable considering the drastic difference in size and capability.
If we didn’t live in a rural area with 90% smooth 2-lane highways, we probably would have gone for a hybrid sedan or CUV, and cheaper work-only truck. . As it stands, the one reasonably efficient ‘Do everything’ truck is working out pretty well.
Our 2021 F150 Lariat with the 2.7 has been averaging 10L/100km, or 23.5mpg. I’d say that’s about as much as I feel comfortable with for a mixed-use, everyday work and personal vehicle.
Qualifying that, our previous 2011 Forester got about the same or worse, which makes the F150’s similar fuel costs seem very reasonable considering the drastic difference in size and capability.
If we didn’t live in a rural area with 90% smooth 2-lane highways, we probably would have gone for a hybrid sedan or CUV, and cheaper work-only truck. . As it stands, the one reasonably efficient ‘Do everything’ truck is working out pretty well.