Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet..

wrote in message

> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.
>
> My latest fill...with 180 miles of strictly city (Joliet, it does have
> a lot of lights and stop signs) worked out to a dismal 18 mpg. Never
> seen this bad before. I expect 20-22 in the summer, and maybe 18 in
> real cold weather but wonder if there might be something wrong. The
> car is maintained according to mfrs specs.
>
> Anyone else get this dismal mpg and unable to improve it or
> suggestions on how to? W do have only E-10 has here, but have for
> years.

I have a '97 Outback, and my mechanic says he's rarely seen great mileage
from these cars. Everything from the tires to the roof rack will effect
your mileage. I get about 26 on the highway, but I think I average around
75-80. Also, remember that the estimated mpg that's on the sticker on the
car is calculated by a car running on a treadmill indoors. The only way you
can get close is to drive like you've got a full cup of coffee balanced on
the top of the dash and you don't want to spill it. BTW, it's filled to the
brim and has no top.

Also, my understanding is that ethanol blends will decrease your mileage
figures.
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

kaplan3jiim.RemoveThis@comcast.net wrote:
>
> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.

Hi,

Stupid question: is it an automatic?

Reason I ask is I see greater differentials between city and hwy w/ the
autos I've driven than sticks under the best of conditions, and the
autos seem far more likely to really fall off the edge in city driving
if there's a change in gas, temperature, A/C use, even when it's getting
to be time to change oil, air filters, etc. Just for an example, my old
Subie, 4wd w/ 5spd, gets around 27/28 mpg on the hwy most of the time.
So does my V-6 Camry w/ an auto. But strictly around town, when the
Subie drops to 22-23, the Camry will drop anywhere from 18 down to 15!
It's so dismal, I usually don't drive it unless I can spend most of the
trip on the hwy.

But as already noted, one time averages are often unreliable. Let us
know if it "comes back" when you can get out on the highway.

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:01:31 -0600, "Sheldon"
wrote:

>
> wrote in message
>
>> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
>> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.
>>
>> My latest fill...with 180 miles of strictly city (Joliet, it does have
>> a lot of lights and stop signs) worked out to a dismal 18 mpg. Never
>> seen this bad before. I expect 20-22 in the summer, and maybe 18 in
>> real cold weather but wonder if there might be something wrong. The
>> car is maintained according to mfrs specs.
>>
>> Anyone else get this dismal mpg and unable to improve it or
>> suggestions on how to? W do have only E-10 has here, but have for
>> years.
>
>I have a '97 Outback, and my mechanic says he's rarely seen great mileage
>from these cars. Everything from the tires to the roof rack will effect
>your mileage. I get about 26 on the highway, but I think I average around
>75-80. Also, remember that the estimated mpg that's on the sticker on the
>car is calculated by a car running on a treadmill indoors. The only way you
>can get close is to drive like you've got a full cup of coffee balanced on
>the top of the dash and you don't want to spill it. BTW, it's filled to the
>brim and has no top.
>
>Also, my understanding is that ethanol blends will decrease your mileage
>figures.
>
As per all you said, mymileage has never been great - never matched
the 24 mpg city rating on the sticker. But have never seen 18 mpg
except in the coldest part of winter. Very little chance (out of the
area) to put in non-ethanol gas, but that does seem to help the
mileage.

If I don't put any highway miles on for another 150 miles or so, will
fill it again and combine the two tanks for a better mileage estimate.
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

kaplan3jiim RemoveThis @comcast.net writes:

> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.

Wow, keeping under 705mph must be really hard

FWIW, my 97OBW has been getting ~22mpg on highway (CA gas, ~80mph)
ever since I bought it in 2000.

Recently my wife has been driving it in the city on lots of very
short trips (2-3 miles, lights at every block), and the mileage
dropped to ~18mpg.

Cheers,
--
In order to understand recursion you must first understand recursion.
Remove /-nsp/ for email.
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 21:03:45 -0700, Rick Courtright
wrote:

>kaplan3jiim@comcast.net wrote:
>>
>> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
>> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.
>
>Hi,
>
>Stupid question: is it an automatic?
>
>Reason I ask is I see greater differentials between city and hwy w/ the
>autos I've driven than sticks under the best of conditions, and the
>autos seem far more likely to really fall off the edge in city driving
>if there's a change in gas, temperature, A/C use, even when it's getting
>to be time to change oil, air filters, etc. Just for an example, my old
>Subie, 4wd w/ 5spd, gets around 27/28 mpg on the hwy most of the time.
>So does my V-6 Camry w/ an auto. But strictly around town, when the
>Subie drops to 22-23, the Camry will drop anywhere from 18 down to 15!
>It's so dismal, I usually don't drive it unless I can spend most of the
>trip on the hwy.
>
>But as already noted, one time averages are often unreliable. Let us
>know if it "comes back" when you can get out on the highway.
>
>Rick

Car's an automatic. Curiously enough, the EPA city mileage was 24 on
the auto and 23 on the manual for the '97 stickers. That was one of
the factors influencing my choice. My car's a Brighton Wagon -
stripped model. An AT was an $800 option. But....with the MT, no
tach was standard, or a factory otion!. As I recall a special wiring
harness had to be added to add an aftermarket tach, and the dealer
quote to add a tach was....$800! So I went with the higher mileage
vehicle (in theory) at the same price.

Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 06:32:19 -0700, Paul Pluzhnikov
wrote:

>kaplan3jiim@comcast.net writes:
>
>> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
>> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.

Sorry...I meant 70 (had originally mistyped 65 and forgot to remove
the 5!) I get 27 mpg at 75, but have slowed down recently
>
>Wow, keeping under 705mph must be really hard
>
>FWIW, my 97OBW has been getting ~22mpg on highway (CA gas, ~80mph)
>ever since I bought it in 2000.




>
>Recently my wife has been driving it in the city on lots of very
>short trips (2-3 miles, lights at every block), and the mileage
>dropped to ~18mpg.
>
Ok Thanks.
>Cheers,
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

wrote in message

> On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 21:03:45 -0700, Rick Courtright
> wrote:
>
>>kaplan3jiim@comcast.net wrote:
>>>
>>> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
>>> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>Stupid question: is it an automatic?
>>
>>Reason I ask is I see greater differentials between city and hwy w/ the
>>autos I've driven than sticks under the best of conditions, and the
>>autos seem far more likely to really fall off the edge in city driving
>>if there's a change in gas, temperature, A/C use, even when it's getting
>>to be time to change oil, air filters, etc. Just for an example, my old
>>Subie, 4wd w/ 5spd, gets around 27/28 mpg on the hwy most of the time.
>>So does my V-6 Camry w/ an auto. But strictly around town, when the
>>Subie drops to 22-23, the Camry will drop anywhere from 18 down to 15!
>>It's so dismal, I usually don't drive it unless I can spend most of the
>>trip on the hwy.
>>
>>But as already noted, one time averages are often unreliable. Let us
>>know if it "comes back" when you can get out on the highway.
>>
>>Rick
>
> Car's an automatic. Curiously enough, the EPA city mileage was 24 on
> the auto and 23 on the manual for the '97 stickers. That was one of
> the factors influencing my choice. My car's a Brighton Wagon -
> stripped model. An AT was an $800 option. But....with the MT, no
> tach was standard, or a factory otion!. As I recall a special wiring
> harness had to be added to add an aftermarket tach, and the dealer
> quote to add a tach was....$800! So I went with the higher mileage
> vehicle (in theory) at the same price.
>
> Jim

Mileage aside, I "had" two cars with stick shifts. When I got my Outback I
got an automatic. It's nice to have a choice, and I figured if I ever hurt
either leg or ankle I wouldn't be able to drive, not to mention driving a
stick in bumper to bumper traffic. Except for "shift shock" the Outback
isn't too bad, but it ain't no Audi. Smoothest automatic I've ever
driven -- the Audi.
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

wrote in message

> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.
>
> My latest fill...with 180 miles of strictly city (Joliet, it does have
> a lot of lights and stop signs) worked out to a dismal 18 mpg. Never
> seen this bad before. I expect 20-22 in the summer, and maybe 18 in
> real cold weather but wonder if there might be something wrong. The
> car is maintained according to mfrs specs.
>
> Anyone else get this dismal mpg and unable to improve it or
> suggestions on how to? W do have only E-10 has here, but have for
> years.

Do you have other vehicles? How are they doing?
It might be water in the fuel. Try a different gas station
before commiting to a mechanical/sensor inspection.

MN
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet.. 

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 07:38:42 GMT, "MN" wrote:

>
> wrote in message
>
>> Mileage has never been anything very good on this car. I can squeeze
>> 26-30 on the highway, maybe a tad more if I hold it under 705.
>>
>> My latest fill...with 180 miles of strictly city (Joliet, it does have
>> a lot of lights and stop signs) worked out to a dismal 18 mpg. Never
>> seen this bad before. I expect 20-22 in the summer, and maybe 18 in
>> real cold weather but wonder if there might be something wrong. The
>> car is maintained according to mfrs specs.
>>
>> Anyone else get this dismal mpg and unable to improve it or
>> suggestions on how to? W do have only E-10 has here, but have for
>> years.
>
>Do you have other vehicles? How are they doing?
>It might be water in the fuel. Try a different gas station
>before commiting to a mechanical/sensor inspection.
>
>MN
>
No other vehicles. I don't tend to go to the same station. I did the
last fill (after the poor mileage) at Speedway which I hadn't used in
a while. Will see how it goes.
 >> Stay informed about: Strict City MPG on a 97 Legacy 2.2l engine-18 mpg Is somet..