[emr131]

I have an ’03 GT with 27,000 miles on it. I drive very passively and only got the GT because of the pick up it has and I got a very good deal on it. I refuse to go to the dealer because of 2 bad experiences I had there: I paid cash for the thing and it still took 6-8 hrs for me to drive it from the lot, for the first normal maintenance it took a week to get the car back (no kidding, 5 working days and nothing was even wrong with it).

On to the questions:
First, since I drive so conservatively, I change the oil at the recommended 5,000 miles and I use standard oil. Is that okay?

Second, I just had my car inspected and the brakes checked out in flying colors, he asked if I even use them. The serviceman thinks my brakes should last until at least 40k to 50k. Does that seem off?

Third, despite my very easy driving style, I barely get 24 mpg on the expressway and only get 19-22 on country roads (hardly city as I rarely have stops/idles and normally coast through turns thus not engaging brakes), is that normal?

Fourth, a problem has come up since the past winter. When I first turn my car on after a long shutdown (morning, after work, after dinner, whatever) and I put it in gear (autostick) around 33% of the time it stalls. This happens sometimes after I lightly engage the gas pedal, or before I do so, in D or reverse. If I think to rev the engine lightly before hand, it does not stall. Last oil change (25k miles), I replaced the spark plugs and wires and I of course ran the fuel injector cleaner. Any ideas here?

I am very technically inclined but a complete novice at anything under the hood (and darn this engine does not look like the ole ’84 Jeep J10 where I could identify parts!)

Thanks in advance.
Eric