What's the best MPG can the PT Cruiser get?

[85_305]

Well believe it buddy. It happens. Hell, 80's camaros with the computer controlled quadrajet carbs and 5speeds got about 30mpg highway. LS1's w/ the 6spd and 400hp get around 32mpg highway going 70-75mph. These cars just suck with mileage, and GM punks everybody in the factory hp/mileage wars.

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by ejstith

On my trip back from Dallas the best I got was 21.37. The best I've got so far in 9 fill ups was 25.6 and the little woman was runnin' the hell out of it. That was probably due to a short fill up because the next tank was 21.20 highway. The last tank was 21.04 (all city). All these are actual mileage/gallons, not an electronic read out. I just think it's pure BS that a 500 hp Corvette will get better gas mileage than a wimpy (comparatively) PT.

Yeah, but don't you love it!!!!

[WalterP]

Just got back from a trip from CT to PEI and return - highway and secondary roads. As I neared Mom-in-law's at Harvard MA the readout hit 32 mpg, the high for the trip.
The car is an 08 'vert, 5 speed, 2 people, lots of baggage, books and 2 cases of craft-brewed beer from Maine and the Maritimes - plenty of weight!
Highest mileage I ever got was last year in Maine, US1 near Ellsworth, 32.4 mpg.
Checked the read-out with manual calculation, it was very close.
Lowest mileage was around 24, mostly city driving, coasting to stops helped.
Very happy with the car, very comfortable on long trips.

[edsidders]

I think my 66 Mustang is the MPG King..When I flat tow it behind the big motorhome , several times it has gone well over 1000 miles on the odometer and didn't use a drop of gas

[ejstith]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Yeah, but don't you love it!!!!

I'll admit it's a fun little booger but I sure as hell hope gas doesn't go back to $4.00 a gallon anytime soon .... I just broke that little fin off of the bottom of my front spoiler, on a parking curb I guess, hope that doesn't affect it and of course I'm goin' to have to watch it above about 150 mph because I'm sure my downforce is shot ...

[ADR]

This is soo funny. I get about 24 MPG in mixed city highway driving now. I recently sold my Jeep TJ because it was getting too expensive for me as a daily driver. I am on the road much more lately. Yes I know I don't have THE iconic 4x4 convertible(I WILL buy another some day!!), but this car holds more stuff, is quiet and smooth on long trips and drinks a lot less fuel.

To all of you complaining about MPG's, try driving a Wrangler(12-17MPG) every day!

[grungerockjeeper]

Crazy, I have my '00 TJ still--bought my PT so I could free up the Jeep as my playtoy while having a car that was still fun to drive yet would be better on mpg and more practical for roadtrips and daily driving.

But as to the best way to squeeze more mpgs outta the PT, it still comes down to basic common sense:

1: Manual, manual, MANUAL!!!! Got it? Manuals are far superior to slushboxes every time especially on 4cyls. Autos waste power, are heavier, more complex, less fun to drive, more $$ to buy and maintain. Basically if you have all your arms and legs then you can work a clutch and stick. If you dont know how to drive one, then freakin' learn. You'll never go back.

2: Efficiency IS power. Bolt ons that are improvements on items that OEM manufacturers cheap out on. Free flowing exhausts, cold air intakes, and depending on the engine, a throttle body spacer can free up a few HP while allowing your engine to run better. Theyre a few bucks to install but they work and will return better mpg and hp.

3: Basic maintenance. change your oil, plugs, and filters, and inflate and rotate your tires. Its no energy plan regardless of what Barry O says but you should be doing this anyway.

4: Older can be better. Emissions and saftey legislation isnt getting any more lenient and govt mandated garbage only adds weight, complexity and chokeholds on performance thereby destroying mpg. A clean, low mileage earlier model PT is likely to have less of this nonsense added onto it than newer models so may return more mpg. And if there are less O2 sensors, airbags, stability controls, etc then its less gagets to go wrong and cost you money.

Oh and did I mention to get a manual transmission?

[LawChick]

My PT does not get good gas millage at all. I barley drive the thing and within 5 days I have had to put 40 bucks of gas in to keep it going. I am starting to think there is something wrong with it because it sucks up gas like a vacume. I do still love it though.

[Hooligan]

How many miles? What kind of maintenance has it had, if you know? We normally suggest new plugs & wires to start with.

You might try the key trick to see if you are throwing a code. Turn key to the ACC position, then forward to start position (do not start) 3 times, ending in the start position If you do that it should either show - - - - , done or a code.

[grungerockjeeper]

Lawchick, is your car a turbo or standard? Mine's a turbo and even with my leadfoot driving its WAY better on gas than my jeep. I went a week on approx 6 gallons of gas and I couldnt do that in a million years in the jeep.

Also is it a manual or auto trans? Autos generally suck (jmho) but if you have a 4cyl you will waste a LOT of power which they dont have to spare in the first place. My sister had a dodge shadow in highschool and even tho she drove like she is 80 y/o she got 24 mpg tops. That car was in perfect tune. But I hear of PTs with manual trans and standard engines getting in the high 20s all the time on the highway. Thats not too bad, considering what it is.