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

[Travis2k7]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

18-20 for the automatic is about it. You'll probably see others claim more, but I suspect their math and how many tankfuls they went off of.

Yep... it's now been 5k miles since I bought my PT and I have yet to get over 21 mpg city driving... My foot is far from lead, that's just the way it is driving a brick on wheels. I changed my plugs and wires last month and while the car has ran better my mpg has not improved.

23-24 mpg is what I got on a 500 mile trip to Atlanta driving with cruise set at 75.

I just joined Fuelly on July 1st to keep better track of my mpg... what's funny is I've seen PT's on there with fillups that just don't add up.... 30 mpg? Upon closer examination you see the "I forgot to add the last fillup."

Well duh... I wouldn't think it's that hard to save a gasoline receipt and add it into a database but maybe I'm wrong.

[jonas1022]

Originally Posted by jonas1022

I'm guesing that the PT does worse in just about every mileage catagory than similar cars. Then again, it's solid, rides right, and looks right.

Only the HHR comes close. It's heavy too, and mpgs aren't any better. I have a buddy that had one. His wife used it for groceries and kiddy rides to the daycare before she went off to work. They replaced it with a Taurus X, the wagon like cross-over now out of production. The Ford with V-6, and 8 seats gets better mpg. Go figure.

We love our PT, and recommend it to anyone that wants a small good looking car. But if you want mpg, buy a Focus (or dare I say it?) Cobalt. Chrysler isn't going to get you mpgs...

I failed to add that we have a 08 Tribute with a 2.3L four. It has about 160 hp and gets about 30 mpg on the highway at 80 mph. Around town it's more like 23-24 mpg. Definitely better than the PT, but it doesn't do sharp turns any better than the PT.

[Matt42]

Originally Posted by fastdel

im getting about 40-45mpg but ive got a 2.2crd which are always good on mpg

If I sent you an international money order, could you mail me a CRD and transaxle? I get 17 - 19 mpg in town with my 3.5 ton curb weight Dodge diesel four wheel drive pickup truck.

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Travis2k7

Yep... it's now been 5k miles since I bought my PT and I have yet to get over 21 mpg city driving... My foot is far from lead, that's just the way it is driving a brick on wheels. I changed my plugs and wires last month and while the car has ran better my mpg has not improved.

23-24 mpg is what I got on a 500 mile trip to Atlanta driving with cruise set at 75.

I just joined Fuelly on July 1st to keep better track of my mpg... what's funny is I've seen PT's on there with fillups that just don't add up.... 30 mpg? Upon closer examination you see the "I forgot to add the last fillup."

Well duh... I wouldn't think it's that hard to save a gasoline receipt and add it into a database but maybe I'm wrong.

We have been figuring our mileage for 40+ years and have just started using "FUELLY" to track our PT. We have just returned from a 3800+ mile trip and our highway mileage ran between 26 and 30+. Those are true and correct MPG. Around town, you are right 18 - 20 is about the best we can do, mainly because of stop lights and short trips.

[Travis2k7]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

We have been figuring our mileage for 40+ years and have just started using "FUELLY" to track our PT. We have just returned from a 3800+ mile trip and our highway mileage ran between 26 and 30+. Those are true and correct MPG. Around town, you are right 18 - 20 is about the best we can do, mainly because of stop lights and short trips.

I'm amazed... a 10 mpg difference? I can see a 3-4 mpg difference because that's what I got on my recent 500 mile trip.

Guess I'll have to drive back home to NY later this year to see if indeed I can get 30 mpg.

The thing is though, I cruise at 75-80 mph... not 60

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Travis2k7

I'm amazed... a 10 mpg difference? I can see a 3-4 mpg difference because that's what I got on my recent 500 mile trip.

Guess I'll have to drive back home to NY later this year to see if indeed I can get 30 mpg.

The thing is though, I cruise at 75-80 mph... not 60

That's the problem then, we cruised at 65 almost all of the way. I get where I want to go at 65 almost as fast as if I drove the speed limit of 70!!!

[Travis2k7]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

That's the problem then, we cruised at 65 almost all of the way. I get where I want to go at 65 almost as fast as if I drove the speed limit of 70!!!

LOL... driving around here on I-16 and I-95 will get you run over if you aren't doing at least 70!

My EVIC is showing me at 21.5 mpg still my last fillup... I've been driving 65-70 to and from work on I-16 (30 mile round trip) just to see the difference and yeah, it's a little better than driving 80.

Doesn't really matter to me though, didn't buy the PT for gas mileage. I bought it for it's coolness!

Still debating on going home to NY in Aug/Sept... I usually fly to the tune of $200 roundtrip. Have driven it once back in '98, took 19 hours.

[Matt42]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

That's the problem then, we cruised at 65 almost all of the way. I get where I want to go at 65 almost as fast as if I drove the speed limit of 70!!!

Completely true as an impression where distances are short. I recently visited Ohio for a funeral. I did my drive time planning based on the "gee-whiz" opinions of relatives on how much farther away the Columbus Airport (with much lower fares) is compared to the closer airport (where fares are higher). I had forgotten that Arizona is large enough to contain four Ohios, so we got to our destination way early.

[Travis2k7]

Originally Posted by Matt42

Completely true as an impression where distances are short. I recently visited Ohio for a funeral. I did my drive time planning based on the "gee-whiz" opinions of relatives on how much farther away the Columbus Airport (with much lower fares) is compared to the closer airport (where fares are higher). I had forgotten that Arizona is large enough to contain four Ohios, so we got to our destination way early.

I priced my Aug/Sept trip to NY last night... Flying out of Charleston, SC (about an hour drive from here) to Syracuse, NY is $180 after fees for a round trip ticket.

That's roughly 1700 miles roundtrip @ $2.50 per gallon @ 25 mpg = $170.

I may very well fly again this year.... adding in the cost of a rental car at the airport more than makes up for saving 35 hours of my time behind the wheel.

[Matt42]

I probably should have been more clear. We flew to Ohio, and drove to the small town hosting the funeral. No way would I have driven from here without the whole entourage of people and dogs.