Comments on: Top 10 Highest Mileage Cars in 2008

By: ASHLEY GROOME

ASHLEY GROOME — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:47:31 +0000

Also interesting is the fact that all the cars listed run on low grade gas. Not one diesel engine vehicle like the Citroen 1.6 C4, the Peugeot or the VW Golf Diesel – all of which can (and do) achieve highway figures of about 80 MPG.

All these vehicles are available in UK Europe and Australia. As far as I know none are available in the US.

Wake up America, your fuel companies, auto makers and legislators are taking you for a ride.

By: Denny

Denny — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:37:59 +0000

I do get 31-32 mpg on the highway (65 mph) in a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville. It drops from 24-26 with mixed driving.

By: Iglo

Iglo — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:47:08 +0000

I’m getting 54 MPG average in my Prius. And when I’m running 45 MPH constant I’m getting above 65 MPG. I have to drive like a real pig to get the mileage all the way down to 46.7 MPG as indicated in this article. Fact is Prius is much better than that on average. Take into account this if Florida where we drive with full AC all the time. Had the car for 2 years and look forward to the plug-in version.

By: Keith Menges

Keith Menges — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:51:44 +0000

The latest mileage numbers don’t get me too excited either. My old ‘93 Saturn SL got 40+ MPG in the summer right up until the engine blew at 235,000. My current ‘96 Saturn SL got about 40 MPG last year but I’ve dropped to about 35 this year (I have to look into that). I too am waiting for the cost of the electrics to come down. If you can get me anywhere near paying off the diffeence within three years you probably have me.

By: Charles Enberg

Charles Enberg — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:51:10 +0000

I own a 1997 Escort and a 1999 Escort ZX-2 both are five speeds on my 35 mile commute to work they average a solid 30 and 29 mpg on a day in and day out basis, Michigan speeds tend to be 70+ expect in the winter then my mileage goes up a bit, because the speeds hover more around 60 and below.

Both cars have over 100K it does seem strange that their isn’t anything new that cost effective yet, I ride my scooter in the summer whether permiting that averages about 55 mpg, but it’s mileage depends more on wind and speed than my cars.

By: Lou Rose

Lou Rose — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:02:49 +0000

I am surprised that I can just about match the Number 1 car on the list with my 13 year old geo metro 4 cyl 5sp, which is now nearing 200k. It seems that in general there aren’t too many high milage gasoline only cars, and in fact there were more higher milage cars 10 to 20 years ago. Why?

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:07:52 +0000

I used to drive for Toyota out here in sunny AZ. Overall mileage for the Prius was about 45 mpg, 49 on my best night driving with a light foot. I found the car roomy enough for a small car, and reliable as hell. It’s not a speed demon, or the best looking car on the road, but with gas prices rapidly approaching $4 a gallon, and me having a 90 mile commute… I am definately considering trading in my Nissan 4×4 for one. Like one of the previous posters said though I would like to see what the exact cost to own one is, and how long to recoup the premium I would have to pay for one.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:35:12 +0000

The reason the mpg ratings dropped was because of the way the federal government mandated they be calculated (change went into effect this year). People tend to exaggerate their mileage numbers and I doubt a full size Bonneville got a legitimate 34 mpg on level ground.

Honda made a Civic HF years ago that some claim got a legitimate 50 mpg. Maybe, but it was also a lot smaller and a lot less well equipped than, say, the current Civic. I get 28 mpg from my Honda S2000 driving it carefully (I commute in it) and occasionally 29 if I’m lucky. With a heavy foot I get 25.

Any real world 30+ figure is pretty good for an internal combustion engine in U.S. driving patterns. Lots of myths about how much you can squeeze out of an engine. Gas engines have a theoretical thermal efficiency of about 35%. Most engines achieve an efficiency of about 20% at most of the available energy in a gallon of gasoline. If you want to drive at 70 on the highway, it’s not 13% more gas than 60, its perhaps 50% more. Horsepower required goes a speed cubed (although it’s more complicated than that), so the net effect is people expect too much from cars in regards to MPG if they still want size, comfort and speed. it’s not magic it’s physics. I believe in a carefully designed, light, slow car you could achieve 40-ish. Diesels maybe 50-ish. Want any better and you need an all-electric or a motorcycle.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:10:58 +0000

The VW diesels were probably omitted because they not produced in 2007 and won’t be available again until August 2008. I have owned two and plan to buy a third when they are available. My first was a 5 speed and I averaged 49mpg the only reason I got rid of it was because it was a lease. My second one is an automatic averaging 43mpg. At 90hp its not a speed demon but has no problem running 65-70mph. The new model is supposed to have 145hp and average 46 mpg with a 6 speed automatic. Starting in 2009 several auto makers are suppose to introduce new diesels, Nissan, Subaru, Mercedes and BMW are said to be some of those offering diesels soon. VW has taken a lead on finding new sources for diesel fuel such as a non-edible weed and wood by products.

By: Solar.110mb.com

Solar.110mb.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:31:23 +0000

None except the top two are worth the sacrifice. I get 28 MPG from a full size 2000 Pontiac Bonneville. I have gotten 34 MPG on a long trip with 5 passengers aboard. So none of these figures are impressive to me, not even the top 2. If I’m going to squeeze into a little car, I want double the MPG. I want 65 MPG and better. My only recourse is to wait for the 2011 GM Volt, then I’ll never use gas again, or 150 MPG when on long trips.

By: CHRIS

CHRIS — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:31:38 +0000

WHERE ARE ALL THE DIESELS ON THIS LIST. (EG) THE NEW VW JETTA TDI WITH THE BLUETECH ENGINE. IM WILLING TO BET THE MAJORITY OF CAR COMPANIES WILL BE INVESTING MONEY IN HYBRIDS FOR THE 2010 EMISSION RULE CHANGES THAT U MUST HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 35 MPG. LOOK AT GM DOING IT WITH THE BASICALLY ALL THERE MIDSIZE CARS ALREADY.TOYOTA HAS BEEN HYBRID FOR YEARS(2 BIGGEST COMPANIES). BUT THEY SHOULD BE INVESTING THEIR MONEY IN DIESEL. THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS BEST MILAGE WAS SET BY A DIESEL.(VW TO BE EXACT) LOOK IT UP IF U DONT BELIEVE ME.

By: DoomShepherd

DoomShepherd — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:37:41 +0000

Malaysia in in Iraq? I think islanszeppelin’s been inhaling.

By: islandzeppelin

islandzeppelin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:05:07 +0000

government holds back on hybrids so we can continue to stay in Iraq/Middle East! Oil! Oil! Oil!

By: Tabuxander

Tabuxander — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:45:46 +0000

nice list. but there’re none of these cars are at my country(Malaysia) right now. And I wonder why the government keep hold back all the hybrid cars.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:13:15 +0000

Oops, didn’t pay attention to the fact that the list was only 4 cylinder engines. But regardless, the 3 cylinders in a smart give it more than enough get up and go to beat a Ferrari.