Numbers don't lie- first figures from 3 months with Jane

CharbCharb Administrator
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
*edit*

My quarterly gas consumption figures...

Current odometer reading: 235,433.1
Miles traveled: 1,858.8 (mostly city)
Gallons used: 67.806 (89 octane)
Miles per gallon: 27.413
Money spent on gas: $215.68


I get irritated when people inflate numbers when talking about things like mpg and operating costs. I plan to check back here quarterly with up to date numbers on just what it costs to keep an 88 RT on the road.

Comments

  • suspendedHatchsuspendedHatch Wagonist
    I keep a spreadsheet for each of my cars that includes every dollar I spend including gas and calculated mpg. I also include notes on maintenance that doesn't cost me anything. That way I can monitor fuel consumption and plot it against changes made to the car. I just got back from a 1600 mile road trip and I can post the spreadsheet once I get all the gas receipts in if you'd like. It begins on day one and includes the purchase price. Since I've only had the car for a couple months, my info would mostly indicate what it costs to recondition an old wagon once you get one.

    Highway fuel economy was much worse than I expected. I estimated that since I get 35mpg city driving, that I should get just under 40 highway. In fact, I think we only got about 30. I still have to calculate all the receipts though. But apparently doing 4k RPM / 80mph with the windows down with 4 people and luggage negates the benefit of freeway driving on fuel economy.
  • 3rd4ce3rd4ce Council Member
    Yes please post the info ....
    im slowly trying to get my 88 rt on the road .... i could use your spread sheet to budget my funds needed for the daily driver project SCRAPPY ...
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    suspendedHatch wrote:
    I keep a spreadsheet for each of my cars that includes every dollar I spend including gas and calculated mpg. I also include notes on maintenance that doesn't cost me anything.

    I don't know if you saw my first post before I edited it, but I had all of my numbers posted. I decided I didn't really want to share all of my information. Because I have tracked and monitored literally every penny spent with this car. I've gotten some killer deals and will continue to do so (don't want it to hurt me if I decide to sell at some point lol). Decided I just wanted to share fuel economy.
  • suspendedHatchsuspendedHatch Wagonist
    I didn't mean for it to sound like a competition or anything.

    Now that I look at it, my claimed 35mpg looks like a fluke because it's preceded by a 26, and that happens sometimes so you have to average them out. However, I haven't owned the car for very long and I'm cautiously optimistic that as I gather more gas receipts over time, I bet I can stabilize this car right up around 35mpg city. If I can consistently get 35 city mpg out of my Integra GSR w/Type R trans, then I think this little D series wagon can do the same.

    My average for the trip from Salt Lake to San Diego and back is 28.56 which is good, but it was a lot lower than I estimated. We did 80 the whole way with the windows down. The car has trouble maintaining freeway speeds up hills in 4th gear. If we were to take the trip at 70 mph with AC, less weight, more power, and if I was to lower the car a bit, I think I could get 40 mpg.

    Also I'm working on retrofitting OEM cruise control. I have to have the cruise cable bracket welded on, and I'll need to have something fabbed for the clutch button, but the wiring is no problem. I converted an EG recently.

    Bottom line for me is that I would have spent less on gas had I taken the Integra. But overall I am satisfied with the wagons performance given the circumstances.

    Here is my spread sheet. 6/26/10 http://suspendedhatch.thecarthing.com/h ... _rt4wd.xls
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    Updates on your figures? I've been averaging with 20 mpg in my 88 rt with a rebuilt engine with about 3k on it. Some problems I have that i think contribute to it are deflated tires, a hole in the muffler, and an intake. Besides that I have no idea why I'm getting such horrible gas mileage.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    dude you must have a fuel leak of something or, even when i drive the crap outta mine i still get 31 average. worst ever was 29 mpg and that was because i was running crazy rich and had a Walbro fuel pump... :shock:
  • 3rd4ce3rd4ce Council Member
    i have a walbro and a lead foot ... or just not like to be late .... gotta add up a few receipts to get my fuel mileage
  • The_HeadThe_Head familEE
    My mpgs look about the same. My car also has about the same mileage on it as yours.
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    I just got back from a week on the road (not in my car).

    I'm taking the weekend off, but I'll get some figures posted come the first of the week.
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