My mileage shouldn't be *this* bad..

I've been noticing for a little while now that my mileage has been getting worse and worse. At first I chalked it up to leadfooting it a little bit more and then using the AC, and more city driving, but I'm nearly out of gas on my current tank and I'm in the 180s. My "E" light will probably blip on while I'm driving home. I think my last tank was something like 12.9 gallons which took me 201 miles. That's 15-16mpg. The last few tanks have been comparable, slightly better/worse, but not much. I read something about C4s having a recall on the meters, but given that I'm looking at fuel consumption, that obviously shouldn't apply. Plus, I have a C2 My tire pressures should be good (I'll double-check). Could it be foul plugs? What should I be on the lookout for? Justin

I run a/c constantly year round, make no effort to save fuel in town or on highway. Forget to shift into fifth or sixth all too often. Car is fun to drive why would I try to save fuel that, IS NO FUN. Consistantly I get 21-22 mpg. Also, I'm driving four wheels. Sounds like you might have something wrong. Good luck with that.

I get 13-14 consistently around town.

I get worse mileage when the weather gets warm... maybe same for you?

Nothing wrong at all. Comes down to conditions, driving style, etc. Perosonally I get about 225 a tank. Which is roughly 14-15mpg. I personally find it a far stretch that some people are claiming 22mpg which comes to about 350-375 miles a tank which is IMPOSSIBLE! Are you guys that claim 22mpg actually calculating your mpg properly??? I just drive it and when the amber light comes on I fill it up. Simple as that! FYI.....IIRC our cars were rated at something like 16/24 when released which we all know EPA numbers are already inflated.

Ditto. However, a few months ago, I got a ticket right after filling up so I drove like a little old lady the rest of the way home on the highway. My computer registered 29 MPG over the course of about one and a half hours of driving!

Dell, One reason I'm so suspicious is because I was getting closer to 19-22mpg when I first got the car, only a few months ago. I'd calculate it by dividing the amount I put in by the the trip calculator mileage. I'd regularly drive 250ish on 12.5 gallons or so (I usually filled up just south of the 1/4 tank). Now I'm getting 200 on 13 gallons regularly, or 215 on 14 gallons. Given that I've spent over $300 on gas this month (so far), I'm eager to figure it out. Who knows - maybe there's more HP in there, too! Justin

Not to mention most of us probably have much heavier feet than the average joe out there.

There's your problem. People it is simple. Wanna see what kind of gas mileage you are getting? Do the simple way with pencil and paper. Run that tank down as low as you can. Set the odometer to 0, fill it up, drive as normal (not trying to get the best gas consumption as possible) and then when you drive till you get back down to as low as you can get, then go fill it up to the top (same as last fill up), then divide your odometer by the gallons pumped in. I think you will find very quickly that reality is much different that what you thought.

I thought computers were always accurate! Actually, that was only one particular instance and since I didn't drain the tank, I couldn't tell you what the real mileage would have been. However, my 13-14 consistently on the computer is pretty accurate using your method. I usually fill about 14 gallons and get right around 200 miles.

On interstate driving 70 to 90, but keeping fairly contstant in upper 70s except to pass, I get 20 to 22 consisitently. Around town from 15 to 18. I check it the old fashioned way every time I fill it up for 40k miles. It dropped significantly for a 3 or 4 week period earliier this year. It turned out that my tire pressure had dropped to mid 30s on rears and low 30s in front. No idea how it happened, especially since they were uniform. After re inflation the mileage went back to where it has always been.

I get about the same mileage....its worse than my previous M5 with a V8....about 15MPG....I know...its brutal.

I should just have a gas tanker truck follow me around so I can refuel on the road. However, if I'm taking a long trip and put the cruise control on I get very good gas mileage.

In town, summer heat, 17mpg. Highway is higher, but I get about 190 miles city driving before I need to fill, and I do NOT let it get to 'empty'....

I thought computers were always accurate! They are accurate but they merely give you a snapshot in time. The only accurate way to determine your average MPG is to do what Dell recommends. Make certain that your gas tank is full on your next fillup and then on your following trip to the gas station, simply divide the gallons of gas you pump into your tank into the miles driven. After you do this a few times you'll have a real good idea of what your car's real MPG is.

For the record. My 2002 C2 Tip, in town, 95 to 100 degrees. Computer says 19.3 mpg. Checked it to old math and it is right on. I am very happy coming from a 928 that was getting 15mpg

During the week I have a 10 minute commute to/from work....I get 15mpg. On longer trips, highway or country road, 20+ mpg

Yep, 15 mpg. I rarely drive it on the highway, and I boogie around time pretty good, so I can live with the 15. I can get 25 on the freeway just cruising, but what fun is that?

Just filled up m 99 c4 manual. city/freeway driving semi aggressive. 19.5 mpg.

In my '99 Cab with top down, I average around 23-24 combined with mainly conserative driving but a few quick bursts into the triple digits. Last week I wanted to see how good of mileage I could get by driving near the speed limit from a point about 50 miles from home. This was country roads with a few stops for about 15 miles and freeway for about 35. I gained about 800' in elevation over the last 6 miles with the majority in the last mile and a half. I reset my computer and was averaging over 30 until I was close to home climbing a grade, and ended up with a 29.9 mpg. I was pleased with the results.

My 02 996 can get about 27 on the highway at a constant 65. Combo highway/town it drops into the 18 -20 range. Run it hard and drops into the 10-12 range.

Hey Justin, Your fuel consumption is pretty much in line with mine. I don't know if it is just my imagination (paranoia) but I did notice that my fuel consumption suffered a little when Virginia went to 10% ethanol a month or so ago. -G

Mine is a daily driver, sometimes highway, more often backroads, start and stop...and I consistently get 18 mpg. -- M

Dell, I think you're out on a limb with this post. For no reason other than life long habit, I run the gas down to the warning light, then press the trip odometer every time I fill up. After a fill up, I run the mental exercise of calculating my mileage based upon the amount of gas I just pumped in. For my Tip, it runs between 20 and 21.5 mpg when I have a roughly even balance between highway and city driving. Less (16 - 18) for pure city traffic. Based upon this knowledge, I can ignore the very pessimistic gas warning light, and generally plan to fill up no later than 300 miles on the trip meter. Hasn't failed me in the 18 months I've owned the car.

Out on limb? I am merely telling those of you that "claim" to be getting the gas mileage you state that you are (a) either not driving the car the way it was meant to be driven; and/or (b) you rely on a computer that can NEVER be more accurate that the simple math I proposed. Sure, I am almost positive I could get 20+ mpg on a tank but that is boring suck @ss driving. Thanks, but no thanks. Also, your TIP is what is giving you that great gas mileage if you just put it in drive. Manual shift with a clutch and you will know what I am talking about. Not a knock on your tranny, but don't find the TIP very driver centered.

C4 Cab Tip here, I get 23.6 MPG, and it has not varied by more than .4 since I bought the car in 2000. You drive your car the way you want and I will enjoy mine according to my own choices. I paid $100 grand for the privelege, and even the snotty young salesman was not as patronizing as you are LVDELL.....

I assume you mean patronizing? I have no idea what partonizing is. Christ Gretch, you really are a big time ***** aren't you? No need to attack me that way since I attacked NOBODY! I wasn't patronizing and I would have though you would have the perceptive abilities to understand that......apparently not. I merely stated that if you (general) are getting that kind of gas mileage then you are NOT driving the car the way it was "meant" to be driven. Go back and re-read my post. I made sure and state that I was NOT knocking his tranny but rather stating the obvious that gas mileage would probably be higher if you keep it in "D" all the time as opposed to ripping through the gearbox and cruising at 5K RPM's all the time (and oh what a sweet sound that is). Gretch, If you like driving your TIP like a old lady then enjoy. But I bet the farm anything less than that style is NOWHERE close to 24mpg consistently. I'm done with this thread. You get what you get and you can embellish or not. Either way I don't care. It comes down to a very simple task. YOU DRIVE IT TILL EMPTY AND FILL IT UP........REPEAT AS NEEDED Happy Motoring

Right, my bad.....not "patronizing"...........condescending, and arrogant....and on "ignore". fydh

I also think it is the summer mix gas that contains at least 10% ethanol. It is typically not as efficient in conjunction with more heat, ac, etc.

Thats not bad at all, Its pretty good really, And honestly who buys a Porsche Tip? Maybe they buy a Tip to save gas

A guy with several Porsches? The question you should be asking is why would a tip get better gas mileage........... sorry you only have one, drive it like you stole it.......... A Thread gets opened asking for mileage information and comparisons and the smart asses in the room take that as an opportunity to brag about dick sizes. and driving like jack asses....You two guys have less maturity than the denizens in OT.......comparable to the 944 board. screw ya.

Whoa there..... easy chief(Gretch). Possible overeaction on your part maybe??? Not sure I saw the behaviour you're citing myself.

Yeah, didn't mean to generalize. Just a couple of peckerheads, dell and kilgrt......... See edit to clarify. those two must be 993 wannabe owners.

Oh, God, I guess I'm going to have to sell my 996 now.

why push it even further? there's no need for those senseless comments. your point has been made a page ago.

I get 17 in city, 21 mixed, 24 highway. Things that influence mileage are: 1. Driving condition and style 2. Tire pressure 3. Clean plugs and fuel injecters 4. Foul air filter

I drive 140 miles a day back and forth to work on equal combination of interstate, two lane country roads, and surburban stop and go. And I am always driving hard, often running it up in the gears at stop lights to stay ahead of the pickups and SUVs, cruising the interstate portion at a consistent 75 to 80. I always reset the trip odometer every fillup so my mileage calculation should be very accurate. I consistently average 20 to 22 mpg.

15 mile (one-way) daily commute. Mostly urban (often heavy traffic) interstate and some city surface roads. 20.5 mpg when I'm keeping my foot out of it. 18 mpg when I'm not. 24mpg on highway trips.

I've gotten as high as 29 on a long drive across the country in sixth going 65.

Paul, I had the same experience, altough Dell seems to doubt my computer.

I think my last tank was something like 12.9 gallons which took me 201 miles Unless you enjoy driving around at 5K RPM, 12.9 is on the low side. When's the last time you changed your air filter? A dirty air filter could cost you a couple MPG.

These damn word problems -- it's like highschool algebra all over again! He said 12.9 gallons took him 201 miles. That's 201 miles divided by 12.9 gallons or 15.58 miles per gallon.

mine MPG 16.8, half highway/half local. (100 miles/day) avg. speed: 26 MPH. new air filter/oil 3 month ago. i drive like grandma, car rarely hit 3KRPM. is there a problem my MPG so low? last time my car serviced, the tech think everything is fine with the car.

Try driving a Cayenne Turbo in Chicago City traffic for a whole tank. I've seen tanks at 7.5. The problem with driving in the city is once you clear traffic, you have to run it up to 6k rpm's just 'cause you're so frustrated. Alas, my first tank in the '00 996 came it at 12 mpg. I can't imagine how much I'd have to baby it to get 20+. Tanks burned mainly on the highway yield high teens.

Hey Gretch... 993 wannabes? Where you dropped on you head as a baby. Honestly that�s the stupidest thing I have heard on this forum, do you read previous posts, or just reply because you think it makes you look good? You need to relax, it was a joke kind of just like your Tip Tranny!

esadk

That is a rhetorical question right? You don't want an answer, you just wanted to chime in? What do you get for mileage evo?

Hi Gretch, Why don't you take the attitude back to OT where it belongs? Thanks.

Hi Joe, Dija have the same thing to say to dell?..........or is there a bias here? BTW, what kinda mileage do you get out of your C4cab?

Hi Gretch, Yes, there is a bias here. A bias towards people who try to provide useful info versus people who quickly sink to name calling and ***** sizing. The latter type of people are best left in OT where that juvenile type of behavior is (more?) acceptable. I'm not here to defend Dell. He can do that if he wants to, I'm sure. I'm trying to keep the 996 board focused on the dissemination of information valuable to the owners of 996's. Use the search function, research Dells posts, the vast majority of which provide useful information and help to 996 owners. What, exactly have you provided to the 996 board? One mpg quote and then it's right off to name calling and insults? Okay, that's real valuable. I've kindly asked that you take your bad attitude, name calling and ***** sizing back to OT where it belongs. I will never understand your insistance to constantly stir the pot and a lack of motivation to just let it be and move on. Two posters asked that you do so yet it continues. Sheez. This ends my interaction on the topic. Period.