Fuel economy is a buzz phrase that most car buyers/owners want to maximize. Accordingly, car manufacturers are striving to give buyers excellent MPG.


Among newer Ch#$r%*ets, while not the most fuel-efficient models available, these are still considered by many to be "fuel efficient" (compared to say, trucks, SUVs, etc.), with figures I searched for online...:

2008 V6 malibu, FWD ... EPA-estimated 17 mpg city

2008 V8 (active fuel management) impala SS, FWD ... EPA-estimated 16 mpg city

2007 V8 (active fuel management) mc SS, FWD ... EPA-estimated 18 mpg city


Comparing ... the 2008 V8 G8 GT, RWD, has an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city

Meanwhile, the 2008 Dodge Charger V8, RWD, has an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city
...and the 2008 Dodge Charger 3.5 V6, RWD, has an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city



Highway EPA-estimated MPGs are touted the most, but for this comparison, I'm using the city EPA estimates, since my RWD Monte Carlos are used more or less in the city.

I've NEVER claimed my Monte Carlos to be fuel efficient..and I still do NOT claim that; however, comparing my real-world MPGs to EPA estimated MPGs for newer engines...imho, a few of them certainly are NOT the gas guzzlers most people see them as.... Course, options on the cars along with the type of V8/V6 engines are factors that I have not taken into account...which might be unfair.... Even so, the comparisons are intriguing to me...and, with no car payments (versus a car payment with a newer car) and lower insurance premiums for the older cars (vs higher insurance premiums for a newer car), I'll stick with my older cars...for now, anyway....


1972 MC, 350 V8
... 1st 2008 fill-up, June 1 ... 15.18 MPG
... 2nd 2008 fill-up, July 4, after ~142 miles, 10.215 gallons .... 13.87 MPG


1976 MC, 305 V8
... 1st 2008 fill-up, June 1 ... 13.58 MPG
... 2nd 2008 fill-up, July 4, after ~137 miles, 10.095 gallons ... 13.58 MPG


1979 MC, 350 V8
... 1st 2008 fill-up, June 1 ... 15.47 MPG
... 2nd 2008 fill-up, July 4, after ~141 miles, 7.859 gallons ... 17.94 MPG


1981 MC, 3.8 V6
... 1st 2008 fill-up, June 1 ... 18.60 MPG
... 2nd 2008 fill-up, July 4, after ~139 miles, 7.086 gallons ... 19.62 MPG


1987 MC LS, 305 V8
... June 1 ... 19.26 MPG
... June 8 ... 17.10 MPG
... June 13 ... 18.40 MPG
... June 18 ... 16.43 MPG
... June 22 ... 18.78 MPG
... June 30 ... 19.03 MPG
... July 6, after ~155 miles, 8.118 gallons ... 19.18 MPG



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Who do you think you're talkin' to?" ... Lee Roy Parnell ... 'What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am?'

Good numbes there Cort. My 70 averaged 18.xxxxx miles to the gallon at 65-75 MPH! 350 V8 300 HP, 38 years old with 142k original miles with 93 octane, and the car really needs race fuel mixed in.

One guy drove his 07 SS V8 Monte to the nationals and only got 22 MPG on the higway. Now that is with overdrive and well a higher FRONT END gear . I don't have overdrive, no electronic ignition, a little lower than factory gear and I got 18??? and look what I'm riding in!!!!

*grins*

A gorgeous white 1970 MC, of course . Your numbers look good, too....



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"There's a freeway runnin' through the yard" ... Tom Petty ... 'Free Fallin''

o let see....

1993 Chevy Silverado: 14-16 city, 19.5 highway

1995 Chevy Suburban (almost sold), got 14-16 city when we got it, now gets 12-13, about 15 highway (used to get 22 highway).

2007 Honda Odyssey: 20-21 city, 25-26 highway

2003 Chevy Monte Carlo: 20-22 city, 28-30 highway, once got 33 going "highway" on 2 lane roads to Murfreesboro

1950 Chevy C3100 truck: 15 (all mixed... no known city or highway miles yet)

Cort you rode a good ways in it. Although the topics of conversation got a bit Adult Rated. We must have breathed to many leaded exhaust fumes.

LOL!

Yeah ... that's it .... too many exhaust fumes were inhaled .



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Keep this feelin' alive" ... Eric Carmen ... 'Make Me Lose Control'

I guess so....

I get 27 mpg with my Monte. 2003.

Is your Jeff Gordon edition supercharged?

they are not... not stock anyway. unless she got something under that hood she wo'nt tell us about on her forum, it's not

I was just wondering, I know the Dale Jr. and Intimidator versions are.

UPDATING:

I filled all of the MCs up with gas Sunday, August 3...



72 MC "Browny"
...after ~164 miles ... 10.588 gallons ... 15.52 MPG


76 MC "Elvira"
...after ~160 miles ... 10.127 gallons ... 15.86 MPG


79 MC "Sweet Pea"
...after ~179 miles ... 9.502 gallons ... 18.89 MPG


81 MC "Sweet Tea"
...after ~162 miles ... 7.503 gallons ... 21.67 MPG


87 MC "Baby Blue"
...after ~163 miles ... 9.284 gallons ... 17.58 MPG
...previously:
...July 13 ... 18.13 MPG
...July 20 ... 19.36 MPG
...July 20 (after short trip in IL) ... 22.83 MPG
...July 27 ... 17.67 MPG



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I didn't mean to take away your dreams" ... Hootie & The Blowfish ... 'Only Lonely'

Looks like the 87 LS gets right at 23 MPG Highway and that is very good Cort.

I am only getting around 19 mpg with the new 2006.

If you are getting 18 with a 70, that is great, as I remember that most cars in those days were lucky to get around 10 mpg.

Wrong! LMAO!

Even the BIG BLOCKS got over 10 MPG as long as you kept your foot out of the 4 barrels. Now going on back to some of the Dual Quad 409 Impalas, Belairs and Biscaynes, then under 10 even keeping your foot out of it was not uncommon, more like 8. I'm expecting 8-10 with my 600 HP 462 with a 870 Holley Dual Line. This is way more than Detroit had in the Muscle Days. My engine even tops the LS6.

And if you're only getting 19 with the new Monte, you have Overdrive, I don't even have overdrive or electronic ignition. With that I would get around 20-22 MPG hwy. Sounds like some of these new cars ain't so fuel efficient after all.