The GF and I got back last from a road to our friends place for the weekend. Over 6 hours round trip, mix of highway and windy roads.
We took the 12 year old GTP, which just rolled over 202k on the trip, and the DIC recorded the trip as 32mpg average. We filled up just off the highway before we left, and again at the same station when we got back. I did the math on the actually miles vs. fuel used, and calculated 31.2mpg, so the computer was pretty damn close.
Is it me, or is this really good mileage from such and old, and what you would think un-efficient engine? Seeing as how I see econo cars advertised as "Great 30+mpg", and what not.
Personally, I would rather have the GTP, with that mileage, with the room and comfort that goes with it.
**there is only one true love in my life... and my girlfriend has learned to live with it**
What they advertise as "great" is the EPA rating, which starting in 2008 got reworked and everything is now rated lower then it used to be. In my Fit the last tank of gas I went through was 35 mpg's all city driving, cold starts and short trips with a little bit of "spirited driving". I've gotten up to 39 mpg out of tank in the take same conditions if I don't beat on it at all.
And since your not comparing 2 specific cars and making a general statement I'll use my fit.... compared to a 99 GTP Sedan
Weight
Fit- 2,471 lbs GTP- 3,414 lbs
I'm 6'2" and 185-190 lbs so for me head and leg room is what matters. The GTP has more shoulder and hip space (obviously, an extra 1000 lbs it better be bigger) but the Fit has more head room and the leg room is almost the same. Rear seat I didn't even look up, I don't care, I don't ride in the back of my own car.
Front seat headroom
Fit- 41 " GTP- 38 "
Front seat legroom
Fit- 41.9 " GTP- 42.4 "
Luggage capacity
Fit- 21.3 cu.ft. GTP- 16.0 cu.ft.
Maximum cargo capacity
Fit- 41.9 cu.ft. GTP- 16.0 cu.ft.
And since your comparing your actual mileage to the EPA recommendation lets be fair about this, apples to apples not oranges to apples.... (using the 07 Fit's ratings so its still on the same scale (pre 08 scale) with the older GTP and comparing rating vs. rating)
Fit- 33 / 38 (city/highway) GTP- 18 / 28 (city/highway)
In the end it's all about what suits you, you can't call one or the other better because they are completely different. I would prefer a versatile, safe, good on gas, cheap to insure and maintain, lightweight nimble car, that handles amazing with a @!#$load of room for me and even more for my stuff over a huge boat of a car with leather and some power. Obviously you would prefer the latter of the 2.
True enough. Don't get me wrong, I sort of like the Fit. (as I have posted before), but I am more of a "big car" kinda guy. I do drive a full size pick-up every day after all.
I was not comparing car "A" vs car "B" anyhow. Just that I was impressed with the mileage out of such an old, worn engine more then anything else. Also sort of justifying to myself why we keep the damn thing rather then move into something newer, and more efficient.
**there is only one true love in my life... and my girlfriend has learned to live with it**
One of my friends used to have a grand prix same body style as your GTP. That thing got crazy good gas mileage. Never measured it but she could go almost 400 miles on 3/4 of a tank.
I get 35-38 mpg highway in my GP, it's not a S/C model. I was impressed when I saw it too.
-It's an 06 with no mods and around 50K miles.
this is also why the 3.8 is one of the best designs ever to come out of GM. Good power, even better efficiency
I just figured it was because of the big tall overdrive gear...
An LS1 Fbody will pull near 30mpg doing interstate only driving. Sometimes it is the gear and not a magnificently efficient engine, which the 3.8 most certainly isn't.
KFLO...
I definitely understand your observation on that, but I'm not familiar with the gear ratios in that 4 speed auto to participate in that debate. In any case, the 3.8 is virtually bulletproof, gets good mileage (whether for gearing or overall engine efficiency) and are cheap to fix. Only problem i've ever heard of is cracked upper manifolds, which is easy enough to fix.
I have owned it for the last 4 of it's 12 year. No major engine problems at all. Some ignition issues, and a weird anti-theft problem. But that's it.
**there is only one true love in my life... and my girlfriend has learned to live with it**
Give me a break I remember a post where you were trash talking this car just last year.
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
Umm, maybe. I don't remember that though. I do remember a post where I was thinking of getting rid of it, as I thought there was something more wrong with then there was. It's still my favorite car I have ever owned. Even then it was.
**there is only one true love in my life... and my girlfriend has learned to live with it**
my 89 Civic gets 39.5mpg with me beating on it like a red headed step child. I can push it into the 45+ range as well.
Nothing to impressive :p
My Cav
I give up...
i'm buying a VW those people love trees, so they should love eachother too... "Andy"
i can even get my GTP up over 30mpg highway. though that drops drastically for in town driving.
the final drive gears on the GTPs are 2.93. pretty good for highway. i'll get back to y'all when i get my 3.29's in and drive that around for a while. but i still expect it to get decent milage. probably better since the new torque converter will actually lock and the tranny wont be slipping.
and the 3800 is a pretty damn good engine. 700 whp bone stock, untouched bottom end says quite a bit about an engine. you do it right, and you can put a lot of power through them. most people just dont mod right. but it isnt anything to see a 200K mile 3800 on the roads. the car will rust away long before the engine gives
Andy
it's not how fast you go, it's how you get there that counts.
ZZP XP cam, 1.6 rockers, 105# springs, speedbuilt FWI, 3.3" modular pulley, TOG headers,
3" exhaust, flomatched injectors
'97 GTP 14.06@100.6mph pre cam w/ 3.5" pulley, I/E
KFLO wrote:I just figured it was because of the big tall overdrive gear...
Bingo.
At 80mph it is doing under 2500 rpms or something like that. Combine that with a large 18 gallon tank, equals long HWY range on a tank.
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
I recently picked up a 08 Grand Prix. It is n/a and I only get 23-26. Although I have never took just the E-way to test it out.
As for the 3800, I love it. My step dad has a boneville with 250k, although the Tranny doesn't have 3rd or OD anymore the engine is perfect.
My mom has a 98 Oldsmobile with the 3800 and it needs a head gasket. Only about 70k on that
wbodys ftw?
__________________________________________________________________
Where I work:
HP
What I take for Memory and Focus:
Focus Fast
3800's are great...... till they catch fire and burn your car to the ground!!!
SPD RCR Z -
'02 Z24 420whp
SLO GOAT -
'04 GTO 305whp
W41 BOI -
'78 Buick Opel Isuzu W41 Swap
When I got my license, I was one of those kids who ended up with a different car like every month. I've had 7 cars that I can count with a 3800 ranging in mileage from 60k to 265k and the only problem I had was the cracked intake plenum in the 96 bonneville. I sold that car to my mom and she still drives it today with 191k and counting.
Did I mention I drive a 2000 Lumina now?-----wigm-tuners.org member
