Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - How could I lose 10 mpg in a week of BETTER driving?!

Atheria · 03-26-2013, 12:18 AM

I bought a 2013 manual transmission adorable Fiat 500 on March 17th and am in LOVE with this tiny car! Her name is Sophia...as in Loren...after all, she's Italian. ;-)

Anyway, the car is rated at 31/40 but the salesman swore on his mother's grave that some of his customers were getting 45 mpg. I was totally excited when after my first 117 miles, I got 48.5 mpg! And that wasn't even with perfect driving...some heavy traffic. Since then, I've been extra diligent about throwing the car into neutral and coasting as much as possible, etc. I was expecting to get 50 mpg on this fill-up, but nooooo....I averaged only 38.2 mpg! How can that be?! I've done the same percentage of highway vs. city driving I think, or at least approximately. I've not been gunning the car or anything. I can't figure it out and am really upset. I would have kept my 35 mpg 2008 Scion xD and saved $10,000. Although I love this Fiat for other reasons....money is money.

Now Fiat recommends 91 octane gas but says you are safe as long as you used at least 87 octane. Being cheap as I am, I got mid grade 88 gas. Is it at all possible that I could lose 10 miles per gallon by not using premium gas? That sounds weird to me. I just can't figure out what else could have affected my mileage that dramatically.

Thank you,
Atheria

03-26-2013, 12:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Atheria High Mileage Lover Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 82 Sophia - '13 Fiat 500 Thanks: 29 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	How could I lose 10 mpg in a week of BETTER driving?! I bought a 2013 manual transmission adorable Fiat 500 on March 17th and am in LOVE with this tiny car! Her name is Sophia...as in Loren...after all, she's Italian. ;-) Anyway, the car is rated at 31/40 but the salesman swore on his mother's grave that some of his customers were getting 45 mpg. I was totally excited when after my first 117 miles, I got 48.5 mpg! And that wasn't even with perfect driving...some heavy traffic. Since then, I've been extra diligent about throwing the car into neutral and coasting as much as possible, etc. I was expecting to get 50 mpg on this fill-up, but nooooo....I averaged only 38.2 mpg! How can that be?! I've done the same percentage of highway vs. city driving I think, or at least approximately. I've not been gunning the car or anything. I can't figure it out and am really upset. I would have kept my 35 mpg 2008 Scion xD and saved $10,000. Although I love this Fiat for other reasons....money is money. Now Fiat recommends 91 octane gas but says you are safe as long as you used at least 87 octane. Being cheap as I am, I got mid grade 88 gas. Is it at all possible that I could lose 10 miles per gallon by not using premium gas? That sounds weird to me. I just can't figure out what else could have affected my mileage that dramatically. Thank you, Atheria __________________ I love my cute Fiat 500, Sophia!