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Old 09-09-2019, 11:31 AM   #17 (permalink)
Ecky
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
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ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy View Post
We weren't saying that the AT is rated lower than the MT - if I remember correctly, the AT is rated higher than the MT in the EPA tests. However, in real world eco-driving, the MT will get much better fuel economy than the AT.
This is my exact experience with the 07-08 Fit, yes.

Different drivers, but my SO is regularly getting 45-49mpg in her 07 manual Fit, whereas my brother averages just about EPA in his 08 automatic - low 30's. The auto has much better top gearing than the manual, so it's not intuitive to me why this is.

Here's my guess: the auto seems to hold onto gears much longer - she shifts somewhere around 1500-2000rpm - and I expect the torque converter isn't locked up all the much in the auto.
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