Which MPG figure is your "Brag Number"?
 

Here on EcoModder we obviously use Lifetime Average Combined MPG for our end-of-post "brag-tags". But what do you tell "regular" people? (What number would I put on a bumper sticker?)

• I get 35mpg. (On the highway, on average)
• I get 30mpg. (On my last few tanks)
• I get 29mpg. (Rounding up my Ecomodder Signature mpg)
• I get 26mpg. (If I was to figure out my 50/50 highway/city combo)

Despite my public preference to endlessly qualify the parameters of my accomplishments with a gnarled mess of scientific self-skepticism and measurable statistical error, I think quoting my highest figure is really the most socially acceptable and generally expected thing to do, no?

I mean, if I was talking to another car nerd, I would expect them to inquire further into the figures, to see which one I was quoting. I think if someone was telling me "what they get", I wouldn't at all feel like they were being dishonest if they told me their highway miles. I guess it's just weird that I feel slightly dishonest saying I get 35mpg, when I can't actually fill up the tank on just "highway miles". Is it just me??

I guess for that matter, my EPA sticker miles are just estimates based on a warmed-up car -- also something you can't fill up a tank on -- so they're ultimately just calculated estimates based on sensor-readings. So when my truck is warmed up, I get readings on the ScanGauge that I can extrapolate based on calibration errors to say that I get about 35mpg, highway.

I dunno, still feels wrong. :) Is it just me? What do you think?

ps. I'm especially interested to hear from the "pros" who've made it into the media. (You know who you are.) What do you tell the reporters? What do you tell the random bug-eyed inquirer?

akashic the Tacomodder -

I agree with being conservative in your statements. Otherwise, you make it easier for them to shoot you down. I have a reflective sticker inside my car that reads "42+ Total MPG". This is my 90 day running MPG, which I change as my MPG goes up or down. The "Total" is a bit awkward, but it's the most concise way I can think of displaying my MPG. If I don't say total, they may think I am only talking about my highway MPG.

I always qualify my claims, but when they ask, I tell them my personal best MPG run that I keep in my trip log :

2008-04-25 - 61.2 MPG
Trip: home to work (1999 Saturn SW2)
CarloSW2

With me, it's the "lifetime average", which is really average since I bought the Insight 5 years ago, and figured out how to reset it. After all, the number does include everything: winter ski trips, commuting over Carson Pass in the winter, the miles on dirt roads to get to trailheads... currently 70.9 mpg.

I usually use my 90 day average (which is what is used in the signature, not lifetime) when talking to people. But, I'll usually mention that I've gotten up to whatever my max is at that time.

I always report the car's lifetime MPG. I don't calculate my highway or city MPG. However, as my driving techniques improve from the great info on this site, I may want to start using my 90 day average. Unfortunately, my 90 day average is going down right now because of the cold weather. :(

I qualify it with lifetime and post-modding numbers. Usually opened up a few ears when I tell them I went from 36 to 41mpg. Well, at least it did when gas was $3+ a gallon.

Yeah, cold weather is sucking my numbers down to No Man's Land but my last refill was a shocker. I scratch it up to more aggressive conservative driving and better route selection to work. At least, that's my story. :)

So far I usually make my statement along the lines of..."well I have reached a peak of Xmpg but normally run around y or z mpg"
Now if I can ever get off the road from the wheels of the big 18 wheeler I drive, I should be able to consolidate my driving skills and try to ramp up the mpg number on my Impala.
Best of luck folks.

I give my best average on 3-5 tanks and how much money/gasoline it permits to save (which is lower than the % over EPA).

If I feel the discussion OK then I talk about how bad can be winter and short trips, and only at the end my best tank/trip.

Denis.

I tell them the truth:

In my Geo Metro 3 cyl I get 50-57 mpg, but I'd get better if I did the speed limit!
In my wife's 05 V6 Mustang we get 30.2 mpg, but we'd get better if we did the speed limit!
In my SRT4 Neon (12 second 1/4 mile car) I get 32.8 mpg, but I'd get better if I did the speed limit!
In my 84 Plymouth Horizon that I drag race....it gets 24 mpg, but used to get 19!

I usually mention the 90 day number first, and the car's lifetime figure second.

Though some people who know I have a ScanGauge will sometimes ask for results of specific trips too.

But believe it or not, the topic of what I get in my car doesn't come up that often.