Stratus vs Impala - MPG guessing game

[roosterk0031]

Going to be driving my wife's Impala for next 2 days, going to drive the same as route I have been for last few weeks with the Stratus, won't be doing neutral coasting because the Impala rolls good enough in drive where the Stratus doesn't.

Current 3 tank average of Stratus is 33.24, wife's 3 tank of Impala is 27.9.

What will the Impala return?

[roosterk0031]

I guess no one want's to guess. I was somewhat disappointed via the guage. Last summer(July or August) on a one way trip just a 1/2 mile past the office the impala indication 35.2 mpg with 4 people, one including my wife so AC was running the whole time. Today round trip indicated was 32.0.

I really thought it would beat the stratus, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm needing a replacment car and was leaning toward a Cobalt/Aveo, but a local dealer has 2011 impala's for 12k, the Traction Control, ABS, quietness etc make it tempting and only costing 6ish mpg make me question my plans. I've found hail damaged aveos or cobalts with 1/2 the mileage for only 1k over 1/2 the cost.

I'll refill 10 miles from home tomorrow night and find how close the gauge & pump agree.

[roosterk0031]

Just refilled, 2 days to work, plus another 60 miles, computer incidate 31.3 mpg, was 31.9 when I got to work yesterday, but some city driving after work pulled it down to that before I got back on the highway and couldn't pull it back up with below 20F temps and wind. Refill gave 32.2 mpg calculated, I think actual is somewhere between.

With the price of E10 rising, E85 is almost competitive again in cost/mile. And with a little more learning how to drive it better I think it can beat the Stratus. Malibu no contest, Impala wins. I hope I can say in 190,000 more miles that the Impala will displace the Malibu as my best car buy ever. (Malibu's at 250,000 miles for $10k initial price and $450 in no-normal wear item parts).

[ex-x-fire]

Is it a 4cyl. vs. a big 6 cylinder?

[mcrews]

the impala is a nice ride.
Just the right size for a family 4 door.

But i'm 6'3" so I cant really do the colbalts etc.

[roosterk0031]

3.5 liter flex fuel v6, don't think they put 4's into the impala, I really wanted a 4c malibu 6 speed auto flex fuel, but it was $3,000 more and Impala was a older, more debuged design. (program car vs program car)

[mcrews]

A body of mine got 2 of those a couple of yrs ago. paid about 14k a piece.
Nice cars.

[roosterk0031]

Paid 14k for the wifes with 40k, just tempted to get another to replace Stratus for 12k with 40k miles. I really want a car I'm pretty sure I can break 40 mpg with as a replacement, but my 14 yo girl just got a permit.

With my now 19 yo girl I never gave a thought about car size being a safety advantage, this 14 yo is different. The 19 yo was driving to school & back before she was 15, never a ticket and hardly a concern, we road dirt bike together when she was 6, lawn mowers shortly later.

This one is different (she's blonder than the older one), I haven't ridden motorcycle with her as much, made her mow(riders) nearly as much. She's going to end up driving the stratus(she say's she won't, but I think she'll change her mind) unless her grand parent give her their PT Cruiser (the kids used to think it was cool, not anymore).

[ex-x-fire]

The stratus has ? engine. If it has the 2.7L, i'd get rid of it, that engine is junk.
The impala has a 3.5l?

[roosterk0031]

Stratus has 2.4, Impala's the 3.5. The Stratus was free, had around 120,000 when my inlaws gave it to me. It's around 215,000 now, 10% of rocker panels left, I've had to replace water pump, ac compressor froze up so bypassed with shorter belt, other wise just brakes & tires.