Who says autos cannot get good mileage??

[UFO]

Originally Posted by SDMCF

I agree with you, and for ultimate milage I would always opt for a manual, given a free choice. However the point is that it is possible to get good milage with an auto even though it is probably not the best. I think that is good news if you have to run an auto. I changed from a manual to an auto for reasons beyond my control and I have been pleased with the results. It is years since I ran an auto and I was expecting a bigger milage hit.

That depends on the specific automatic transmission though. When I managed to get into the 50s mpg, that was a lot of coasting (engine on), and my transmission does not like coming back into D while rolling - there is a lot of slipping and refilling the hydraulics. Now when the trans is cold there is erratic shifting, and I am not doing any more coasting in it as I think it has worn it badly. If it breaks on me, I will either convert to a manual, or get another TDI with a stick shift.

I think my old Mercedes diesel with a rear pump would be a better automatic to hypermile, although the mileage would be less than spectacular compared to my TDI.

[dirtydave]

I just got an auto so how do you do it babydiesel?

[BabyDiesel]

The 87.2 was one way the round trip was more like 55-60.

The ZX2's manual transmission is much deeper geared than the automatic. IIRC it is a .75 5th with 4.10 final! So the auto has the advantage of much lower revs on the highway. The Escort sedan transmission is better geared for cruising though, so I will swap it in when the auto goes ka-blewy! For the time being I am focusing on getting a 50 mpg tank with sights set on 75 mpg.

Dave, you will see tomorrow but what works for me is cruising between 40-50 mph while keeping my instant readout high. It maxes out with 60 mpg @ 40 mph. I EOnC as much as possible, with my mpgs between 300-500. I DWL on hills and am not afraid of losing speed. The aero mods have helped majorly, since I might be close to the Honda Insights (Cd=0.25) drag.

[jcp123]

There's a 20-mile trip I take now and then which is a guaranteed 50-plus, once I snagged 56.1. Get the right trip and you'll be rewarded!

[fostereo2000]

huh... thats cool

[MeteorGray]

I got a six-speed automatic in my new 2015 Mazda3. I have to travel through New Orleans and Baton Rough frequently which typically have lots of traffic backups, and having an automatic is a pure luxury in the stop-and-start environment.

With 1700 miles on my car so far, my average mileage is about 43 as reported in my Fuelly account. My best trip so far achieved over 46 mpg with almost all highway miles. I may be giving up a few mpgs, but the auto tranny works for me.

[NHB]

Originally Posted by SDMCF

I agree with you, and for ultimate milage I would always opt for a manual, given a free choice.

I'm not so sure about that. Autos have been developing much faster that manuals. Today we have autos with large overall gear ratio spread close to 10 and small ratio spread between gears. That is a clear advantage over manuals which don't have as many gears.

I drive a six speed auto and the manual version of my car would have also have six speeds. Even though there is no difference in the number of gears the auto version has much taller gearing. Auto would reach 353 km/h at sixth gear at 6500 rpm and manual would reach only 290 km/h. Those speeds don't happen because the engine doesn't have enough power but the tall gear ratio of the auto version keep engine running at low rpm. I'm pretty sure, that auto version burns less fuel in high speed driving. Automatic coasting function of the automatic gearbox is also a nice function in a urban area.

The automotive industry is making engines which can run at lower and lower rpm for better fuel efficiency. These engines can run also at high rpm for high power. This asks for larger and larger overall gear ratio spread. Autos are much better suited for this trend. Manuals could do it too, but not too many people are ready to manually go through ten gears all the time.