Drivers your mileage will vary

The method used to for the EPA estimates is consistent from car to car. However, the cycles used don't match the way most people drive their cars. Still you can use the number for a comparison to other similar vehicles.

See

And don't forget to include the fact that many car makers are "padding" there fleet averages to meet federal standards. I find it hard to beleive that ford, chevy or dodge; all boasting about maximum horse power and torque are capable of truelly averaging out to 30 plus mpg.

I doubt that. What you are suggesting is illegal, punishable by a fine of $10,000 for each tenth of a mile per vehicle.

The key is torque. Detroit engines, generally, develop their torque at a much lower RPM, on average, than do Japanese engines. Japanese engines reliance on higher RPMs to produce their HP reduces fuel economy on anything but a flat highway. The six speed double overdrive tranny in the Ford 500 for instance allows the engine to run at only 1500 RPMs at 60 MPH, because of its better torque curve. On the other hand a 4cy in a Camry needs to run at nearly twice as maney RPMs to be on the torque curve on even the slightest grade. The 300 HP, 300 FP of torque of the V8 in the Mustang GT will be you running at 100 MPH at 3,000 RPMs

mike hunt

mudm>

You are correct, the sales rated CAFE for cars is 27.5 MPG. Light trucks/SUVs CAFE is 23 MPG. Light trucks/SUVs actually exceed their CAFE by a greater margin than do cars exceed their CAFE, according to the EPA reports of CAFE compliance. That is the reason truck manufactures can sell the larger less fuel efficient larger light trucks without triggering a guzzler tax. The really large trucks and SUVs over 2500, are not subject to CAFE, in any event

mike hunt

Merritt Mullen wrote: