I recently switched from an '04 F-150 FX4 to an '00 Nissan Altima (4 cyl) to save money and gas.

It has been a big (and sometimes depressing) move but I figured it would all be worth it when I looked at the beautiful MPG numbers.

I filled up my tank for the second time just a few moments ago and ran the numbers.

The result?

21 MPG



Keep in mind that the FX4 got 18/20 MPG.

In review, light car with 4 cyl gets 1 MPG better than a 5,000 lb. truck with a 5.4L V8

I am going to go cut myself now. Thanks for your attention.

1/10/2006 9:07:54 PM

Try running some fuel injector cleaner

1/10/2006 9:11:09 PM

change the air filter?

1/10/2006 9:12:10 PM

They do get better mileage if you don't drive it like you stole it.

1/10/2006 9:13:28 PM

ain't no ass like a dumbass.

1/10/2006 9:14:12 PM

It is a 2000 with 22,000 miles on it (averaged 4,000/yr before me) so I can imagine it needs a good breaking in now that it will get used more.

Quote :

"They do get better mileage if you don't drive it like you stole it."

Actually I don't - I have been taking it pretty easy on the car down to coasting to short redlights to avoid having to use full acceleration when it turns green again.

1/10/2006 9:18:14 PM

fueleconomy.gov says

Quote :

"MPG (city) 21 MPG (highway) 28 MPG (combined) 24"

My conclusion is either a mechanical problem, lots of traffic jams, or you're driving like you stole it.

1/10/2006 9:20:37 PM

Mixed driving but most of the miles are highway.

I have been nice to it, keeping it under 4,000 RPM and all.

I will try the injector cleaner and find a K&N to shove in the airbox and see if it does better.

1/10/2006 9:26:05 PM

hmmmm... if gov. ratings are 24, my opinion says you'll not get much, if any, more than 21.

1/10/2006 9:32:07 PM

You didn't get 18/20 in that truck

1/10/2006 9:52:18 PM

^ Depends.

Worst case: 4x4 use or lots of city driving - 10-12 MPG

Best case: trip, all highway - ~20 MPG (okay, it was 19.x)

Average: 16-17 MPG (70% hwy, 30% city)

21 (esp for a lot of highway driving) is still depressing

1/10/2006 10:14:59 PM

not if you have a heavy 3.8L supercharged car

then again, 21 is the most I have EVER managed

1/10/2006 10:20:30 PM

Yeah, I have always owned trucks and managed to usually get a little better than EPA estimates on them.

I expected more when I switched to a car. (My dad has a Buick LeSabre with a supercharged V6 and swears he gets 28 MPG.)

*sigh*

I miss my truck.

1/10/2006 10:28:31 PM

so you sold a truck to get an inefficient 4 cylinder. you should have looked at a late 80's early 90s sentra or some shit

1/11/2006 1:10:59 AM

omg trx!

1/11/2006 1:19:16 AM

My car has a Jekyll/Hyde personality when it comes to fuel economy. On the highway, I can pull a solid ~25 mpg cruising at 80, and I've averaged as high as 27 on a couple of conservative trips. In the city, I'm a lucky bastard to get 15 mpg, I average more like 12. Granted, I do a lot of REALLY short trips (home to my work is less than 2 miles, and I make about one trip between main and Centennial campus every day), but it's still a big damn jump. Changed my air filter just a couple of months ago, too.

25 highway is good for a 3800 lb. car with a powerful V8, but 12 city is just depressing.

1/11/2006 10:20:39 AM

I only get ~15 MPG at 55MPH in my Wrangler. It just gets worse from there whether I speed up or down. That thing is a wind brake.

1/11/2006 10:31:47 AM

Quote :

"I will try the injector cleaner"

seafoam!

1/11/2006 1:14:46 PM

I am seriously beginning to feel alot better about my gas mileage now. I get 18mpg mostly highway, basically redlining the car at least once every time I drive it. I managed 10mpg at VIR taching 6000+ for a combined 1.5 hours, and this is all 87 octane.

1/11/2006 1:41:01 PM

Sounds like a typical Wankel to me...

Hell, you can probably go even lower on octane if it were available. Wankels are pretty insensitive to octane because of high turbulence in the chambers.

1/11/2006 1:51:11 PM

yah that altima engine is kind of bad on gas mileage (also found in 240sx, frontier, stanza..)

my 240sx gets about 25mpg on the highway at 3500rpm

If you wanted gas mileage you should have gone with a sentra or 200sx

1/11/2006 2:05:25 PM

KA=fucking cinderblock of an engine.

1/11/2006 2:06:48 PM

rabbit diesel

1/11/2006 2:12:29 PM

check tire pressue
timing
air filter

1/11/2006 2:32:09 PM

How fast are you driving on the highway? I get 30mpg out of my 240sx if I keep it under 71 (3000rpm).

1/11/2006 2:37:39 PM

^ avg between 60-70 mph.

On this first tank of gas I took it really easy and it has stayed under 4,000 rpms so far. Not even touching the redline.

I will report back with my progress (or lack thereof ).

1/11/2006 3:58:56 PM

well damn.. 30mpg?

I dont really have the patience to drive at 3000rpm haa. 3300rpm (my cruising rpm) shows 80mph by my speedo but is actually about 75mph according to my sister's camry (following on highway). I go by hers

[Edited on January 11, 2006 at 4:07 PM. Reason : 3500rpm is 85mph on speedo, my bad]

1/11/2006 4:06:43 PM

I bought an 05 F-150 6 cyl and am getting about 18 with it. Mostly highway, but some in town/ short trips

1/11/2006 4:27:07 PM

really should have went with the 3.5...barely if any compromise on mpg; i don't recall the 3.5 altima ratings but the maxima is 20 and 28 and it can only go up with less weight

1/11/2006 5:33:40 PM

my sister has an '05 Altima with the QR25DE in it. She does a good amount of city driving and gets in the low 20's I think. She claims she needs to use 89 octane because the car feels better that way. I know the owner's manual says 87 is fine.

1/11/2006 5:40:41 PM