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one time for my benefit, and the benefit of others monitoring fuel economy in their vans, i'd like you to justify the existance of the "instantaneous" MPG estimate that your vehicle presents to you.
i am sincere.
IMHO it is a technological gimic that i can't imagine anyone honestly relying upon. now a long-term MPG estimate, maybe. i once owned a Jetta GLI that had both, and never used the short-term / instantaneous mode. the long term average was fairly accurate when compared to miles driven/gallons pumped, but i always did the hand calculation. i don't want to rely on fuel monitoring much further than an idiot (low-tech) light that tells me it's time to consider refueling.
the thing i missed about the console computer display in the Jetta GLI, compared to my Odyssey is a OAT (Outside Air Temp) display. IMHO *much* more useful than an instantaneous MPG estimate.
hey, i like the sienna, i just think that function is gratuitous technology, and it promotes heads down time. i think the laser cruise is another example of gratuitous technology, but if that's what a consumer wants, toyota is going to provide it.
i'm against technology for technology sake. you know this from my other posts.
while i doubt you really think the odyssey is a lemon; the VCM technology though - honestly, i'm not sure what my feelings on that is; lemon wouldn't be the adjective i'd use though.
regards.
I live in south Florida, so we only have a handful of days when it gets as cold as upper 30’s at night.
Thus, what are some of the basic things that I can do to maximize gas milage?
The only thing that I currently do is to turn off the a/c when I am accelerating hard (such as getting onto I-95) and then turn it back on when I get up to my cruising speed.
I also read that if you are going to be stopped (such as a RR crossing) for more than 30 seconds, you should shut off the engine because it uses less gas to restart than to idle.
Are these above two suggestions helpful? Any others?
Sorry if this is posted somewhere, but I haven’t found any threads of general gas-saving tips.
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/echronicle/archives/2005/Q3/gas-prices.htm
Anyone have any other tips other than what is mentioned in there?
Oh really you know this is post your gas mileage of your van. Do you own a Honda with VCM?? I do and I also owned a 2001 Dodge base SWB Caravan with 3.3L. I got between 17-18 mpg in that van. I get about 22 mpg in the Ody. Now I do drive more than before so there is more highway miles. But since school started for my kids the milage is about 3mpg better than the DCX. VCM is ok but not a lemon. It increases gas mileage by about 10% hwy and 5% city. I'm happy to get the extra 30 miles a tank.
Son's 2001 Odd EX gets between 20 and 24 mpg on long road trips. :sick:
To stay slightly on topic, I just put synthetic oil in my Sienna - curious to see if it makes any kind of difference. It has in my other cars.
once someone has verified this, and perhaps a few other scenarios - what more is there to the utility of the this particular metric other than to satisfy one's curiousity? i'm serious about the question. ok, ok, i'll conceed, if you really haven't got a clue as to how to drive more fuel efficiently, then this metric could help "train you up".
hansienna - did both vehicles travel the same route, with the same driver, at the same speed? there are also sienna owners out there that are getting less than advertised mileage. what's your point?
If people bought cars they needed - SUV's sure would be rare, as would most large and/or luxury vehicles.
1). once upon a time i lived in the northeast. bought a black jetta gli (manual) and specifically told dealership to find one without AC (didn't really need it in the NE). i loved driving it (i already mentioned it had both short-term and long-term MPG estimates). anyway this vehicle never gave me any trouble. several years later i found myself in atlanta. oh that was fun trying to get somewhere in the summer and arrive at my destination dry.
2). wife had a small mitzubishi (sp?) hatchback (also manual), without AC... one day after work in ATL, making my way to the home we just purchased (going a new way), i zoned (combination heat and intersection unfamiliarity), made a left on green when i thought all trafic was yielding to turn right, and got spun like a top.
lesson for me: AC is not an option. now if someone made a mini-van with a stick, both my wife and i would have favored it. we realize we are in a minority. we believe a manual provides us more vehicle control and responsiveness. however, it is also true that in much of ATL traffic, a manual forces one to do more work. with an AT, i find myself arriving at my destination a bit less frazzled when traffic is very heavy.
speaking of less weight and smaller size, if i could have purchased one of those older model odysseys based on the accord, i would have done it.
Have you looked at the new Mazda5?
All VW minivans that I have ever driven were grossly underpowered and handled about as poorly as any vehicle made... :sick: Gas mileage with the wheezing, anemic 4 cyl engine and manual transmission was MUCH lower in the VW minivans (VW Bus, Vanagon, etc. ) than the T&C with a powerful, modern 3.3L V6.
I presently have almost 90K miles, run with the a/c on all the time (it's 75 right now in Texas) and I'm getting 22mpg consistently. Ok - Houston is flat and I'm on the freeway 90% of the time but 22mpg is respectable in my opinion under the my circumstances.
we did our shopping before the MPV TCM re-flashes. i experienced confused shifts and the transmission gearing and engine combination just did not seem appropriately matched to me. that is why i test drove three MPVs.
I live in the mountains of North Ga. This included trips to Florida, Maine, and mostly suburban driving. Not too much city stop and go.
I tend to agree with user777, somethings are nice to have for comfort, and some are just gizmos & gadgets to distract you from the main task of driving.
I remember an old saying ......
A Little Gas... A Little Oil.
A Little Spark... A Little Coil.
4 Little Wheels... & A Running Board
It might have been a Model T Ford....
Boxwrench
Let's hope so, the Odyssey is a larger engine with 60 more horsepower and 32 lb-ft more torque. If it got better economy too (and I can't say it's much different, but if it was for you, I have no reason to doubt it), Chrysler would have egg on its face, for a triple loss. In all fairness, we always got EPA in town our 2000 model Odyssey EX, occasionally more on the highway (26-27 on trips to the beach at 80mph wasn't uncommon).
Do the Math: Odd has 25 more HP and a whopping 7 Lb-Ft more Torque. Even with premium unleaded, the 2001 Odd has 210 HP and 229 Lb-Ft...a difference of 30 more HP and 19 Lb-Ft Torque....
Please do not exaggerate the Odd engine output. :sick:
I'm kind of tired of you accusing me of lying. If you will just READ the statement I made, you VERY OBVIOUSLY referred to the 2002 models of both. So did I. IF YOU DO THE MATH, you will see that the 2002 Odyssey garners 240 horsepower on regular gasoline, as well as 242 lb-ft of torque.
I'm not sure why you enjoy trying to make me look bad, because it just makes me call attention to your lack of credibility.
NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE SIDES! Just discuss the merits of the vehicles!
Remember, winter temperatures and "winter forumula" gasolines reduce fuel economy somewhat (I've noticed about a 10% dip in my mileage since October (from 29 mpg, to 26-27 ish in my 96 Accord). Give it a little time to break in, also. Some people see gains in their economy after a few thousand miles, some don't. I wouldn't fret to much, but keep us posted as things in the engine break-in a little more, and temperatures start rising in March.
Do the Math: Odd has 25 more HP and a whopping 7 Lb-Ft more Torque. Even with premium unleaded, the 2001 Odd has 210 HP and 229 Lb-Ft...a difference of 30 more HP and 19 Lb-Ft Torque....
The Ody probably had even less HP, based on the new more realistic SAE test methods which now forces the Japanese to test them more realistically i.e.. crankcases full of oil etc...
I always found it funny how, for example, an Infiniti G35 V6 produced 260hp but a 225 hp BMW always beat it in acceleration?
Why not? Honda has been exaggerating both output and MPG!
Where has Honda lied about MPG? I figured you would know that Honda does not set the figures listed on the window sticker. That would be thr trusty ole Environmental Protection Agency, the same very one that provides data for your Chrysler, Joe Schmo's Nissan, and Jane Doe's Daewoo. We have always gotten at or slightly over EPA numbers i ours. Of course, we did in our Chrysler too!
Thanks for the response. Yes most (90%) of milage on my 2006 Ody are in the city (under speed limit of 45mph). I will wait for another thousand miles and see if it makes any improvement.-B
The Big 3 were already testing close to new SAE, and were usually very conservative with their HP ratings, note that many domestic models actually gained HP. Many Japanese lost HP because they were testing without accessories and low oil in crankcase.
Where has Honda lied about MPG? I figured you would know that Honda does not set the figures listed on the window sticker. That would be thr trusty ole Environmental Protection Agency, the same very one that provides data for your Chrysler, Joe Schmo's Nissan, and Jane Doe's Daewoo. We have always gotten at or slightly over EPA numbers i ours. Of course, we did in our Chrysler too!
Actually manufacturers do their own testing (you think EPA has the resources to test every new and carry over model each year?) and provide data to EPA to post. Poor MPG seems a common complaint on some vehicles. I exceeded my 25mpg highway est, getting 27mpg on highway, doing 75mph on way back to PA at christmas. Not shabby for an old pushrod and 4 spd auto.
Sorry to hear about your isolated lemon problem, agno, but it lemons aren't strangers to Toyotas either. You just got one from a Honda. They happen to every car company. Hopefully you won't hav the infamous Toyota sludge problem.
--end of story--
What gets me is people's attitudes that linger for years!! "I had a 1992 Caravan POS" or "My Toyota had this issue"....Face it, there's lemons enough to go around!!
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Bought 2006 Honda Odessey Touring DVD and NAV end of Sept 2005. Gas mileage is terrible - 13-15 mpg around town (same as my 2002 Suburban) and 24-25 on highway (OK, I get 18-19 on highway with my Suburban), not the 18 around town and 28 on highway they claimed and Honda had on sticker.
Sorry but last thing that bugs me, no spare with Touring model. I know all the reasons but gosh can't I at least get a spare tire with my brand new $38,000 car so I can at least put it on myself to drive to a dealer to get my fancy tire/wheel combo? I know it may damage the vehicle if you're a distance from a dealer to get replaced but what happens if you're out in the middle of desert, you get a flat, you're cell phone or other communication doesn't work? You can't even put a spare on the vehicle because you don't have one!! Thanks Honda.
Sorry, but never again a Honda. They really disappointed me. I have other issues with my new Odessey but I'll write that in a different forum.
Thanks,
bummer
Did have a pretty stiff tail wind though.