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Ford Focus: MPG-Real World Numbers

177 messages,  Last post on Mar 11, 2013 at 8:18 AM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford Focus SVT, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 11 of 18

#101 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [kam327] by revss

May 23, 2012 (1:27 pm)

Replying to: kam327 (May 23, 2012 11:46 am)
So here's the the thing. My Mazda was a v-6 all wheel drive. It was slated to get 18/23 MPG. Probably more than anything the reason my mileage was so low was because it had over 100K and not maintained very well, just oil changes every 3500K.
 
But to compare my Mazda with the focus is an unfair comparison. Two completely different beasts.
 
The posted EPA ratings for my Focus are 27 city 38 highway with a 31 mixed.
 
If I look on sites like Edmunds and feuleconomy.gov people are getting around those numbers.
 
My car is currently in the shop and I'm renting a 2012 Yaris and driving it the same way I do my focus along the same route and I'm getting 26MPG. So something else is going on with my car.
 
And no I don't think I'm expecting too much. I based my purchase like I think a lot of others do based on those MPG numbers.
 
If you have to drive with the AC off or the Windows open or you have to get out an push to get those numbers then they are not realistic.
The numbers shouldn't be from a test track or a Dyna machine, they should be real world.
 
To me and I've asked others, city driving means a lot of stop and go and short drive lengths between lights.
 
Highway is free flowing traffic allowing for the engine to work optimally at the 65MPH.
 
Mixed is a combination of stop and go and full flowing.
 
Anyways, there was a recall out to have the Power Train Module(PTM) and another module which I'm forgetting the name of to be re-programmed so I'm hoping that helps.
 
Also of note, i read on a forum that this recall notice was applied to a persons focus who was getting 29MPG and after the notice was applied they were now getting 20MPG. Hmmmm...

#102 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [revss] by kam327

May 23, 2012 (1:49 pm)

Replying to: revss (May 23, 2012 1:27 pm)
You're missing the point - your Tribute was probably rated about 20mpg combined. But you only got 14mpg due to your driving habits, which is 0.7 of 20. So it's reasonable to apply that 0.7 to the Focus's combined rating as well. And wouldn't you know it 0.7 of the Focus's combined rating of 31 is 21.7. That's what you should expect to get.
 
You can't expect one car to perform significantly better relative to its EPA rating than another car on the same route.
 
And the Yaris - how many days have you been driving it? You need at least 3-4 days of the same type of driving to compare apples to apples. It's the high time percentage of driving with a cold engine that's killing your MPG (on both your Tribute AND your Focus). In other words, many short trips versus fewer long trips is bad for fuel economy.
 
It is not a "recall" you're talking about, it's an "FSA" which means it's voluntary. If you're talking about the forum "focusfanatics", there are many on there who've had it done and 99% praise the results. They love it. I haven't seen anyone complain of reduced fuel economy afterwards.

#103 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [kam327] by revss

May 23, 2012 (2:05 pm)

Replying to: kam327 (May 23, 2012 1:49 pm)
If 21.7 is what I should expect than that should've been the number that was in bold not these other superfluous numbers that apparently aren't real. Again, thats what I based my purchase on. If I had seen 21MPG I might as well have purchased another Tribute because I was getting 21MPG when it was new!
 
In regards to the Yaris I've had it for 3 days driving the same route and actually more aggressive and have seen better gas mileage, 26MPG, what I expect to see from my focus based on the posted MPG, so please explain.
 
"Recall" is what the dealer called it and they didn't say that it was voluntary.

#104 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [revss] by kam327

May 23, 2012 (4:53 pm)

Replying to: revss (May 23, 2012 2:05 pm)
Wait a minute, you just said you were getting 14 mpg in the Tribute on your commute.

#105 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [kam327] by revss

May 23, 2012 (8:27 pm)

Replying to: kam327 (May 23, 2012 4:53 pm)
I was but when it was new I was getting around 20-21.

#106 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [revss] by kam327

May 24, 2012 (6:17 am)

Replying to: revss (May 23, 2012 8:27 pm)
OK well the point is, as simple as I can make it, you were getting roughly 23% below the Tribute's EPA city rating, and now you're getting roughly 23% below the Focus's EPA city rating. That's very consistent and should really not be a surprise to you. You're not going to achieve the EPA city rating on any car on your relatively severe commute (from a fuel economy standpoint). So don't bash the Focus because of it. Did you bash the Tribute on all the forums when you weren't achieving its city rating?
 
You've had the Yaris for 3 days which means you're probably reading 26 mpg from the on board computer, which can often be way off on most cars. When you fill it up exactly as you filled it up to begin with (assuming you did) and calculate the mileage, you may find it's only 23-24. But wouldn't you expect the Yaris to get much better mileage than the Focus? The Yaris is 10% shorter, weighs 20% less and has 33% less horsepower. I sure hope it gets better fuel economy or the world is coming to an end.

#107 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [kam327] by revss

May 24, 2012 (6:51 am)

Replying to: kam327 (May 24, 2012 6:17 am)
well you're basing that 23% rating on the Tribute 10 years after I've owned it with 100K miles compared to a new car. I don't think thats a fair comparison.
 
As far as the on board computer goes, its accurate. I've been keeping track of my MPG and it aligns with it.
 
All I'm saying is I keep hearing oh its how you drive or when you drive or what you have on etc. And all I'm saying is that if those EPA numbers aren't real, then they should be changed. Period.
 
I have a co-worker who has a 2010 Focus that drives much more harder and aggressive and get better MPG then I do and was quite surprised as well.
 
Anyways I'm not bashing I'm just asking around.

#108 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [revss] by kam327

May 24, 2012 (7:07 am)

Replying to: revss (May 24, 2012 6:51 am)
Everyone knows fuel mileage tends to get better with increased miles. Less internal engine friction and what not. Your Focus mileage will only get better unless you don't do maintenance and have dragging brake pads or something.
 
How can you have checked the Yaris's computer with a fill up and hand calculation if you've only had it 3 days?
 
The EPA numbers are real - for most people. One number is not going to cover everybody. Most posters on focusfanatics report beating the EPA numbers consistently, including me.
 
And if you took the time to read it you'll notice the EPA sticker has a range of ratings. The Focus's city rating says "Expected range for most drivers 22 to 32". So you're on the bottom end of that range. So the EPA ratings don't need to be changed just because you can't achieve them due to your short city commute.

#109 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [kam327] by revss

May 24, 2012 (7:56 am)

Replying to: kam327 (May 24, 2012 7:07 am)
So let me ask you this. What is your definition of City and Highway driving?

#110 of 177 Re: Ford Focus Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [revss] by kam327

May 24, 2012 (10:10 am)

Replying to: revss (May 24, 2012 7:56 am)
For the purposes of EPA ratings, 'city' and 'highway' are specific test cycles developed by the EPA for car manufacturers to test their cars against to determine numbers with which consumers can cross shop different brands and models. A car's city rating does NOT tell you what you WILL get in the city, it tells you what you should get relative to another car. If Car A is rated at 30 and Car B is rated at 32, you should get roughly 7% better fuel economy in Car B in most driving conditions, but not necessarily 32. If you got 20 mpg in Car A, you should get 7% better, or 21.4 mpg in Car B.
 
That's it. And that scenario holds perfectly true in your Tribute / Focus comparison.
 
Look, I'd like to continue to help you understand but I'm exhausted and frankly I don't think you're going to get it.
 
Best of luck to ya........

Messages Page 11 of 18

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