- #45 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [desertrat5]
by thegraduate
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May 11, 2008 (6:34 pm)
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Replying to: desertrat5 (May 11, 2008 2:29 am)
With an EPA estimated 17/24, you actually exceeded the advertised mileage for your car. I'm not sure why you were let down?
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- #46 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [thegraduate]
by capella
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May 12, 2008 (9:56 pm)
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Replying to: thegraduate (May 11, 2008 6:34 pm)
Good point. The new EPA estimates are pretty accurate. To exceed them you really have to drive conservatively (which is doable, we recently got 30+ MPG over two road trips over 500 miles but that was in a FWD SEL).
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- #47 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [capella]
by thegraduate
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May 13, 2008 (8:25 am)
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Replying to: capella (May 12, 2008 9:56 pm)
The new EPA estimates for my car (and Accord) are grossly underrated. The new system rates my car (a 2006 4-cyl auto) at 31 highway. I get 36+ mpg when running 75 MPH with the A/C on, and have hit 40 MPG on two tanks when closer to 70 MPH with no A/C.
These are trips running up and down I-65 from Birmingham to the Gulf Coast.
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- #48 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [thegraduate]
by desertrat5
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May 22, 2008 (4:47 pm)
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Replying to: thegraduate (May 11, 2008 6:34 pm)
I was pleased with the car but having routinely achieved 27-29mpg with my previous GM 3.8L V-6, this was kind of a step in the wrong direction. Yes, it was as advertised but I guess I had hoped that a newer technology drive train could at least keep up with the raucous old 3.8.
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- #49 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [desertrat5]
by thegraduate
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May 26, 2008 (9:07 pm)
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Replying to: desertrat5 (May 22, 2008 4:47 pm)
That 3.8 was saddled to a 4-speed transmission that had ridiculously tall gearing, making it's fuel economy on the highway quite good. Remember, this engine puts out a LOT more usable power than the 3800.
Also, did the 3800 GM have AWD?
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- #50 of 103
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weekend trip mileage
by brucelinc
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May 27, 2008 (4:44 am)
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We drove my wife's FWD Taurus from Minneapolis to Southern Iowa and back over the Memorial Day weekend. Going down into a bit of a headwind, we got 29.6 MPG. On the return trip, with a bit of tailwind, the mileage rose to 31.4. This is driving at 75-80 MPH most of the way.
I am very pleased with this mileage. I give a lot of credit to the 6 speed transmission and overall gearing. Cruising down the interstate, it is turning about 1000 RPM less than my Lincoln LS at the same speed. I also give a lot of credit to the 3.5 engine for having sufficient low end torque to pull that tall gearing without a lot of downshifting.
No doubt the FWD model uses less fuel than AWD. Added weight, rotational mass, and friction make a difference.
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- #51 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [thegraduate]
by desertrat5
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Jun 02, 2008 (7:38 pm)
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Replying to: thegraduate (May 26, 2008 9:07 pm)
Not sure that I agree with all of your statements. Yes, the 3.8 was saddled with a four-speed auto so there were some long gaps between gears. The hills on I-70 between Colorado Springs and Cincinnati were a piece of cake for the 3.8 while the Ford had to downshift one or two notches. And they both turn less than 2000 rpm at 70+mph. I suspect that the torque curve on the 3.8 comes on at a much lower speed than the Ford which would certainly help it with the hills.
Again, I like the Taurus except for the driving position issue. I also think it should do better in the economy arena.
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- #52 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [desertrat5]
by thegraduate
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Jun 02, 2008 (9:03 pm)
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Replying to: desertrat5 (Jun 02, 2008 7:38 pm)
While I don't doubt that the GM torque "peak" comes at a lower RPM, VVT engines typically allow more flexible power delivery. Also, unless your GM was a supercharged 3800, it likely makes less peak torque than the Taurus.
You never did come back and answer my question, though; was the 3.8 AWD? You say you hoped for better than the 3800 GM, but with AWD, you really aren't comparing apples to apples if the 3800 was in a Grand Prix / Oldsmobile 88 / Buick LeSabre etc, since the Taurus has the added weight and friction of AWD.
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- #53 of 103
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2008 ford taurus gas guage
by catman6
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Jun 09, 2008 (5:58 pm)
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Gas gauge has not been accurate from day one,reads high.Gauge indicates half tank,put in 15 gallons,dealer claims "ITS A DESIGN FLAW"...CAN'T BE FIXED !!! Their must be 10's of thousands taurus owners running out of gas! Alan Mulally,Mark Fields,Jim Farley are you aware of this?
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- #54 of 103
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Re: First Long Trip [thegraduate]
by desertrat5
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Jun 09, 2008 (6:59 pm)
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Replying to: thegraduate (Jun 02, 2008 9:03 pm)
The 3.8 was in a Buick Ultra which is only available in FWD. And it was supercharged. I had previously owned a Buick Park Avenue with the unblown 3.8 and it likewise was great on mileage on the highway and very rarely had to downshift for a hill. So again, while the Taurus enginer is higher tech, it remains a mystery to me why it is not able to at least equal the ancient 3.8 in economy. By the way, the Park Avenue is listed at 3750 lbs while the Taurus is listed at 3640. The 3.8 generates 205 hp and 225 lbft of torque unboosted and 240 hp and 280 lbft of torque boosted. The Taurus generates 260 hp and 245 lb ft of torque.
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