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Subaru Outback 2008 MPG

49 messages,  Last post on Aug 18, 2008 at 7:25 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 6 of 6

#45 of 49 Surprised at the MPG. by pilot1226

Aug 13, 2008 (1:14 pm)

Vehicle: 2009 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited (4S Automatic)
 
A half-tank in, I'm showing 23 MPG city/highway combined (about 6 miles highway and 4 miles city to work each way) with the Air Conditioner on constantly.
 
I did some quick math after the sale of my previous vehicle, a 2000 Honda Civic LX Automatic.
 
10 miles per gallon difference will end up being something like this for my Honda:
 
Subaru - 23 MPG Combined - 23 * 17 gallon tank = Range on Paper of 390 miles.
Honda - 30 MPG Combined - 30 * 11 gallon tank = Range on Paper of 330 miles.
 
In terms of a pricing standpoint, with gas at 3.50 a gallon here in NJ,
 
3.50 / 30mpg = 11.67 cents per mile
3.50 / 23mpg = 15.27 cents per mile
 
Assuming I drive 10,000 miles per year, I'll be paying $0.036 * 10,000 more in fuel a year.
 
That difference is $360. Is $360 worth surviving an accident? Better yet, is it worth having a vehicle that can help you AVOID the accident all together? My answer was yes.
 
I'm pleasantly surprised with the results so far. I'm taking a ride this weekend on a stretch of 50 miles of Highway, so I'll have to set the trip B MPG computer to figure that out. Unfortunately, I can't use Cruise Control yet until the break in's done - but that's ok, that's just another 800 miles away.
 
I guess with all the negative posts here I was expecting like 10 miles per gallon for the first couple thousand miles or so while the computer gets its act together.

#46 of 49 Re: Surprised at the MPG. [pilot1226] by ateixeira

Aug 14, 2008 (8:09 am)

Replying to: pilot1226 (Aug 13, 2008 1:14 pm)
Plus you don't have to rent a 4x4 to get to work when it snows.

#47 of 49 Re: Surprised at the MPG. [ateixeira] by paisan

Aug 15, 2008 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 14, 2008 8:09 am)
You'll probably jump a bit above 23mpg. I drive many of the same conditions as you are Pilot and with my LGT I get an average of 21mpg, and I push it HARD.
 
Once you hit about 8-10k miles you'll be at optimal MPG.
 
I'm currently in a rental 08 Forester AT Base and I'm getting about 24mpg and I'm romping on this thing like a red-headed step child
 
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host

#48 of 49 Re: Surprised at the MPG. [paisan] by pilot1226

Aug 16, 2008 (8:37 am)

Replying to: paisan (Aug 15, 2008 5:39 pm)
Hmm. The Limited GT is Turbocharged, you're getting a higher MPG than Sub advertises. Maybe it's your synthetic that's reducing friction!
 
Taking it for a ride on highway up and down the GSP today and tomorrow for a few trips, I'll use Trip B to calculate highway MPG.
 
I've noticed that at startup the idle is high as per some posts on this forum (about 1.5k RPM) - but it seems to drop within about 30 seconds of startup down to under 1k RPM. Probably just a sensor or two that needs to get a little warmer. I'll keep my eye on it in the winter because people said they've actually stalled or borderline stalled.

#49 of 49 Re: Surprised at the MPG. [pilot1226] by paisan

Aug 18, 2008 (7:25 pm)

Replying to: pilot1226 (Aug 16, 2008 8:37 am)
That's the PZEV you have bumping the idle for 30 seconds.
 
I don't think the highway MPG on the LGT 5MT is lower than 21mpg? Heck when I had stock sized snows on I was getting 23mpg and driving saner.
 
On the highway even with the slicker wider tires I'm getting about 24mpg at 80mph, at 65 I can get 27mpg on the highway, but I never drive that way.
 
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host

Messages Page 6 of 6

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