Fun Small Hatchbacks w/ Good MPG

[Buck]

Edit: I got a 2014 Focus ST1 (aka the base version).

[TLO]

Originally Posted by hometeam

Oh we get to change tunes now? This guy is gonna buy a Subi and an accessport, plus have someone do a custom tune so he can get somewhat close to what cheaper subcompacts are doing stock?

Plus, who the **** stays out of boost in a WRX?

Yeah, because buying my accessport and doing the tune myself cost me around $300. Really broke the bank on that one.

I stay out of boost when I drive on the interstate. And when I do, I get 34mpg. Not bad for a car that's AWD, and has over 300 hp.

05 STI.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by hometeam

As far as octane goes, putting 87 octane in a so called 'premium only' vehicle will not hurt it, but could affect your MPG. The ECU will compensate "IF" it detects knock or ping and will cut back the timing some, which could have a slight effect on MPG. Any time its doing, this you are probably running the piss out of it anyway in order to even create a situation where your ECU would have to pull timing to compensate for knock.

In most cases, you will never see a problem.

Conversely, putting a higher octane gas in your 87 octane tuned car wont do a damn thing for you except waste money.

Yeah. Don't worry about burning a hole through your piston head or anything.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by hometeam

Yup and with a stick its fun to drive. I've said it before and will say it again, when my IT guy comes knocking on my door one day saying 'WTF IS CHIEFSPLANET'

I'm going to try and convince him its time spent drumming up prospects.

Now if only I had a CP sale to show for it~

"Theres a ton of very successful people with money to spend at this place, many of them right here in metro KC, i'd be a FOOL and UNWORTHY of Jim Bob Ford to NOT try and tap into it!"

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by Buck

That Tacoma gets pretty crappy MPG. I thought it would be a little better than that. That is the same MPG I get with my F-150 Super Crew 4x4 with a 5.4 V8.

I don't know much about these cars but the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S look fun on paper and in person. If I was looking for something in that segment I would put them on my list. They remind me of the old 240Z\260Z's.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Premium helps prevent the knocking and pinging you hear when fuel ignites as it's compressed in an engine cylinder before the spark plug fires. Knocking and pinging can damage your engine. Left unattended, it can burn a hole through a piston head.

Octane ratings can be increased using additives including methyl tertiary-butyl ether, ethyl-tertiary butyl ether and toluene. Until the 1970s, tetra-ethyl lead —as in "leaded gas" — was used to boost octane ratings. Leaded gas today is a pariah fuel in most developed nations because of its links to the damaging lead levels it has contributed to human bloodstreams.

Engines with a high compression ratio — typically sport and luxury models —are more prone to knocking, which is why manufacturers of those vehicles recommend or require you use high-octane gas.

Taking car advice from Donger might not be the best idea.

All modern cars have anti-knock/pre-ignition sensors. The ECU reeruns the timing to actually prevent pinging. So no, your engine won't be damaged.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

That Tacoma gets pretty crappy MPG. I thought it would be a little better than that. That is the same MPG I get with my F-150 Super Crew 4x4 with a 5.4 V8.



I don't know much about these cars but the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S look fun on paper and in person. If I was looking for something in that segment I would put them on my list. They remind me of the old 240Z\260Z's.

Yeah 6 speed manual Tacomas are mfgd in Germany. I guess they can't squeeze as much MPG out as the Japanese.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Yeah, because buying my accessport and doing the tune myself cost me around $300. Really broke the bank on that one.

I stay out of boost when I drive on the interstate. And when I do, I get 34mpg. Not bad for a car that's AWD, and has over 300 hp.

So you bought a used AP and tuned your own car. Nothing wrong with that.

We are talking about Buck going from a truck to a fuel efficient car.

Very few people can tune cars. Period. I'm a gear head and wont even attempt to touch tuning tables. And Buck smokes an OZ of grass every day~ So, my go-to suggestion is not for him to try a hand at tuning to save a few bucks in gasoline.

I know a thing or two about big HP Subies, and in my 450 bhp WRX I got about 15 mpg.. (on E85 :P)

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Premium helps prevent the knocking and pinging you hear when fuel ignites as it's compressed in an engine cylinder before the spark plug fires. Knocking and pinging can damage your engine. Left unattended, it can burn a hole through a piston head.

Octane ratings can be increased using additives including methyl tertiary-butyl ether, ethyl-tertiary butyl ether and toluene. Until the 1970s, tetra-ethyl lead —as in "leaded gas" — was used to boost octane ratings. Leaded gas today is a pariah fuel in most developed nations because of its links to the damaging lead levels it has contributed to human bloodstreams.

Engines with a high compression ratio — typically sport and luxury models —are more prone to knocking, which is why manufacturers of those vehicles recommend or require you use high-octane gas.

Taking car advice from Donger might not be the best idea.

I don't want to take a chance on mucking up the engine on my BMW. Very rarely will it get anything less than premium and if it does, 89 octane is the bottom limit. My truck is a Flex fuel but it seems sluggish when running the E-85 so I just stick with the 87 octane.

[stevieray]

here's an idea.. go for test drives.

need help on what to wear?

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Yeah. Don't worry about burning a hole through your piston head or anything.

Are you trying to out-carguy me? Because I promise you, there will be no hole burnt through a piston-head, in a stock car.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I don't want to take a chance on mucking up the engine on my BMW. Very rarely will it get anything less than premium and if it does, 89 octane is the bottom limit. My truck is a Flex fuel but it seems sluggish when running the E-85 so I just stick with the 87 octane.

Just a heads up, E85 is 107 octane. So its not the octane rating that matters~

[TLO]

Originally Posted by hometeam

So you bought a used AP and tuned your own car. Nothing wrong with that.

We are talking about Buck going from a truck to a fuel efficient car.

Very few people can tune cars. Period. I'm a gear head and wont even attempt to touch tuning tables. And Buck smokes an OZ of grass every day~ So, my go-to suggestion is not for him to try a hand at tuning to save a few bucks in gasoline.

I know a thing or two about big HP Subies, and in my 450 bhp WRX I got about 15 mpg.. (on E85 :P)

Good point.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by stevieray

here's an idea.. go for test drives.



need help on what to wear?

Yep, going for my first in a few minutes. Just needed ideas on cars before I decide what to test drive.

I went from a 4 banging Civic to the Tacoma, and I definitely do not want to have a shitty old gas efficient car that I can't have fun in. That's why I'm going for the 500 Abarth.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by hometeam

So you bought a used AP and tuned your own car. Nothing wrong with that.



We are talking about Buck going from a truck to a fuel efficient car.



Very few people can tune cars. Period. I'm a gear head and wont even attempt to touch tuning tables. And Buck smokes an OZ of grass every day~ So, my go-to suggestion is not for him to try a hand at tuning to save a few bucks in gasoline.



I know a thing or two about big HP Subies, and in my 450 bhp WRX I got about 15 mpg.. (on E85 :P)

Been about 4 weeks dry gave that one up first before giving up on my truck.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by hometeam

Are you trying to out-carguy me? Because I promise you, there will be no hole burnt through a piston-head, in a stock car.

Nah. I agree that a stock car isn't likely to have any issues. I just tend to think in terms of what I'd do with my modded Subaru.