I just got my 06 Mustang GT (5 speed manual) 4 days ago and currently have 500 miles on it. I am having a problem with my MPG. I have been driving the car like a grandpa in the city , shifting before 2k and I am only getting 12 to 13 MPG.

Is there something wrong with my car? Should this improve as I get more mileage on my car.

 

Don't drive it like a grandma . . . drive it like you stole it. There's much debate on the topic, but the experts agree driving a new car easy is very bad for break-in. Don't be afraid of high revs either, but don't over do it.

I have 2500 miles, and with all city driving, and having some fun, I'm getting around 16.5 mpg.

 

So should I see an increase in MPG as my car gets broken in more?

Has anyone else experienced the same issue as I have now and then as your car has gotten broken in more the MPG has increased to be more in line with the 17 MPG in the city as stated by Ford?

I appreciate all your replies.

 

When I first got mine I was getting around 12-14 and around two months I was up to 17-22 city/highway. Then someone rearended me and my car was out of commission for another two months. When I got it back gas mileage was down to 12-14 again and I am finally getting back upto 15-22 city/highway.

Oh and those mpgs are also all with stomping on it at least once a day-cuz I can!

 

Did you do anything to get your MPG up UofH, or did it just occur with more miles?

 

Just gave it time and drove around. I think its part of breaking it in and as the car learns your driving style that mileage gets better. I think when they bodyshop had my car, they unhooked the battery for a while so the system reset itself and it was like I started from scratch. So I have just been "breaking" her in again.

And congrats on the new mustang

 

Venom, your car's gas mileage will get much better with some miles on it. Every brand new car exhibits this. By the time you got about 3000 miles on it, you'll forget about it. I get 16-19 combined city and highway, and I get on it plenty. My first tank was 11, and it got a little better every time I filled it up until I got to where it is now.

LordBritish..

Yours is a different story, and unfortuneately you're probably just a victim of sitting parked on the 405, 5, 91, 55, 210, 101, 10.... that's not even all of em. I lived in SoCal for a bunch of years. Sitting still will absolutely kill your gas mileage. Traffic is pretty darn heavy here too, but most times I'm still moving....slowly, but moving.

So between your heavy foot, and sitting parked on the freeway, not a good combo.

I spent 3 hours trapped on a freeway this summer while it was 112 out, no way I was shutting the car off in that heat. The price? About a half a tank of gas. Can't get Miles Per Gallon if your not doing the Miles part!

 

I see I'm only averaging 20 MPH.

Your car's computer will also tell you your average MPH as well as average MPG.

20 MPH average is rediculous. I could do better with a Vesper scooter.

 

Last I checked, I was getting 9.8 MPG...but I had recently reset the MPG gauge and had been driving like a maniac (pushing the redline some). I usually get 14 MPG in mostly city driving. I have 2000 miles on it, bone stock + K&N CAI + 87 octane. I'm hoping that I'll get up to 16 MPG.

 

I get around 20-21 mpg in city driving if I shift at the speeds the manual recommends. I get about 24-25 mpg on the highway doing 60-62 mph, but that also involves me shifting it down into 3rd to pass 4-5 times. I still get on it from time to time, but gas has gotten ridiculous and some of the new has worn off as far as driving it hard like I did the 1st few months I owned it :P.

 

y22kc: How do you get such good gas mileage in the city? What were you getting when you first got the car?

Have your mods added to your MPG or taken away?

 

19-23 mpg driving around town and to work. 11 miles to work, no lights, two stop signs and rarely see another car.

 

Yikes, are you pulling a boat?

 

I live in LA and I get pretty much the same. There's always the mileage game, see how high you can get it to go. lol

 

Basically when you live in LA with the most registered drivers in the country, and the most unregistered, your situation will be alot different than others. City MPG here is horrible. I drive my pony everyday, I get on it alot to, it's really hard to stop but the less you get on it the more money in your pocket, think of it that way. Save the gas for when you roll up to some car you want to race

 

Especially in LA because lane-splitting is legal for motorcycles!

 

Like mentioned in the manual, I shift 1-2 at 11mph, 2-3 at 20mph, 3-4 at 30mph and 4-5 at 40mph. The mods I have did help in the MPG department, about 1-2 mpg better in the city.

 

Y22KC - Thanks for the reply. I hope to see fuel economy as good as yours in the future if I decide to drive like Ford recommends.

 

I was getting 14 MPG when I first got the car. I'm still under 2000 miles but it's getting better with time. I pulled the HC trap and have been trying to keep my foot out of it and I'm around 17 MPG now.

 

Wow, I guess I can jump on it a few times ( a lot!) now. I've got about 250 Mi on it now ( 1 week), and havn't driven very hard yet.

I'm showing aout 19.8 MPG driving to and from work on Vasco rd. (Bay area people will know where this is).

Obviously, I need to get that down to 13MPG! by running it like I should.