I recently sold my 1997 Dodge Intrepid. It had the 3.3L V-6, auto, about
105,000 miles and got about 20 mpg with mixed use. I bought a used 2004
Focus ZTS (auto), 17,000 miles and this car is getting about 20/21 mpg mixed
use.
The Dodge was a bigger car with a V-6. Why is the MPG almost the same?
Thanks.
In alt.autos.ford.focus JHI <jeffreyi@bellsouth.net>:
> I recently sold my 1997 Dodge Intrepid. It had the 3.3L V-6, auto, about
> 105,000 miles and got about 20 mpg with mixed use. I bought a used 2004
> Focus ZTS (auto), 17,000 miles and this car is getting about 20/21 mpg mixed
> use.
> The Dodge was a bigger car with a V-6. Why is the MPG almost the same?
What engine does your Focus have?
20 mpg == 11.8 l/100km
Sounds a bit much, but not impossible with automatic and mostly
city/stop and go driving. With mixed driving a bit much.
Get (2l petrol manual) about 24-29 mpg (9.8-8.1 l/100km) with
mixed driving, could probably do a bit better, but some highways
without speed limit take some more fuel if you let the Focus run.
I'd double check/exchange the air filter and keep a close and
*regular* eye on tire air pressure, the most overlooked thing
concerning fuel usage. If you don't mind losing a little comfort
you can easily put 10-20% more air pressure then the manual
announces into the tires. Helps better fuel usage tremendously.
Good luck

Signature
Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo zvpunry@urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'
Will have to do the conversion of km/L of L/100km to mpg yourself
unfortunately
My '03 Focus ZTS 2.0L Automatic with 76k km has a running average of 11.11
km/L (9.0L/100 km) since purchased.
Last tank was 11.62 km/L (8.6L/100km)
My '03 Focus ZTW 2.0L Automatic with 91k km has a running average of 11.97
km/K (8.4L/100km) since purchased.
Last tank was 12.14 km/L (8.2L/100km)
Both vehicles have a mixed travel where about 60% is on "country" roads with
a max speed of 80km/h and the rest city with a limit between 50-60km/h.
Neither make use of the cruise control much. Both have same tires and are
inflated to 255kpa (20kpa over the value indicated on the fuel hatch)
I can't explain the better economy on the wagon compared to the sedan.
Surely aerodynamics can't count for the 8% difference.
>I recently sold my 1997 Dodge Intrepid. It had the 3.3L V-6, auto, about
>105,000 miles and got about 20 mpg with mixed use. I bought a used 2004
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> The Dodge was a bigger car with a V-6. Why is the MPG almost the same?
> Thanks.
me - 17 Apr 2006 16:53 GMT
> Will have to do the conversion of km/L of L/100km to mpg yourself
> unfortunately
according to a website I found it looks like (Km/L)/.425 = MpG
http://www.teaching-english-in-japan.net/conversion/miles_per_gallon
> My '03 Focus ZTS 2.0L Automatic with 76k km has a running average of 11.11
> km/L (9.0L/100 km) since purchased.
> Last tank was 11.62 km/L (8.6L/100km)
27.34 mpg
> My '03 Focus ZTW 2.0L Automatic with 91k km has a running average of 11.97
> km/K (8.4L/100km) since purchased.
> Last tank was 12.14 km/L (8.2L/100km)
28.16 mpg
> Both vehicles have a mixed travel where about 60% is on "country" roads with
> a max speed of 80km/h and the rest city with a limit between 50-60km/h.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>>The Dodge was a bigger car with a V-6. Why is the MPG almost the same?
>>Thanks.
However my 2000 zx3 gets 28-30 winter, and 30-32 now spring/summer, and
my wifes '03 Sable gets 29-30 with a 2.2? V6.
Michael Heiming - 17 Apr 2006 22:07 GMT
In alt.autos.ford.focus Timothy <me@home.com>:
>>I recently sold my 1997 Dodge Intrepid. It had the 3.3L V-6,
>>auto, about 105,000 miles and got about 20 mpg with mixed use.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> The Dodge was a bigger car with a V-6. Why is the MPG almost
>> the same? Thanks.
> Will have to do the conversion of km/L of L/100km to mpg yourself
> unfortunately
Indeed this is a major annoyance, but we have to live with it.
Personally try to post always both units so anyone can easily
follow. However, I do expect that people following up just do the
same (hopefully).
> My '03 Focus ZTS 2.0L Automatic with 76k km has a running average of 11.11
> km/L (9.0L/100 km) since purchased.
> Last tank was 11.62 km/L (8.6L/100km)
> My '03 Focus ZTW 2.0L Automatic with 91k km has a running average of 11.97
> km/K (8.4L/100km) since purchased.
> Last tank was 12.14 km/L (8.2L/100km)
> Both vehicles have a mixed travel where about 60% is on "country" roads with
> a max speed of 80km/h and the rest city with a limit between 50-60km/h.
> Neither make use of the cruise control much. Both have same tires and are
> inflated to 255kpa (20kpa over the value indicated on the fuel hatch)
> I can't explain the better economy on the wagon compared to the sedan.
> Surely aerodynamics can't count for the 8% difference.
Why not, if anything else is on par, the slightly better
aerodynamics of the wagon could well be the reason for the small
lower fuel consumption.

Signature
Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo zvpunry@urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'
#bofh excuse 96: Vendor no longer supports the product
While not as low mileage as you are getting, I noticed my 2005 Focus gets
22-24mpg mostly city driving while my wifes larger Honda Accord gets about
the same. I think the focus is just doesn't get the economy it should.
>I recently sold my 1997 Dodge Intrepid. It had the 3.3L V-6, auto, about
>105,000 miles and got about 20 mpg with mixed use. I bought a used 2004
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> The Dodge was a bigger car with a V-6. Why is the MPG almost the same?
> Thanks.
sn00p - 19 Apr 2006 02:03 GMT
i put a cold air induction pipe and high flow air filter on my 03 zts with
zetec and noticed an improvement in economy and in power (it did
unfortunatly get louder, but still worth it to me)
> While not as low mileage as you are getting, I noticed my 2005 Focus gets
> 22-24mpg mostly city driving while my wifes larger Honda Accord gets about
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>> The Dodge was a bigger car with a V-6. Why is the MPG almost the same?
>> Thanks.
>I bought a used 2004
> Focus ZTS (auto), 17,000 miles and this car is getting about 20/21
Lucky you. Millage really sucks big time. I have a 2004 2.3L PZEV ZX5
getting close to 30K miles now and get about 17 in town, less in the summer
when I run the AC. I do get 33-34 on the ehighway though.
Jack