It is really quite amazing that any of us get anything close to what
the EPA says we should.  Have you ever looked up the tests to determine
mileage?  It is a joke!  No where near anything anybody would encounter
in real world driving.

I drive a 2004 Accord EX-L with the 2.4L and manual transmission.  (I
love this car - just hate paying for it.)  I have a 6 week average of
33.7mpg.  About a quarter of that is with the A/C on.  The car loses
quite a bit of power with the A/C, but it still doesn't seem to affect
my mileage very much.

Hang in there.  I think once your Civic has a few miles on it and it
loosens a tad, your mileage will increase.  The issue with the A/C is a
problem that I wish I knew how to overcome.  My wife has a Civic (2005
Si) and when the A/C is on, it is almost undriveable.  No power!

Stay positive!

I agree with you about the Accord.  My wife's 2003 Accord
V6 gets nearly the same mileage with the AC on as it does with it off.
I attribute that to the V6's higher power output so that even with more
weight to carry it can run at lower rpms, unlike the Civic which needs
to rev up more to maintain the same speed, more so with its AC running.
 As far as the EPA ratings--to me it's a kind of relative scale good
for comparisons but not to be taken literally.  In fact, the only
vehicle we have had in recent years that actually matched its EPA rating
has been our SUV--for that one, its mileage is bad but gets almost
exactly what the EPA shows for it.

Ken

We are getting close to 45 highway with our 1999 Civic HX, manual
transmission, even with the air.  40 in the mountains.  No city driving.
Supposedly, the HX sports an "economical, low emissions" engine, even in
comparison with other Hondas.  If you really care about mileage, find one of
these on a used car lot, and fix it up.  Then you can avoid new car owner's
tax, which has to be terrible in Southern CA.

Earle

Here you go Jay, straight from Honda's Tech Line

Tech Line fields many questions on fuel economy, including why some vehicles
don't get the fuel mileage estimates shown on the fuel economy label (part of
the Monroney label that's on every new car and truck). Before you read this Q &
A, here's a sample label with an  explanation of its contents.

Question: Why can't I get the City and Highway mpg estimates shown on the label?

Answer: The mileage estimates on the label reflect the average mpg attained by
similar vehicles in a model line under controlled laboratory conditions and are
not the result of an actual road test. And remember, as stated on the fuel
economy label: "Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions,
driving habits, and vehicle's condition."

Question: Just how are the EPA mileage estimates made anyway?

Answer: Test vehicles are run by professional drivers on a treadmill-like
device  that easures exhaust emissions and fuel usage. During the test, the
vehicle's headlights, A/C, heater, audio unit, and all accessories are turned
off. Upshifts on M/T vehicles are typically made at 15 mph (1st to 2nd gear), 28
mph
(2nd to 3rd gear), 41 mph (3rd to 4th gear), and 52 mph (4th to 5th gear).  The
City portion of the test simulates a 7.5 mile stop-and-go trip with an average
speed of 20 mph. The trip takes 23 minutes, has 18 stops, and keeps the engine
idling about 18 percent of the time to simulate rush hour traffic delays.
The Highway portion of the test simulates a 10-mile drive with speeds averaging
48 mph. It's
run from a hot start in a mix of rural and interstate driving conditions. There
are no stops, and there's not much idling time.  When both test results are
known, the City mpg is lowered by 10 percent, and the
Highway mpg is lowered by 22 percent; this makes the results closer to real
worldls fuel consumption.

Question: How do I calculate mpg?

Answer: You divide the miles driven by the number of gallons of fuel that you
used.

Question: How can I increase my vehicle's mpg?

Answer: To increase your vehicle's mpg, do this:
. As often as possible, accelerate slowly and smoothly, keep your engine speed
below 3,000
 rpm, and lower your road speed.
. Keep your tires inflated to the specs listed on the doorjamb sticker.
. Keep your vehicle in top condition by following the maintainance schedule
 listed in   your owner's manual and by using the recommended engine oil.

Question: Where can I get more info on fuel economy?

Answer: You can get a free copy of the Model Year 2001 Fuel Economy Guide by
any  of these
means:
Mail: National Alternative Fuels Hotline
     9300 Lee Highway
     Fairfax, VA 22031-1207
Phone: 800-423-1363
Internet: www.fueleconomy.gov

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No Lawsuit Ever Fixed A Moron...

All the ac's in the smaller cars suck these days because the freon
replacment is inadequate.  It takes a big car to get good ac.  My 94 LHS
with the freon replacement had enuf ac to freeze a small house but our new
Accord can't handle 90 degrees.

My 01 Civic commuter-mobile turns 38-40 mpg tank after tank after tank.
Using A/C
knocks that down to 36-38 mpg depending upon how much stop and go
driving I do.
I live in Fla where morning commutes are in cool-weather, and afternoon
drives are in hot.

That doesn't say much...more powerful engine wil be less affected by
A/C drag.. Does that mean you got 20 mpg regularly in the Accord, or 30
mpg, or ???

Yes, you should dump it. I'd bet some long distance commuter would like
to buy it at
a hefty discount and would get much better mileage out of it than you
are getting.