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[Blueberry]

IFJane - How do you get 28-30 on your Element???

Mine has *never* seen more than 21. I still love it (and the ability to fit the bikes in is great... but the gas mileage sucks! Mine's a 2005 5 speed.

CA

[emily_in_nc]

IFJane - How do you get 28-30 on your Element???

Mine has *never* seen more than 21. I still love it (and the ability to fit the bikes in is great... but the gas mileage sucks! Mine's a 2005 5 speed.

CA

CA -- I noticed we got MUCH better gas mileage in my Element down in Florida (vacationing), because it's flat. I couldn't believe it. Instead of ~300 miles on a tank of gas, we were getting like 350 to 375. So terrain can make a difference. I have the '04 automatic.

I think even here in NC I get more like 23-25 mph, tho, so I am surprised you get even lower in a manual. Most of my driving is on the highway to and from work, tho, so that helps. Not much stop-start driving. Do you have a roof rack? That will hurt you. We have one, but only install it when we need to haul kayaks. Most of the time, greenie's sleek on top.

Emily

[Blueberry]

CA -- I noticed we got MUCH better gas mileage in my Element down in Florida (vacationing), because it's flat. I couldn't believe it. Instead of ~300 miles on a tank of gas, we were getting like 350 to 375. So terrain can make a difference. I have the '04 automatic.

I think even here in NC I get more like 23-25 mph, tho, so I am surprised you get even lower in a manual. Most of my driving is on the highway to and from work, tho, so that helps. Not much stop-start driving. Do you have a roof rack? That will hurt you. We have one, but only install it when we need to haul kayaks. Most of the time, greenie's sleek on top.

Emily

We have the cross bars (factory), but I don't recall that the mileage was any better before we had them installed. We don't leave the kayak holders on unless we have kayaks on top (and then we get about 14-15 mpg). We still got 21 on our trip to DC last winter (that's not as flat as Florida, but it's not a hilly drive either). Very strange. We're averaging 260 to a tank, which gets *really* annoying.

[IFjane]

IFJane - How do you get 28-30 on your Element???

Mine has *never* seen more than 21. I still love it (and the ability to fit the bikes in is great... but the gas mileage sucks! Mine's a 2005 5 speed.

CA

Carrie - I have no idea why it is so good when others are not. We live up next to the BR Mountains so we definitely do not drive on mostly flat roads. My Element is an automatic.

I used to regularly drive my truck 5 - 10 mph over the speed limit and for some reason after I got the Element I try not to exceed the speed limit at all. I live in the boonies and we tend to drive slowly on our back roads. My house is a mile from a paved road so the first/last mile of my commute average about 10 mph. That probably helps!

[Starfish]

I can't help but think the Element mileage is better at slower speeds, even in town or on hills, simply because of the aerodynamics. Think about how exponentially more we have to work to ride our bikes to go from 22 to 25mph, for instance...aerodynamics are more important the faster you go...

Note about the mattress for the element...check out Costco, and also that element owner's forum link I posted earlier...there was a great folding mattress thing that looked great, and that was at Costco. all reports are that it is more comfy than air mattress. I personally dislike air mattresses...much prefer a single futon.

[smilingcat]

I was so excited to see the smart car. then I was soo bummed about the gas milage?? I think I'm going to save for prius or civic hybrid.

I wish smart car could get 50mpg and cost that base cost of around $12,000.

But, I'm still going to take a look at smart car. Why can't I get a car with 60MPG. I don't care for 0 to 60 in 4 seconds or whatever but only gets 10MPG.

isn't mini diesel supposed to get good milage too?

smilingcat

[Blueberry]

IFJane-

It may be speeds. My commute is 70mph or you get run over But there is something about the E - it has slowed me down too. I just don't feel like hurrying - which is a good thing

It's nice to know there's hope Although, I wonder if the manual is geared for sport more than the auto, and therefore might get worse gas mileage....it's just a guess

CA

[jobob]

These folks manage to fit a tandem into a Honda Fit:

http://www.blayleys.com/articles/cars/index.htm

[sgtiger]

The tandem in the Fit is impressive. Had these been out when we purchased DH's car, it's definitely something we would have considered. Now his Civic is paid off and it's nice not having to make payments, otherwise I'd be tempted to trade it in for one of these.