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Have followed the various threads on gas mileage...some folks getting very good mileage and some folks getting not so good. Thought I would post this up and, moderators, should you want to marry this thread with other gas mileage threads, think it would make sense. Your call. Sorry, this will be a little long winded.
My 09 Outlook XR FWD was purchased on 7/28/09. This Saturn has all the options except heated/cooled seats (wish I had stumbled onto one with it). Needless to say we are very pleased with her. As I will be occasionally towing with her, stopped off at my local landscaper/stone/mulch provider and determined the actual weight, with a full tank of gas, is 4,940 lbs (without me in it)!! Rear Air, Sky/Sun Roof, Trailer Package and all Power Seats/Tailgate probably add to the ballparked weight of 4,700 + lbs. Ive read here. Our initial tank of gas was just over 15 mpg. We attributed this low start out # to just learning all about the vehicle (it DOES have a lot of technology. As we got to the 3rd tank, we found that the 2/3 highway 1/3 city running with the air for approx. 25% of the time generated 19 mpg.
Well, we just got back from a 2 day trip. I am impressed!! Here in SE Michigan, we dont have too many hills. Our first leg of this trip was from Chesterfield Township, MI to Granger, IN. Initial miles on this XR at the start of this trip was 1,056 miles. We logged a total of 319 miles of which 58 was strictly stop and go around town and 261 miles were interstate. I did not notice any head or tail winds on this trip. Was clear and dry...great start to this Labor Day weekend, eh? Decided to set the cruise to 65 mph. I AM in the habit of running at 70-72 mph but resisted doing so with this vehicle cause Im experimenting...I want to know where this vehicles sweet spot is on mpg. In other words, how fast can I go and still get 24 mpg or better. Oh, I should back up here. The XR was loaded with my wife, Cali the dog, and I plus 4 mounted steel wheels/tires (18 inch takes offs from a 2010 Camaro) plus overnight luggage (we probably had 600 + lbs. with all this).
We did stop twice to stretch our legs, run our dog and whizz LOL. First highway trip for this Outlook and we pumped 14.5 gallons on 319 miles of driving. Up to this point I did not pay attention to the DIC calculated gas used/average mpg etc... I just reset everything to zero. On our return trip we decided to drive down to Auburn, IN and take in the museum and activities there. I set the nav unit to shortest route which took us through small towns, all 2 laners with some stop and go. Beautiful country drive! Spent the mid morning/early afternoon then hit the road for home.
Chose the fastest route from Auburn, IN to Clinton Township, MI (luv this nav unit!!). Decided to set the cruise to 60 mph from the get go. Guys and gals, this was VERY boring to drive that slow of speed on the interstate! But, I stuck it out and watched the mileage rise from 20.2 from Granger to Auburn to a DIC indicated 24.2 at a rest area (about an 1 and half hours from home) on I94. Decided enough of 60 mph and kicked the cruise up to 65 mph. Kept her that way till we got off the interstate near home. Watched over that next hour and a half as the mpg on the DIC gradually rose from 24.2 to 25.2!! Just a sidebar on this. The tach indicated a 1,600 rs spin at 60 mph and 1,700 rs at 65 mph. Just before pulling in the driveway, I gassed her up. I pumped 11.25 gallons of gas and covered 283 miles. That calculates out to 25.2 mpg!! What I was pleasantly surpised to find is the DIC ALSO calculated that I used 11.2 gallons of gas and indicated I was enjoying 25.2 mpg!!! So, did I say I was impressed??? You BETCHA!!
On my next road trip I am going to see what happens setting her at 67 mph does for her as well as 70 mph. All this to find that sweet spot.
Stay tuned.
Regards,
Jim
My 09 Outlook XR FWD was purchased on 7/28/09. This Saturn has all the options except heated/cooled seats (wish I had stumbled onto one with it). Needless to say we are very pleased with her. As I will be occasionally towing with her, stopped off at my local landscaper/stone/mulch provider and determined the actual weight, with a full tank of gas, is 4,940 lbs (without me in it)!! Rear Air, Sky/Sun Roof, Trailer Package and all Power Seats/Tailgate probably add to the ballparked weight of 4,700 + lbs. Ive read here. Our initial tank of gas was just over 15 mpg. We attributed this low start out # to just learning all about the vehicle (it DOES have a lot of technology. As we got to the 3rd tank, we found that the 2/3 highway 1/3 city running with the air for approx. 25% of the time generated 19 mpg.
Well, we just got back from a 2 day trip. I am impressed!! Here in SE Michigan, we dont have too many hills. Our first leg of this trip was from Chesterfield Township, MI to Granger, IN. Initial miles on this XR at the start of this trip was 1,056 miles. We logged a total of 319 miles of which 58 was strictly stop and go around town and 261 miles were interstate. I did not notice any head or tail winds on this trip. Was clear and dry...great start to this Labor Day weekend, eh? Decided to set the cruise to 65 mph. I AM in the habit of running at 70-72 mph but resisted doing so with this vehicle cause Im experimenting...I want to know where this vehicles sweet spot is on mpg. In other words, how fast can I go and still get 24 mpg or better. Oh, I should back up here. The XR was loaded with my wife, Cali the dog, and I plus 4 mounted steel wheels/tires (18 inch takes offs from a 2010 Camaro) plus overnight luggage (we probably had 600 + lbs. with all this).
We did stop twice to stretch our legs, run our dog and whizz LOL. First highway trip for this Outlook and we pumped 14.5 gallons on 319 miles of driving. Up to this point I did not pay attention to the DIC calculated gas used/average mpg etc... I just reset everything to zero. On our return trip we decided to drive down to Auburn, IN and take in the museum and activities there. I set the nav unit to shortest route which took us through small towns, all 2 laners with some stop and go. Beautiful country drive! Spent the mid morning/early afternoon then hit the road for home.
Chose the fastest route from Auburn, IN to Clinton Township, MI (luv this nav unit!!). Decided to set the cruise to 60 mph from the get go. Guys and gals, this was VERY boring to drive that slow of speed on the interstate! But, I stuck it out and watched the mileage rise from 20.2 from Granger to Auburn to a DIC indicated 24.2 at a rest area (about an 1 and half hours from home) on I94. Decided enough of 60 mph and kicked the cruise up to 65 mph. Kept her that way till we got off the interstate near home. Watched over that next hour and a half as the mpg on the DIC gradually rose from 24.2 to 25.2!! Just a sidebar on this. The tach indicated a 1,600 rs spin at 60 mph and 1,700 rs at 65 mph. Just before pulling in the driveway, I gassed her up. I pumped 11.25 gallons of gas and covered 283 miles. That calculates out to 25.2 mpg!! What I was pleasantly surpised to find is the DIC ALSO calculated that I used 11.2 gallons of gas and indicated I was enjoying 25.2 mpg!!! So, did I say I was impressed??? You BETCHA!!
On my next road trip I am going to see what happens setting her at 67 mph does for her as well as 70 mph. All this to find that sweet spot.
Stay tuned.
Regards,
Jim
The 2,000 rpm mark is the target for me as well - keep below whenever possible. And yes, I regularly agitate other drivers behind me when pulling away from stop lights. Thankfully most of the roads around me are double lane, so people can go around. My current tank average is 22.4 after close to 200 miles. 
