What are the hypermile "sleepers"

[oneinchsidehop]

With local prices of Hondas, Geos, etc skyrocketing...

What are the sleepers? The equivalents in hot rods would be something like an old Chevy Vega... with a 350cu V8 under the hood, or more recently a stock looking Civic with a hotrodded VTEC. You get the idea.

But we want a hypermiler sleeper, you know, cars that most people wouldn't think of being FE, but really doing a darn good job.

So give me your lists, what are the obvious, and what are the sleepers!!

[JanGeo]

I feel sorry for some of you Honda guys getting in the low 30's when I drive a Scion xB getting 40-41 lifetime average - this tank 43mpg (was 44 for a while then some short hops killed it) for a big white box! Here's a sleeper for ya!

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

I feel sorry for some of you Honda guys getting in the low 30's when I drive a Scion xB getting 40-41 lifetime average - this tank 43mpg (was 44 for a while then some short hops killed it) for a big white box! Here's a sleeper for ya!

That is super for a box!!

[dieselbenz]

Volvo 850 wagon 5 speed. 35mpg at 65mph.
BMW 318i 5 speed with a few minor tweaks. 40mpg at 65mph.

[1993CivicVX]

I dont' know why there are no Corollas on this board, but the new ones do better than new civics and the older ones can't be that much worse. What about a 2 door Tercel from back in the day? That's prolly not too shabby. I guess more of these cars are in automatic form than Honda. I dunno--seems worth a look.

My neighbors used to have an old Mazda 323. Real basic car. Prolly like an '86 or '87. That thing was great on gas. So I'd say a real basic budget Mazda. You can use the www.fueleconomy.gov and search different makes and models from the time period you are interested in.

I'd say any Japanese or really foreign vehicle is going to be better than American made for FE and I'm not just referring to their generally smaller size and motors--even them little American Makes just don't seem to have very sophisticated engines for saving fuel. But that's just my opinion.

Olderish Kias and Hyundais dont' seem to be very good either. But maybe late models have improved.

I know nothing of small Nissans Fuel Economy. If I had to choose a non Honda make, I'd probably go with Toyota (Corolla) or Mazda (323 or similarly small/budget). I may edit this post if I can think of or discover other sleepers.

EDIT

1998 Findings: City/Hwy. The following vehicles are 1998 Manual Transmission. All MPG are new EPA.

A regular civic gets 27/34.
An HX gets 30/39.

Mazda Protoge gets 26/33
Toyota Corolla gets 27/34 (same as regular civic)
Toyota Tercel gets 27/35. (I believe this is the CE trim)
Saturn SL and SC gets 24/36.
Hyundai Accent gets 25/33
Suzuki Esteem 26/33 but probably sister badge to the Mazda Protoge.

VW Jetta Diesel gets 33/44

Reply with roughly the year you are looking at and/or how much you are looking to spend and I will post more findings.

1999 Tercel gets 28/36 (CE trim I believe)
1997 Tercel gets 28/35 (I believe this is the CE trim)
1996 Tercel gets 29/36 (CE trim I think) That's not so far off '98 Civic HX territory.

2000 Toyota Echo gets 29/37 (the Automatic only gets 26/34)

[theholycow]

People with 4th generation Camaros (1993-2002) in both v6 and v8 commonly report 27mpg. I suspect, owned and driven by an experienced hypermiler, it could reach 35mpg.

The new 5th generation that's coming out next year will most likely be offered (in the base model) with a 300hp v6 GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine, which combines some of the efficiencies of a diesel engine (no throttle, so no intake pumping losses at any RPM/gas pedal level). That engine will most likely be offered (again, in the base model) with a 6 speed manual. Unfortunately it's going to be pretty heavy (probably 3,600 to 3,800 pounds) and not extremely aerodynamic, but EPA rating may be as high as 30mpg highway.

[bowtieguy]

chevy, don't laugh, prizm. less expensive than its corolla twin!

old EPA, which can be achieved/beaten, is 32/41(5 speed).

i'm getting 40+ combined w/ more mods to come.

[Gary Palmer]

Your right about the Chevy Prism. It's just largely a rebranded Toyota Corolla.

Toyota Camry's with a 4 speed automatic are pretty good. Another non-obvious possibility is a Saturn. Their biggest issue mechanically is the timing chain, but they seem to be good for about 200,000.

A Honda with a blown head gasket is a pretty cheap canditate. For a $1000 you can get a used engine installed or for a couple of $100 and replacement of the head gasket, more often than not the engines are Ok. I'd get a multi-level steel head gasket, instead of putting it a stock head gasket.

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by theholycow

People with 4th generation Camaros (1993-2002) in both v6 and v8 commonly report 27mpg. I suspect, owned and driven by an experienced hypermiler, it could reach 35mpg.

The new 5th generation that's coming out next year will most likely be offered (in the base model) with a 300hp v6 GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine, which combines some of the efficiencies of a diesel engine (no throttle, so no intake pumping losses at any RPM/gas pedal level). That engine will most likely be offered (again, in the base model) with a 6 speed manual. Unfortunately it's going to be pretty heavy (probably 3,600 to 3,800 pounds) and not extremely aerodynamic, but EPA rating may be as high as 30mpg highway.

I had a 1992 camaro RS 5.0 with a 5-speed that got up to 33 mpg but as low as 12 mpg in all city so it was a huge difference

[Three6Eight]

Cars equipped with GM's 3800 motor.