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Re: gas milage on new 9-3 combi Posted by Caarma [Email] (#592) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Caarma) on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:39:50 In Reply to: gas milage on new 9-3 combi, tom, Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:40:14 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
First of all, congrats on the new car and glad you like it.
I have a 2.0 T (210 hp) 9-3 SC (avg 27.8 mpg 40% hwy), with manual and I have 19,000 miles on it. I used to have a 2.0 t (175 hp) 9-3 SS (avg 28.9 mpg 60% hwy), with automatic which I sold at 28,000 miles or so. The transmission difference, power difference, weight difference, and aerodynamic difference accounts for the fuel economy delta.
I would say that 18-19 mpg is reasonable in town with an automatic at this point. It will improve as the engine breaks in, perhaps a mpg or two. Because of the capability of no fuel engine braking on decel and lower load at idle with a manual, (no torque converter to continually spin at a stop), the manual will get better fuel economy in the city. However, due to the torque multiplication ability of the torque converter, on the highway, the automatic spins the engine more slowly than with a manual at the same vehicle speed. (Instead of downshifting, the automatic can just unlock the torque converter for moderate acceleration.) So, you get better fuel economy with the automatic on the highway, (at least comparing my 5 spd auto to my 5 spd manual). With the 6 speed manual, the difference would be smaller.
Remember that driving behavior can have a huge impact on fuel economy too.
Take it easy,
Atul
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