: My NOT weekly rant


mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 02:35 PM
Come on..... everyone knows that you never get the posted CAFE spec MPG, right? and also a lot of you probably know what your MPG was said to be at the dealer (or off of Ford's site maybe), am I right?

SO..... also for those who don't know what CAFE specs are, it's basically this regulation where manufacturers have to meet a certain MPG requirement, or end up having to pay a fine for every car they produce that does not meet CAFE requirements. So of course, the logical thing to do during testing is to run as thin of oil as possible, then run it on a type of dyno machine that measures all this different info and gives an MPG rating; basically "Simulated" Highway and City estimates. That's how they can advertise 30mpg and such.

Now on rare occasion you can actually obtain the advertised MPG, or maybe even surpass it. (I did so with the city driving last night, ended up stopping at almost every light during my 30 min. drive home from work):

http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp220/mikebontoft/105_7944.jpg
(it was really 32.6, but I wasted .2 by sitting in my driveway while I took the picture)

NOW...... to the CRAP part of this:
somehow I came across this website talking about the 2009 focus. Ah that's right, I remember, I was looking for my CAFE spec MPG because I was so proud of myself getting 32mpg in the city. Well, I just happened to notice it was a dealership's website that had kind of a focus fan base on it (in a very, very little way). Click HERE (http://www.stevemarshallfordnanaimo.com/nanaimo/ford-focus-excellent-fuel-economy/) for the link, but keep reading first.

It basically goes "Why is the Ford Focus so Great?? Great Gas mileage of course!!"

Now I'll just go ahead and post directly what was said on that page and let you wonder what the hell these guys were thinking:

"The Ford Focus has better fuel economy than the Nissan Versa, Chevy Cobalt LS, Mazda 3 GX and the Nissan Sentra.

The Focus SE is one of the Top 3 vehicles in Average Fuel Economy amongst the competition. Did you know the 2009 Ford Focus gets:

* 50 mpg (highway) and 33 mpg (city)
* 5.7L/100Km (highway) and 8.5L/Km (city)"

Now Ford advertises their MPG rating for both the Focus Sedan and Coupe at 24-35 mpg...... and that's WITH the oh-so-lovely CAFE rating and ultra thin oil, in which I'm going to call "MPG Oil."

Clearly they're trying to get better business, but that's just plain stupid. anyone with half a brain, or even a quarter brain can figure that one out; it's called a search button. I give this dealership half a congratulations for trying to make the Focus MUCH better than it seems. Wait, lemme take that back, cut it in half, and then give it to 'em. [:)]

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 02:42 PM
The Focus SE is one of the Top 3 vehicles in Average Fuel Economy amongst the competition. Did you know the 2009 Ford Focus gets:

* 50 mpg (highway) and 33 mpg (city)
* 5.7L/100Km (highway) and 8.5L/Km (city)"


That mpg rating is for Imperial gallons (160 fl oz), not U.S./Victorian gallons (128 fl oz)

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 02:44 PM
hmm.

well that sucks. who the hell would know that unless they lived in Canada???

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 02:47 PM
Where did you get that info?

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 03:01 PM
^^ find the part that says click HERE and click on the "HERE"

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 03:07 PM
That Ford dealership is in Nanaimo, British Columbia.....Canada. That's why it is using Canadian MPG figures.

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 03:49 PM
didn't even know such thing existed......

well I'm still proud of my MPG I got [hihi]

StealthGray
02-01-2009, 03:59 PM
Had a great one with my dad when I was a teenager... we were in Kinsgston Ontario if I recall correctly. Between the gas and the exchange rate.. he pumped 10 gallons in the car when it normally took 12 at that point of the gauge (difference between US and Imperial gallons). I think the bill was $12 Canadian, he gave them $10 US and got $2 Canadian in change... (due to the exchange rate)... he was lost... "C'mon dad, they got it right...!"

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 04:05 PM
It's possible to beat the mpg ratings, I've done it several times. My EPA estimates on my '07 Focus are 34 hwy 24 city (ATX). I have hit 35 and 36 mpg during many trips. Usually in places where no ethanol is used in the fuel. My Focus also seems to get the best mileage on 88 octane fuel. In CO, 85 and 86 octane fuel is considered "regular" depending on what part of the state you're in. This makes 87 and 88 octane "mid-grade" in CO. Since I refuse to use any fuel in my Focus less than 87 octane, I always use mid-grade fuel. The southwestern part of the state sells 88 octane as "mid-grade". Every time I fill up when I'm down there, I always get great gas mileage.

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 08:47 PM
mm...... I believe ours are as follow, though I'm not completely sure :P

Regular: 81
Mid Grade: 88
Premium: 91

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 10:02 PM
mm...... I believe ours are as follow, though I'm not completely sure :P

Regular: 81
Mid Grade: 88
Premium: 91

81?????

Now, I haven't been to SLC since 2001, however, I remember regular was 85 octane at that time.

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 10:03 PM
wait no that's wrong. LOL. I think err...... damn it what is it, Oh 85 [rolleyes]

don't even know the fuel I put in..... I never have to fill up though [hihi]

I usually fill up once a month, maybe twice.

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 10:08 PM
I would recommend that you not use 85 octane, it's nasty stuff. Gums up the engine and fuels system, and is notorious for causing vapor lock.

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 10:11 PM
meh it's run the past seven years just fine...... gonna pull the VC off and check out the pistons just for the hell of it one of these day. I also had a full systems flush a few months back so that's all clean.

misfire
02-01-2009, 10:13 PM
our regular here is 87

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 10:19 PM
Regular is 87 octane for most places. In areas where the elevation exceeds 4000 feet, they sell 85 octane as regular.

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 10:24 PM
yeah that's right, I remember now........ it's 85 for sure.

mm now since you know that, you wouldn't happen to know if it's safe to run F/I on 91 is it? (well it has to be cause the turbo cars here require 91.......)

Brindfan
02-01-2009, 10:27 PM
Unless you car has a tune for premium, I wouldn't use it. No real benefits from it.

mikebontoft
02-01-2009, 10:28 PM
well I mean assuming it had a turbo...... otherwise y'know [hihi] the higher octane, the higher compression.....