Re: 4k gas mileage

[Linus Toy <linust@mindspring.com>]

From: C1J1Miller <C1J1Miller@aol.com>
>Andrew wrote:
>- ---------------
>At one point I asked about gas mileage. She said it used to get 38mpg 
>on the road, but now it's down to 30. I didn't probe further, but I'm 
SNIP
>I'm guessing this is the 4 cylinder engine; basically a VW.  I believe the
>only VW of this era to get 38 mpg was the diesel rabbit, a lighter car, 
>BTW. Seems like her figure of 38 is inflated; 30 seems more like it, 
>especially if just highway miles.  Could be that she's relying on a trip 
>computer (if it has one), and the computer is inaccurate.  Don't expect 
>that high miles would lessen mileage significantly, if it's in tune and 
>working in spec.

just to be a bit contrary ;^) I regularly got 36+mpg from a '77 Rabbit
(1.6L gas) that I had oh so many years ago.  I think the diesel rabbits got
much better than that (low to mid 40s). 

as for early 80s Audi gas mileage, my folks had an '80 4000 (same 1.6L gas
engine, 4sp) that would easily get 30mpg on the highway;  my sister later
picked up another '80 4000, also a 4sp that consistently got 32+mpg.  In
'81 or so, Audi introduced the 4E model with the long-geared 5sp behind the
1.7L gas engine--mid 30s seems reasonable.  If I remember correctly, Audi
also had the diesel in these cars, too.
--linus
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* linus toy                       email:  linust@mindspring.com      *
* mercer island, wa                                                  *
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