I just got back from a trip while putting 1780 miles on the car. I went about 325 miles and put in around 11.5 gallons each time I filled up. The traffic was moving around 80 mph. I was nice cruisin'

 

guys- I actually have a 2005 Toyota Matrix..that is my current set of wheels with 62k on the clock. It is a FWD XR version and I usually get 29-31 mpg in the winter and 34-36 mpg in the spring/summer when the winter gas goes away. Automatic as well

I will say, yeah the engine is noisy but not a blip in 62K. The only issues I have had with the car is the front windows....the drivers side fell off the track at about 20K which was fixed under warranty and the other window started to make a bit of a popping noise so they replaced that one before it fell off as well (I wasn't taking any chances) The clock fuzzed out about a week after I got it but was replaced under warranty as well.

Driving position is fine for me...I've heard that it may be an issue for short people but no problems here and I'm about 5'11

So I may be giving up some mpg...have to decide if it is worth it and also the pretty bullet proof engine and drive train


Will say that the HHR is more fun to drive but how long will that last for me? Just some serious honest questions I have to debate.


Goose

 

Goose,

Typical report on your Matrix. They are very reliable cars. My daughter is 5'8" and had no issue with the driving position. I am 6'2" with 36" sleeve length and it sometimes takes me 25 miles and a half dozen adjustments to get fairly comfortable. For me the wheel is about 1.5" too far forward.

FWIW, the difference in gas cost per year to go from 32 MPG to 26 MPG for 15,000 miles at $3/gal is only $224. Not really a deal breaker in my book.

Now going from Rendezvous at 19MPG to an HHR at 26 MPG is a difference of $638. The savings at the higher fuel economy end gets to be a hair splitting operation.

Best regards,
Mark

 

Ok I just filled my rental HHR after 424 miles and it was empty...so empty that the 16 gallon gas tank took 16.363 gallons before it auto clicked off! I didn't pump any extra, nada...holy cow..$42.85 later had my head was a bit dizzy..I haven't ever paid that much for gas...ever!


First, how big is the tank? It is a 16 gallon tank right? The computer came out with 27.4 mpg but my math computed 25.9..ouch I thought I'd do better for sure. Still wondering A) how I didn't run out of gas and B) where did that extra .363 gallons go? Didn't hear it gurgling up the neck.


I guess I can blame it on 87 octane in a 91 called for engine..I know that is what I put in it.

When that thing says low fuel...well damn it, it is low on fuel!!! No reserve to play with there!



Goose

 

Interesting Goose, I just topped off my first tank... just over half...9.6 Gals (87 octane) for 260.3 miles which comes out to 27.09 mpg. My DIC said 24.5 mpg. That's just about backwards from what you got...but the math part is exactly what I got from the rental HHR spin I took, though the DIC ws only diff by about 1 mpg. I'm totally pleased with what I computed for a brand new engine and typical LA area mixed driving. I don;t know whta your driving habits are but you may want to change a few habits and see if it can do better. Now I'm in break mode with "Chino" so I drive like there's an egg under the gas pedal. Since the VVT can changed its' fuel air ratios depending on need it can, like any car affect your MPG when you put your foot in it. Funny how some things never change...they just cost more...I paid $3.21 per gallon of 87 out here and that was the cheapest price in my 'hood.

 

Goose,

Let's assume that the calibration of the pump you used to pump in the 16.363 gal was good. Also, you might assume that you started that on that 424 miles with only 15 or so gallons in the tank. GM vehicles are notorious for showing a full tank on the gauge even after 50-75 miles. I've owned at least a dozen GM cars and trucks since 1978 with this "feature".

So, you may have traveled 424 miles on 15.3 gallons for 27.7 MPG. Just a thought......

Also, I've had three cars with the DIC and over a short period of time, they overestimated average MPG by up to 1 MPG. But on my Buick Rendezvous, I've not reset the average mileage since the first oil change. 70,000 miles later, it reads 19.4 MPG which is within a tenth of my manual calculations.

Lastly, some GM DICs calc a rolling average using the last 250 miles like my 1999 Regal GSE.

Best regards,
Mark

 

Fuel tank capacity is actually 16.2 gals on the 07, plus whatever you can cram into the filler neck. In my own experience, it's not uncommon to be able to pour a couple of extra liters (1/2 gal) after the initial pump click; it varies widely from pump to pump. That's also why it's not very accurate to estimate fuel consumption from a single fillup, unless you can control how full is full.

I agree with you though, the low fuel warning should have come on earlier.

Yves

 

I've gotten just over 100 miles before the needle begins to fall!

 

I've gone about 70 miles on this tank and it is just starting to budge...chances are the last fill may not have been at full as the needle started to really drop after 30 miles

Computer says 29.0 mpg so far



Goose

 

IIRC the tank is 16.7 gallons. My DIC usually says 1mpg more that I actually get with the calculator.

Don't you just hate it when your DIC lies to you.......