2003 Honda Accord 4 cyl gas mileage on the highway

Just thought this gas mileage story might be worth noting for some
Honda Accord buyers.

I just took my first long ride with this car this past weekend from
Houston, Texas to Austin, Texas and back. I used cruise control 99
percent of the time and had 2 adults, 2 teenagers and baggage and air
conditioning 100 percent of the time. I locked in the cruise control
at about 66 or 67 mph (speed limit said 70) and just stayed mostly in
the right lane to allow cars/trucks to pass me. Most of the trip is
hilly terrain and weather was sunny and warm and not much wind. Car
is in excellent shape.

I was concerned that gas stations would be closed based on news
reports earlier so I wanted to be sure to do this trip on one tank of
gas tho it turned out gas stations were open. I calculated I got 37.5
mile/gal and I was totally surprised. I'm sure it's not a mistake
too. Normally city driving I get around 24 mile/gal.

Off topic, I noticed many times, the large pickup trucks moved over to
the right lane only to let the prius, focus or honda civics pass them
(guessing they were doing around 75mph or so).

On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 08:09:43 -0400, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
> wrote:

>In article >, Rob wrote:
>
>> Just thought this gas mileage story might be worth noting for some
>> Honda Accord buyers.
>>
>> I just took my first long ride with this car this past weekend from
>> Houston, Texas to Austin, Texas and back. I used cruise control 99
>> percent of the time and had 2 adults, 2 teenagers and baggage and air
>> conditioning 100 percent of the time. I locked in the cruise control
>> at about 66 or 67 mph (speed limit said 70) and just stayed mostly in
>> the right lane to allow cars/trucks to pass me. Most of the trip is
>> hilly terrain and weather was sunny and warm and not much wind. Car
>> is in excellent shape.
>>
>> I was concerned that gas stations would be closed based on news
>> reports earlier so I wanted to be sure to do this trip on one tank of
>> gas tho it turned out gas stations were open. I calculated I got 37.5
>> mile/gal and I was totally surprised. I'm sure it's not a mistake
>> too.
>
>Not a mistake at all. I had a 2000 Accord 5 speed; in the summer, A/C
>on, going through the mountains, I got 35mpg.

We get a consistent 34 mpg on trips with our 2003 Accord V-6. Two
adults and luggage. A/C is never turned off. I have checked this
many times. On a recent 3,500 miles trip up through Canada, we
averaged 31 mpg for the entire trip, which included lots of city
driving. Not bad for 240 hp and automatic. Love that car.

Dick

The car is rated for 34, and the government highway test is more
demanding than just cruising endlessly at a steady speed. So, your
results are not unexpected.

On 9/6/05 7:09 AM, in article
, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
> wrote:

> In article >, Rob wrote:
>
>> Just thought this gas mileage story might be worth noting for some
>> Honda Accord buyers.
>>
>> I just took my first long ride with this car this past weekend from
>> Houston, Texas to Austin, Texas and back. I used cruise control 99
>> percent of the time and had 2 adults, 2 teenagers and baggage and air
>> conditioning 100 percent of the time. I locked in the cruise control
>> at about 66 or 67 mph (speed limit said 70) and just stayed mostly in
>> the right lane to allow cars/trucks to pass me. Most of the trip is
>> hilly terrain and weather was sunny and warm and not much wind. Car
>> is in excellent shape.
>>
>> I was concerned that gas stations would be closed based on news
>> reports earlier so I wanted to be sure to do this trip on one tank of
>> gas tho it turned out gas stations were open. I calculated I got 37.5
>> mile/gal and I was totally surprised. I'm sure it's not a mistake
>> too.
>
> Not a mistake at all. I had a 2000 Accord 5 speed; in the summer, A/C
> on, going through the mountains, I got 35mpg.
>
I don't own an Accord; I own a 2001 Odyssey. On one leg of a return trip
several years ago from the Northeastern US (back to Dallas), with four
passengers and quite a bit of luggage and camping cargo in the back, I
somehow managed to get 28 mpg.

This with the 3.5 liter V6 Acura engine, A/C going full bore, and driving
mostly around 80 mph.

I will grant that heading toward Dallas from where we were was aiding us
with a gentle decrease in elevation, but still, I was wowed.

Be

> I don't own an Accord; I own a 2001 Odyssey. On one leg of a return trip
> several years ago from the Northeastern US (back to Dallas), with four
> passengers and quite a bit of luggage and camping cargo in the back, I
> somehow managed to get 28 mpg.
>
> This with the 3.5 liter V6 Acura engine, A/C going full bore, and driving
> mostly around 80 mph.
>
> I will grant that heading toward Dallas from where we were was aiding us
> with a gentle decrease in elevation, but still, I was wowed.
We have a 2000 Honda Odyssey EX and on our trips from Boston to Gettysburg
numerous times we've averaged 33 mpg with premium gas. 3.5L V6 205 HP (210
HP with premium)

On one leg of a return trip
> several years ago from the Northeastern US (back to Dallas), with four
> passengers and quite a bit of luggage and camping cargo in the back, I
> somehow managed to get 28 mpg.
>
> This with the 3.5 liter V6 Acura engine, A/C going full bore, and driving
> mostly around 80 mph.


A small tailwind can make a big improvement in mpg. A small headwind
can take a pretty good toll as well.

I have a 2003 Honda Accord 4 cylinder with manual transmission. I find that
at 50 MPH, 2000 RPM in 5th gear, I get the best gas mileage. On a trip
from Canton, TX, home of the BIG Flea Market, to Austin, TX, I averaged
more than 50 MPG. On a short trip on IH 35 from San Antonio to Austin,
it averaged more than 50 MPG. To get that economy, I use no air
conditioning, no cruise control and use the built-in navigation system
computer to show me the instantaneous gas mileage number. I find that
seeing the gas mileage number in real-time helps me drive for highest
economy with little effort. Unless the highway is totally flat, the
cruise control does not drive as economically as I can. I routinely
get more than 45 MPG on the highway.

Using the air conditioning, using the cruise control and driving faster
that 50 MPH drops the economy to 36-38 MPG. I always use the lowest
priced grade of gasoline.

In town economy depends on the time of day. Non-peak time driving can
yield as much as 32 MPG. That is a achieved by coasting when possible.
Typically in Austin, during peak traffic times, the number is only
26-28 MPG.

This Honda was bought new and has been driven over 60,000 miles. No
repairs have been needed yet. I change the oil every four months with
Castrol 5W20, clean the leather, wash and wax the paint and that is all.

---
James D. Howard Austin TX USA

wrote:

> I have a 2003 Honda Accord 4 cylinder with manual transmission. I find that
> at 50 MPH, 2000 RPM in 5th gear, I get the best gas mileage. On a trip
> from Canton, TX, home of the BIG Flea Market, to Austin, TX, I averaged
> more than 50 MPG. On a short trip on IH 35 from San Antonio to Austin,
> it averaged more than 50 MPG.

Is that imperial gallons or U.S. gallons?

The dealership says my sister's rotors must be replaced 'because they're
rusting'.

The CR-V has 60,000 km on it. Is this normal wear?

Your expert opinion is invited... thanks, Jack.

Ha. Rust on the brake rotors' circumferences by itself are not detrimental
to the rotor's operation and is expected.

Ask them about the rotor's thickness and thickness variation, for starters.
Did they measure it? What's the spec? Make them elaborate a lot more than
they are simply "rusted."

60k km is ridiculously early for a rotor to ordinarily need replacement.

My 91 Civic is on its original rotors after 270k km. Granted, I do a lot of
engine braking, and one rotor is a bit scored. The thickness is great,
though, and I expect them to last the life of the car (like five more
years).

Others will post...

"Ralph" > wrote
> The dealership says my sister's rotors must be replaced 'because they're
> rusting'.
>
> The CR-V has 60,000 km on it. Is this normal wear?
>
> Your expert opinion is invited... thanks, Jack.