Auto-x and track time is around 5 mpg

 

4-5 mpg

 

About 1800 miles so far, 16 mpg - 33 mpg (long trip on cruise control @70 mph).
Ron:clap:

 

My lifetime average over about 5,500 miles is 25.1 mpg my calculations, 24.8 based on the car's calculations. Best tank so far is 27.1, worst is 22.6. City, highway, snow, rain, traffic jams, alone, with 3 people, loaded with cargo, pretty much every condition. I've been driving in everything but a sunny day. I have the sport ratio gearbox. I have not been on a track or driven faster than about 80 mph.

On a related note, however, I'm convinced that either the EPA's estimates are wrong or my car is not as efficient as others. In other cars, I consistently achieve far higher average mileage results than the EPA indicates even as their highway mileage. For example:

2005 Acura RL: 16 city, 24 highway, 19 combined. Mine: 28 average
1991 Lotus Elan: 21 city, 29 highway, 24 combined. Mine: 34 average
2006 Lotus Elise: 19 city, 27 highway, 22 combined. Mine: 33 average (31 after the SC)
-but-
2011 Lotus Evora: 18 city, 27 highway, 21 combined. Mine: 25 average

Yes, I know the EPA has changed their estimation scheme, and yes I know that 25 mpg average for a V6 sports car is excellent, but my point is that I cannot get any better in my Evora no matter how light I drive. The very best I've seen is 30.1 mpg right after I reset the MPG-o-meter and basically rolled almost the whole 2 miles downhill in neutral from the gas station to my house. With cruise control on the highway - anywhere between 60 and 80 mph - it slooooowly creeps up to the 26's.

It's definitely not rolling resistance or dragging brakes. The car will roll unpowered for ages. I just put on the sport exhaust and it has slightly increased economy. My tires are great and the pressures are correct. I've observed the same mileage pattern on snow tires and summer tires. I use 91 octane fuel. I haven't even pushed the sport button yet and I drive like a nun (mostly ).

So what could it be? I know, you're going to just say "be happy with 25!" and don't get me wrong, I am happy and love the car. But something doesn't seem right given my past driving record and given that Ron achieved 33 mpg using cruise control. I can't even get that in neutral rolling downhill. Lotus' own published specs say that the CR gearbox gets 7.2 l/100km on the highway, which is 32.6 US mpg (39 imperial mpg). Does it just come down to each engine being different due to machining tolerances and the like? If there's a problem, I'd like to find it and correct it - not for the sake of mileage, but for the sake of longevity, performance, and reliability. I can't take it in to the dealer and say "my mileage is too low; I only get 25 mpg" - they'd laugh me away.

I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts/opinions/sanity checks.

 

I can't take it in to the dealer and say "my mileage is too low; I only get 25 mpg" - they'd laugh me away.

I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts/opinions/sanity checks.

It's all how you drive.

Ron lives not to far from me, in hot weather, and our terrain is pretty much the same. But I get about 19mpg on average with normal driving. I don't drive for long distances but if I did I get between 22-24mpg at best.

If I'm doing short sprints across town, it can go as low as 15mpg.

How does Ron do it? Zen driving techniques, I think rotfl

 

HEGG

Your Evora is a POS Lemon Take it back. Trade it for the Evora S, but keep your diffuser, exhaust, and wheels.



P.S. I talked to my neighbor (he is on 6 month business trip) today. He has CO Evora, 11k miles. His lifetime average has been 13.4MPG. Then again he has an Enzo and Ford GT, so his driving style is a bit different.

 

HEGG

Your Evora is a POS Lemon Take it back. Trade it for the Evora S, but keep your diffuser, exhaust, and wheels.

LOL, now THAT'S a solution I could live with!

 

LCC, that could get a man killed...

 

Often being dead and thus having no wife, is better than being alive with a wife.

 

Luckily I chose very well .

 

23-25

07 Exige. Lots of mods.

 

City: 20-22
Highway: 25+
55mph in 6th gear, good road surface, firm tires: 30+

Even then, it depends on the driving style and gear choice. I don't think there is anything wrong with your mpg. Try gearing up quicker and keep her in higher gears. I noticed that stopping with the engine running for a few minutes can really make a dent in the mpg. Also, I really felt my car loosen up and getting smoother after 1000 miles.

 

Thanks for the comments. I drive every day at 55-60 mph, cruise control, flat road for about 15 miles, and the best I get is 26 on that cruise. Obviously goes down if I accelerate or idle at a stoplight, just as you indicated. I was hoping a loosened engine would help, but no change at all for me.

I generally shift gears at 2k - 3k revs. I don't cane the engine getting off the line. I have a very light foot for general driving, as evidenced by my average mileage in previous cars.

 

I will go more aggressively when cars are behind me. Don't want to piss anyone off, especially these angry Utah drivers.

 

Yeah they might throw non caffeinted drink bottles at yourotfl

 

I usually get 30-31 when I have the 40 mile, mostly highway commute and 27-28 mpg when I have the shorter 12 mile drive. The short drive frequently turns into a stop and go trip on the side roads closer to the Ocean.

 

mpg with aluminum foot not lead.



2005 Elise with 28k miles - I get around 23-25mpg city and have gotten over 35mpg highway 70-75mph but usually run around 33mpg. Everyone knows Ardent Red is faster and slipperier so it gets better mileage. It looks even more impressive when you use UK gallons (30 city, 42 highway)

 

About 26.5 mpg on my commute (Elise SC). Almost all highway, though. The real "problem" are those on-ramps of which I have a couple... I believe it's physically impossible to not wind up 1st and 2nd all the way...

 

I get about 22-23, my girlfriend gets 28 in my car. I also have the VF stage 1.

 

8.8 mpg last two tanks. On the track however.

 

I get around 28 mpg with my elise S, on mountain routes. mostly 2nd and 3rd gear.

 

sigh... E-V-O-R-A...

 

I've learned to be happy with 23mpg combined.

It's just too much fun, to do without and get maybe 25mpg.

 

+1 -- 22-23 is easy to get w/o compromising the fun factor .

 

After 2K miles, overall average is a little over 23. Have seen 27+ on extended Interstate driving.

 

Ok,this was today,after about 150 miles @ 70 mph on cruise control.
We came up to Monterey for a two driving school @ Skip Barber. They have three Evora's.
Ron:clap:

 

I can see you also have the Sport button on. I did the same thing - about 200 miles - with the cruise control on 70 mph. I ended up with mid 26. No sport button, no A/C on, just cruise control and the stereo. The other day I rolled downhill in neutral for a few miles right after I reset the mpg-o-meter and still only got to 28. Both of these were with the summer tires on the car.

I do like the car a lot and 25 mpg average is very respectable for the class of car. I just can't help but think something's amiss...

I should also note that my lifetime 25 mpg average includes zero sport button (haven't pushed it yet), no WOT (haven't floored it yet), and no A/C (it just barely started cracking 70 degrees around here). I expect that in the coming months that number will drop when I finally have the chance to open 'er up a bit.

 

Zen driving skills.

hey why is your nail painted?:crazyeyes

 

That is my daughter Toni's hand.
Ron:shift:

 

FYI, since you mentioned Laguna--
A local Press Release event for the Evora S was held there earlier this week--here's a review:
2011 Lotus Evora S first drive | The Car Tech blog - CNET Reviews

in case you missed it.

 

Thanks, for the link. Not a bad review,but this guy sounds like a tool. He complained about strange small things on the car. I can't wait to drive the school Evora's tomorrow and Sunday on this track!
Ron:UK:

 

Here's what I've been tracking for my '06 NA Elise

Hit above 30mpg once or going to Dallas. This includes track days too, which is clearly showing me that I'm not pushing it as hard as I should

 

depends on the track of course, but I've found I get between 12-14 on track.

not bad, my old GT3 got 6-8!

 

Ok, guys this is the last update of my trip. This photo was at the end of trip, about an hour from home. Toni and I had a great time at Skip Barber,great track and instructors. I had the ride of my life at the end of the day in the school Evora. I also got my own car up to 120 MPH+ on hwy 46.
Rob:clap:

 

That is excellent! That's more what I am expecting with my car, to be honest. I have been a little more aggressive with mine on this tank - that is, shifting at 4.5k revs instead of 3k revs - and my mileage immediately dropped to 21 - 22 mpg and has stayed. Most of the tank is still cruise control at 60 mph; all I did was change when I shift coming off a stop.

 

Wow!

Very, very impressive. :clap::clap::clap:

May the wind remain at your back.