I swapped hoods and I think I was premature on what I painted on it.....

[jimdigs]

....first off I painted this on the hood for all the folks who I drive by and see laughing at my big booty driving in this small little car. Secondly I think I was premature at the mileage I'm getting. I filled her up and only got a little over 34 per gallon. Whats weird is the first half of tank I did get a little over 200 miles, but from 1/2 tank down to empty I only got over 140. Whats up with that? I do know that was true with the two other festivas I have owned. You always get more per gallon the first half of the tank and I think that is just because when you fill it up it can go over the Full mark. I don't know.

[Larry Hampton]

Auto or manual? My wife's auto gets 34-36, my manual gets 46-48.

[blkfordsedan]

If the shape of the fuel tank was symmetrical, then the relationship between the fuel level and volume would be direct. The fuel float acts more like a level indicator and doesn't go off of volume. To accurately calculate MPG, you need to fill it up do you can see the fuel level in the filler neck, drive it for however long, then fill it back up to the same level. Then take the miles you traveled divided by the exact gallons it took to refuel it.

[neanderpaul]

1. It's simply the marks for the increments being in the wrong place. It is that way with every vehicle I know of. Maybe it has been the case so that when you buy a new car you are deceived into thinking you are getting better mpgs than you are for a few days while you drive out the first "half" of that tank. Giving you enough time to get attached to the car.

2. 40 mpg is not impressive. When somebody in a stock, comfortable, quiet 06 civic for instance sees that. They are thinking SO?! I can do that and (in their mind) my car is way better. So will some of the new focus models. I had a 96 escort get 38. Etc etc etc.

3. A healthy 5 speed festiva gets 53 mpg under extreme best case scenarios. 36 is the best I've heard of from the 3 speed auto.

So is it a stick?

[jimdigs]

Its a 93 5 speed. My last festy was a automatic. Thats why I thought for sure I would be getting at least 40mpg. I have to say though that I have not done anything to the engine since I bought it about a month ago. I need to put plugs in and a new oxygen sensor would help too. Any other suggestions? Thanks, Jim

[Prafeston]

My 5 speed is averaging just over 37. I don't baby it and that's with a mix of highway and city. My best was 45 at all highway and staying well under 70mph. My worst I think was 32 all city.

[bhazard]

I couldn't imagine getting any less than 42 from a 5 speed...

[neanderpaul]

Its a 93 5 speed. My last festy was a automatic. Thats why I thought for sure I would be getting at least 40mpg. I have to say though that I have not done anything to the engine since I bought it about a month ago. I need to put plugs in and a new oxygen sensor would help too. Any other suggestions? Thanks, Jim

Air and fuel filter, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor button, set timing, check compression.

[bolokid]

My 91 with an auto gets about 41 with a mix of highway and city. Highway speed is about 60. I tend to baby my little Festy baby.

[TominMO]

Air and fuel filter, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor button, set timing, check compression.

What he said, plus dump a can of Sea Foam into the (almost full) gas tank. Plus keep the speed down to 60-65, since these cars are very un-aerodynamic.