Manual vs Automatic

[DaleInTN]

Is it true that the auto trannys get better MPG than the 5 speed?

[Pu241]

Where did you hear that at?

[bhazard]

Who ever told you that has no idea what they're talking about

[jayber]

New 6spd+ autos and CVTs can get better MPGs but 3 and 4spd autos dont have a chance

[DaleInTN]

Ok, bad information... any idea about how much less they get?

[Gomez]

the avg "best" mpg's I have seen, heard of, and experienced for an auto B3 Festy is about 37. Some get more, most get less. But reported #'s are usually in the 37 range.

[bolokid]

Ok, bad information... any idea about how much less they get?

The following is comparison between auto vs. 5 speed with the same driver and conditions.

My 91 with a fresh B3 and automatic gets 43 mpg @ 50-55 mph; 37 mpg @ 60-65 mph; 32 mpg @ 65-75 mph and 30 or less mpg @ 80.

The recently acquired 93 with 240,000 miles and a B3 and 5 speed gets 40 mpg @ 65-75 mph. I have only taken the 93 on a single 300 mile jaunt.

[DaleInTN]

Thanks for the info

My '92 5 speed gets 45 mpg @ 55 mph with 305,XXX miles on it. I have a chance to buy another festy with a rebuilt motor and transmission. I was hoping the MPG was close. Sounds like it might be.

[nonamekid]

Who ever told you that has no idea what they're talking about

When it comes to festivas that is true.

New 6spd+ autos and CVTs can get better MPGs but 3 and 4spd autos dont have a chance

On the 240sx, the autos got better gas mileage at highway speeds due to being in a lower rpm. That was a 4 speed auto vs a 5 speed manual.

[Festiva_Fred]

I've had a few auto festivas I drove a bit.. I bet I never saw over 35 mpg.. Usually high 20s- low 30s is what I got in mixed town driving and rural 55-60 mph roads with hills. Same scenario in a five speed car I get 35-45 mpg no problems, no comparison between them in a festiva, autos suck for interstate cruising at 70 or more.. Only being a 3 speed.

[jwt101]

My 94 Aspire 4dr, gets a pretty constant 31/32 mixed driving. The only thing I find that sucks is the gas gauge goes from the full mark to the empty mark after 225 miles everytime. When I fill up it takes 7 to 7.3 every time. I just hate to drive with it on empty even though I know it still has about 3 gallons left in it.

[Studebaker]

Dale I agree with Red. My auto got 35 mpg. Swaped in a 5 spd it got 45 mpg.

[Victor Lang]

Festiva Fred corresponds to my experiences.

[Axlander9289]

The following is comparison between auto vs. 5 speed with the same driver and conditions.

My 91 with a fresh B3 and automatic gets 43 mpg @ 50-55 mph; 37 mpg @ 60-65 mph; 32 mpg @ 65-75 mph and 30 or less mpg @ 80.

The recently acquired 93 with 240,000 miles and a B3 and 5 speed gets 40 mpg @ 65-75 mph. I have only taken the 93 on a single 300 mile jaunt.

The numbers for an automatic are pretty similar to the mileage I got in my old '89 Festiva with the four speed manual. Once you're on the highway with the torque converter locked up, (automatic Festivas had lock-up torque converters, didn't they? I've never owned or driven one.) you don't have to worry about power losses through the converter, and it becomes all about RPM. As I recall fourth gear in any Festiva manual transmission, 4 speed or 5, has a ratio of .89:1, so a relatively low overdrive, which is fairly close to the 1:1 direct drive ratio of third gear in the Festiva's automatic transmission. RPM and therefore fuel economy would be very similar between the two with highway driving, and not unlike driving a 5 speed Festiva, but never shifting above 4th.

[lessersivad]

. Once you're on the highway with the torque converter locked up, (automatic Festivas had lock-up torque converters, didn't they? I've never owned or driven one.)

Nope. Aspires have 'lock up', but they also have a slightly steeper final drive gear ratio.