right. but would it be a 15 mpg difference? which is what i'm seeing with the rack.
also...before the rack i wasn't seeing 300 miles on a tank. does that seem right w/average driving habbits and hilly roads?

 

Aerodynamics can be a funny thing. With the puny engine the Fit has, racks can create enough drag to really affect it. On my Solstice, at 65, I get 31mpg. At 75 I get 26 mpg. Racks add a lot of turbulence.

 

That's a pretty heavily-loaded roof rack, and I bet it's doubling the Fit's frontal area and more than doubling the drag coefficient - I think you could likely attribute the mpg loss to the racks. Empty racks, maybe not, but certainly when they're full.

There are a bunch of folks who have noted that the Fit is really sensitive to aero, and I can see a significant mileage drop on my Scangauge with just a slight headwind. My mileage isn't stellar, but it's decent in my opinion. Lifetime mileage for me is 31.64mpg, with the vast majority of that in city commute mode. I was regularly getting right at 300 miles from a tank in that mode. Since I moved in November to a place that allows for mostly highway commute, my mileage has gone up to 33-36mpg, and about 360 miles per tank. This on a car with no add-ons of any type, 40psi in the tires, and only mild hypermiling techniques. You might really benefit from some of the hypermiling techniques discussed on cleanmpg.com. Gives you a place to log your mileage and check trends, too.

Clair

 

I managed to get 47 mpg real (50 trip computer) from my Jazz 1.3 with my last tank (769 km).

 

2010 Base, first tank
31 actual from gallons used
29 from trip computer
~1/3 highway, 2/3 city, including hilly terrain, moderate traffic, little A/C use, 32psi in tires

 

2010 Base, second tank, Shell 87 E10
32.1 calculated
32.8 indicated
same mix of driving as before, 40psi in tires

 

I just bought a new 2010 sport (milano red) and I'm averaging 42mpg on my first tank of gas based upon the trip computer.

My commute is perfect for this car - 35 miles of twisty but smooth back roads with speeds averaging 35-45mph and very few stops.

I've been driving stick for a long time and I have a good feel for engines so I think I'm fairly adept at keeping it in the sweet spot for low fuel consumption. On those occasions when I am on the highway I keep speeds around 65-70. Above that and I can see fuel consumption rate go way up.

I wasn't planning on liking this car. I had been driving a fairly nice Audi and I was looking for a fun sporty car that got decent mileage. I was pretty much set on a Mini Cooper but I test drove a Fit because my wife insisted that I consider the "cheap" option. Needless to say I was seriously impressed - it is a really fun car and looks great. Ok - it's not a Mini but for the $10,000+ price difference I'm willing to squint because they aren't that far apart.

 

Mine is an 08 changed rims and tires to 17", changed the intake, drive it pretty normal not slow, and constantly get 36 - 38 mpg. Now have 36,000 miles on the car no problems, very happy!

 

Did the 17's change your effective gearing, and therefore spedometer calibration?

 

I'm not an engineer all I know is the diameter is 1 inch larger 3 inches wider and they weigh 2 pounds more per wheel. I get better mileage with the factory tires but they don't look as good

 

You are going over 3 inches further per wheel revolution so you are going further than your odometer says you are and getting great gas mileage...... I am impressed.

 

when you guys are talking about MPG calculations is it from a full tank of gas to almost empty or full tank to mid tank gas. Thanks.

 

top off your tank and reset the trip odometer. The next time you fill up, top it off again and divide the number of miles driven by the number of gallons you just put in.
You cannot use the needle for any type of calculation beyond an estimate.

 

2010 Base, third tank, Chevron 87 E10
33.5 calculated
33.9 indicated
About 50/50 urban highway and moderate traffic surface streets, little A/C use.

 

around 30~33 mpg
hwy 50% local 50%

 

08 Fit Sport, with short ram K&N Intake.

Last 2 fill-ups:
32.4 mpg
30.2 mpg

I like to drive fast

 

Notin' wrong with that either :-)

 

I calculated my first mpg run. I'm getting about 36.5 mpg. about 50/50 highway and city driving. Running at high rpms at times. 36.5 mpg good enough for me

 

Nice post, good luck with your FIT!

 

Just filled up again today, 32.5 mpg. My tires are getting pretty bald, and once again i drove fast :P I'll see if i can get higher next time by goin a little slower :P