Classiccars2

Hey everyone,

I'm giving thought to buying a C5 and doing a lot of research. I realize "your mileage may vary" but in order to compare one car (not necessarily a Vette) to another for mileage I find the EPA estimates useful.

When I check Fueleconomy.gov (the EPA's website) they show the mileage estimates for the manual and automatic cars but show nothing about the Z06 specifically.

As I understand it, the co-efficient of drag on a C5 hatchback is .29, whereas on the hardtop coupe (same body style used for a Z06, as I understand it) is .32. I do a fair amount of highway driving and over the course of a few years a mile or two per gallon on the highway could be enough that I would care. That big of a difference in cd could result in a mile or two per gallon, in theory.

So, I'm wanting to know if anyone has the original window stickers for a 2001 and 2002 Z06 (the two years I'm considering). Those will have the original EPA ratings.

Jim
Ft. Worth, TX

magneto10

I still have my original window sticker- I will find it and post tomorrow-

As I recall 2002 was 28 highway.


I have personally gotten 31 a few times going from Syracuse NY to NYC

Oleman

Your right foot will kill the EPA ratings if you get one of these cars. If you are that concerned over the EPA ratings I would stay away from these. Oh and the C6 Z would be totally out. These cars are fun to drive.......

3sACROWD

The coefficient of drag isn't as big a player as the final gear ratios. The Zs are more aggressively geared.

The coupes get about 2 MPG better mileage than the Zs on the highway. I have an '03Z and get 28 MPG on the highway which happens to match the EPA estimates.

To be honest and not intending to sound mean; if you're really concerned about fuel costs, you may want to consider a different vehicle. While not required, you really should use premium fuel in a Corvette. On the other hand, there is nothing like driving a Vette.

I also drive extensive miles annually. I spread my miles among 3 vehicles and still manage about 16K on the Vette. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I refer to my Vette as my Jimmie John's fast economy car.

Hope this helps.

hamhead

Assuming you drive 12,000 miles a year and a hypothetical Z06 gets an average 25mpg to a hatch's 26mpg, your yearly fuel costs are:

Z06 = 480 gallons a year (12,000 / 25)
Hatch = 461 gallons a year (12,000 / 26)

If you're really that concerned about $60 a year in possible extra fuel costs, you might want to go down to the Toyota dealer and look at a Prius.

racebum

anyone actually get 19mpg in town?

best i seem to get is 18ish

highway is 26-27mpg with hilly terrain 28-29 on flat surface

enigma94

Best ive seen is 19MPG mix driving on 1 tank. I've gotten 24 driving out of town with highway driving only. If getting 18-19mpg on average driving is a concern for you, you'd be best looking into a car with a smaller motor set up.

tlove32

- I get about 12mpg city - 24mpg highway.

magneto10

16-20 for me- mostly on the lower end though

Toque

Driving around North Dallas area here mostly.

Heads and cam setup..... (around 555HP)

I get around 17-18 mph around town.
Hotdogging it from light to light.
I like the sound in 2nd around +4000K RPM.....
Yea I know that hurts my gas mileage but I don't care.

I did a 3 hour run before and I got 28 mpg on the HW.
I specifically filled at a station.
Went where I was going (All highway)
Returned and filled at same station.

Not too shabby for a 555 HP motor I think.

Toque

LSX_NUT

I got about 27mpg on a 1200 mile road trip. A little bit of spirited driving leaving gas stations / rest stops too. I figure with my new CAI, Longtubes/Xpipe, and tune I can probably squeeze out another 1-2 mpg.

Laser Guided

I was born with LFS (lead foot syndrome, it's a real thing, look it up). I pretty much only drive my car for pleasure (I have a dd and a motorcycle) so I like to have fun.

However, if I happen to be cruising on the freeway at 65 in 6th gear I'll get around 30mpg. (~12-14 city)

cwmoss

get a Honda--Corvette and fuel economy? I get 30 HW 16 in town,if I keep my foot out of it I can get another mile or 2,I don't know how much more fuel economy you want

dangerz

I average 20mpg weekly. On long highway trips I've seen 30mpg in a tank though.

Tuscany

As others have said, beating 28 is relatively easy on the highway (sans LFS).

racebum

lol @ 16-22mpg in the city

more like 16-18mpg in the city depending on traffic, less if you use the throttle

highway is spot on though

wonder how they fudged the city numbers.

Tuscany

In the city... If you accelerate as slowly as everyone else, shift first-to-fourth, keep the revs down and the gas pedal up, I think 19+ in the city is feasible. It's not much fun, though, and rather anti-Corvette-ish.

khartford

[SIZE="5"]Hi Jim,
Worrying about gas mileage in a Z06 is like being concerned that your supermodel wife is using too much expensive lip gloss. Don't let money concerns suck the joy out of life.........
Regards,
Ken

NotLawReview

yup, first couple tanks for me were around 13-14, now i'm averaging 16.6 or so as measured by my fuelio app and that's with 95% city driving... The one highway trip i have taken though I got 26, so that was nice.

JETninja

Unless I"m really on it, I always shift 1-3-5-6, or 2-4-6....so much Tq and the car is so light the extra gears are useless 90% of the time. Saves fuel also, and less shifts. But in town they certainly eat gas, on the Hwy though they sip it. Thats pretty awesome for 400+ HP car, E9X M3's are lucky to get 20mpg Hwy. Same with V8 S4's.