janicept

I recently post about how I was not as impressed with how the C7 drove compared to the C6 but I was driving in tour mode mainly. I though that tour mode would save on fuel economy and used sport mode kindof like I use to use my mild to wild switch. I decided to drive to and from work today in sport mode and it was much better - the same or a little better than the C6. I was very happy. I reset the trip meter to see how bad my fuel economy was going to be and to my surprise it was better.

Lifetime mileage about 10600, fuel economy driving mainly in tour mode 24.5, average speed 50.

Mainly driving home from work: about 35 miles, fuel economy in sport mode 26.3, average speed 53.

My drive is about 20 miles highway and I do tend to accelerate fast off a stop and zip around slow people on the highway. In theory there could be some 100+ mph going on. Does the improvement in fuel economy come from the car not taking as long to accelerate? I guess I will try track mode on Monday.

ratman6161

Do you have a manual or automatic? Either way my theory is that cruising down the highway there should be no difference in fuel economy between touring and sport mode. A couple MPG + or - on the same route isn't that significant.

Also, if you have a manual, what gears are you using? I've got an M7 Z51 (speaking of which Z51's have slightly different gear ratios on the M7) and at the sorts of speeds you are going I will get better MPG's in 5th than in 6th (and 7th is not an option below Interstate Highway speeds).

If you are actually using 6th sometimes, it wouldn't be too surprising that you got better MPG on the run with a slightly higher speed. 6th is really too tall a gear for those speeds anyway and going a little faster is actually helpful. If you have a non-z51 M7 this situation is even worse because 5th - 7th are taller than in the Z51. Basically being in the best gear for the speed you are going will result in the best MPG.

I suspect the tour vs sport modes has nothing to do with it.

gpotski

I find that when I am in sport mode, the pedal seems to go to the floor easier.

nmvettec7

The only difference I can detect when dialing in Touring v Sport Mode is the change in the electronic steering. The Sport Mode is a stiffer steering in steering while, while the sport mode is a stiffer feel of the steering wheel.

If there is a difference between Touring and Sport other than the electronic steeing, I am not aware of it, nor can I personally feel or sense any other differenecs. Perhaps another CF member can advise on this.

From the telemetry on the C7 when cruising a highway or traveling on a road a longer distance I can clearly see the engine moving from V8 to V4 and switching back & forth.

Here in New Mexico since most of the long distance driving is on open roads, I have no trouble seeing an avg MPG of 27+.

So far I am pleased with the mileage this vehicle provides considering the upward potential of HP available.

Of course any mileage data is strictly based on the drivers style, speed, rpm's that the car is driven at (high v low), and acceleration habits.

Corgidog1

Interestingly I have yet to check my gas mileage-just don't care. I would not compromise fun to save on gas.

OldJedi

There is a big difference in ride stiffness between Tour and Sport in Magnetic Ride cars. Along with much tighter steering response and the exhaust note increase. I have not just left it in sport for an entire tankful of gas but I have trip planned for later in the year and will try it then.

Jim Barker

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Lifetime mileage about 10600, fuel economy driving mainly in tour mode 24.5, average speed 50.

Mainly driving home from work: about 35 miles, fuel economy in sport mode 26.3, average speed 53.

I have found that speed is the most important factor. Max mileage at about 60 to 65 mph and less and less the faster you go. 65 to 85 is about 9-10 miles per gallon less. This is with a6, with my best at 33.3 and at or below 65 miles per hour.

rcooper

even more so in track!

dvilin

droideka

yup! I average 12-13 mpg.

Zymurgy

All versions should see a difference in throttle progression, automatics should see slightly more aggressive automatic shifts and as already pointed out the steering and MSRC (if equipped) are very different. The differences between Tour and Sport mode are shown below (not all cars have all items):

janicept

It's an automatic - 2015 A7. I only even drive in automatic.

I agree that the fuel economy doesn't really matter. If we can't afford a few extra dollars for gas this should not be what we drive. I use the Corvette for my daily driver and had 274K miles on my C6 so I had a lot of time to play with it. My fuel economy in the C6 was close to 29 mpg when I was driving mostly highway miles. A lot of people would ask what my fuel economy was and it felt good to say almost 29 mpg. When I started staying closer to home for work my fuel economy decreased to around 27 mpg I think. I was disappointed when the C7 was getting even lower mpg. I thought the point of the switching into V4 was to save on fuel. If it doesn't save anything why bother - just one more thing to break.

I know it may not last but when I put the performance exhaust on sport mode instead of tour and got better mileage I was optimistic. I'm going to try track on the steering and performance exhaust on Monday to see what happens.

golden2husky

....Lifetime mileage about 10600, fuel economy driving mainly in tour mode 24.5, average speed 50...

My C7 does not do as well, but average speed of 50....that made me look up such info for my commuter car. Over 108K of driving, the average speed was....23MPH. in five years....I really need to move. Nearly 200 days in an Altima. My Vette is a prescription for sanity.