Wiki-MPG site TrueDelta looking for the truth in mileage ratings
Michael Karesh is trying to outdo the EPA. We often refer to the EPA's miles per gallon rating for cars not because they are incredibly accurate (they're not) but because they offer us some sort of standard to make comparisons with. Karesh, through his site TrueDelta, is trying to get a mpg rating for different makes and models that reflects real-world use. This means figuring in things like air conditioner use, traffic, landscape and more, factors the EPA eschews. He's doing this by asking users (e.g. you) to report their own mpg results, along with details of how and where they drive. Think of it as wiki-mpg. TrueDelta asks readers some pretty standard questions and gives detailed instructions on how to figure out your mpg. Looking through the submission site, the one obvious change Karesh should make is to include a field for type of fuel used to achieve the results. With E10 and E85 (and biodiesel for diesel cars) available in more places and affecting vehicles' performances, factoring this variable into the results would really set TrueDelta apart.
Let's take a look at one TrueDelat example, the resulte for the 150-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-spd shiftable automatic FWD 2006 New Beetle. The EPA pegs this car at 23 city/32 highway. TrueDelta readers say it gets 29 mpg when driven in a flat area, using a medium foot (slightly faster than other cars in traffic) at an average of 60 mph. Right now, those two results are pretty similar, but it feels like we're getting a better idea of the car's performance from TrueDelta. It'll be interesting to see where TrueDelta's numbers go when more people participate.
So far, over 1,000 people have submitted their numbers to TrueDelta's fuel economy survey, so Karesh just these first responses. He knows that the more people participate, the more accurate the ratings will be. If you want to help outdo the EPA, head on over and tell Michael how your car's been driving.
Related:
[Source: TrueDelta]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 2:10PM (11/09/2006)
Very interesting experiment! It looks to be very useful (I can't help; he's currently only looking for 2003+ model year vehicle info - nothing that new in my garage).
Some of the examples I looked at have *very* wide ranges for similar categories of driving and conditions. Quick example: Honda Odyssey, flat terrain, non-aggressive 'v.lt' foot, light or no A/C use. Survey results of 9.0(!?!?) to 26.5(!?!? again) don't really help potential buyers. The traffic-style differences listed in the survey don't being to explain this large of a discrepancy.
Of course, this is in part a fundamental problem with self-reported statistics. Still, this has great potential to be very useful.
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Jimmy 2:13PM (11/09/2006)
The EPA via has had a similar "Your MPG" site for a while. See https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do
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Michael Karesh 5:25PM (11/09/2006)
Thanks, Sebastian. Excellent suggestion on the type of fuel. I'll probably add that question soon. My only reservation is that I suspect no one will report MPG for E85. But if E85 does become widely used, I'll definitely have to have this question.
As for E10, I suspect most people who use it don't know they're using it.
The 9.0 figures for the Odyssey do look VERY low. I'll have to look into them.
The fueleconomy.gov site asks far fewer questions. But, more importantly, they just aren't getting that many responses.
When I have enough responses, I'll be statistically analyzing them to provide separate city, highway, etc. figures. This will be more useful, and I want to provide it, but don't have enough data just yet.
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Michael Karesh 11:08AM (11/10/2006)
I followed up with the owner.
He verified the low figures for his Odyssey, said he'd been to the dealer four times about it, but that Honda had responded that his fuel economy was within spec.
He said he usually goes 120-150 miles before the fuel light comes on. Given that the Ody has a 20 gallon tank, it sounds like his math is correct. Also says he gets 17 city and 30 highway in his other car, a Pontiac GTO. So his driving style doesn't seem to be suspect, either.
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Phil L. 12:22PM (11/10/2006)
Wow - 9 mpg is within OEM spec? I tow a popup camper with my Ford Windstar minivan (with a total of 5 people in the van), and have never come close to 9 mpg while towing. And I've ready of Odyssey's towing campers that get better mileage than my Windstar. I'd say there's some kind of problem here...
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