Is the MPG on 2011 Mustangs for real???

I have been window shopping for 2011 gt manual and was wondering the difference for the mpg for different gear ratios. On all the window stickers it reads the same for the ratios on gas. Wouldnt the gas mileage go down for the more aggressive ratios? They all say 17 and 26mpg. I was wanting the 3.55 gear, something inbetween. The salesman had no clue. Has anyone read pr heard differently.
 
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I have been window shopping for 2011 gt manual and was wondering the difference for the mpg for different gear ratios. On all the window stickers it reads the same for the ratios on gas. Wouldnt the gas mileage go down for the more aggressive ratios? They all say 17 and 26mpg. I was wanting the 3.55 gear, something inbetween. The salesman had no clue. Has anyone read pr heard differently.

If you are out on the highway quite a bit doing 55+ MPH in O.D., then you probably are going to loose a little mileage as the engine is obviously turning a little faster ...
3.31 std = 26 MPG
3.55 opt = 24.3 MPG (@ 7.3% higher RPM)
3.73 opt = 23.1 MPG (@ 12.7% higher RPM)
... will the MPG's drop the same % as the RPM increase as I've listed ?? Doubtfull, but you can probably use the RPM difference as a worst case senerio.

My car so far is an example of the oposite ... the EPA HWY estimate for a base V6 w/ 225 wide rubber is 29 MPG. I've got a heavier Premium model w/ MCA pkg that comes with the wider 235 performance tires (that are std on the GT) and figured I too would take a slight MPG hit. However, I have already gotten 28.8, 29.1, & 30.89 MPG and my commute is only 85% highway. Car is not completly broken in yet, so it's quite possible it may continue getting a little better.

The point is, the EPA numbers appear to be conservative and BEATABLE so maybe you can realistically get a couple MPG better than EPA with the base 3.31's and close to 25-26 HWY with 3.73's in a GT.

Doug
 
Only have 164 miles on the 2011 V-6, but just did a little test for 10 miles to see what kind of mileage I'm getting. With the windows up, ac on, and 55 MPH the computer was reading 36 MPG.

I did that for a full tank of gas on my 98 cobra before shifting at 2K driving like a grandma and only got 24 MPG highway.

Pretty impressed with the potential highway mileage once she has a few thousand miles and is broken in more.

Even at 65-70 MPH the sticker is gonna be pretty accurate on these V-6's according to the computer I'm getting 30 MPG at those speeds.

I will do manual calculations on my next fill-up to see how far the computer is off .
 
picked up my 2011 gt friday with manual and 3.55 gears and i have just over 300 miles on it all city driving but bout 30 miles, had a few good sprints here and there computer sais getting 19.3, the key liked said earlier anytime im cruising above 40 just put it in 6th
 
I rent a lot of cars as part of my job and I am really looking forward to booking a V6 2011 Mustang. My rule of thumb after renting dozens of different models is that you can easily depend on achieving the EPA highway mpg number at 75 mph on a flat road if there is no headwind. If you slow down a bit the number can go quite a bit higher. I have a 2009 V6 4WD Escape rated at 24 mpg and I seldom get less than 25 mpg on a highway trip and occassionally set the cruise at 60 - 65 on a flat road just to see what I get and I usually see 28 mpg at that speed. My dad has the same vehicle and averaged 29 mpg on a recent 500 mile trip. Mind you, my dad is 82 and drove 55 - 60 on two lane roads.

Just for historical reference, I owned a '88 LX 5.0 with 2.73 gears that turned 2000 rpm at 80 mph. It was quite economical until I installed the 3:55s.

You really have to appreciate 305 hp and 30 mpg.
 
2011 Better than posted

Since mine is still in the break in period, I have not beat it yet, but I am getting 20s in the city, just drove from Colorado Springs to Denver and got 29 MPGs or so the computer said and that was doing 5 over. I have a GT 6 speed manual, with the 3.31 rear end. Man I love this car!!!!!!
 
Update ...

Filled up today ... 354.9 miles / 11.278 gal = 31.47 MPG.

At the time of fill up, computer was showing "29.8 AVE MPG".
Total miles on car to date is 3719.4.

Here is a summary of my commute MPG to date:
WEEK 1: 28.81 MPG
WEEK 2: 29.10
WEEK 3: 29.46
WEEK 4: 30.89
WEEK 5: 30.99
WEEK 6: 30.53
WEEK 7: 31.47

Last week I should have broke 31 too, but there was a huge storm going thru Milwaukee on my way home and traffic was going slow due to the rain and standing water on the interstate in spots. So yes, it is still getting BETTER by the week !!

AVE caculated MPG from new is ... 3719.4 miles / 131.567 gal = 28.27 MPG

AVE COMMUTE only MPG ... 2762.7 miles / 91.719 gal = 30.12 MPG

Doug
 
Update ...

Filled up today ... 410.3 miles / 12.956 gal = 31.67 MPG ... a new best.

At the time of fill up, computer was showing "54-MI to E" and "29.9 AVE MPG".
Total miles on car to date is 4692.4.

Here is a summary of my commute MPG to date:
WEEK 1: 28.81 MPG
WEEK 2: 29.10
WEEK 3: 29.46
WEEK 4: 30.89
WEEK 5: 30.99
WEEK 6: 30.53
WEEK 7: 31.47
WEEK 8: 31.00
WEEK 9: 31.67

Yes, it is still getting "a little" BETTER by the week !!

These past two weeks I had the MAX-A/C on quite a bit too, so maybe I could of hit 32 without.

AVE caculated MPG from new is ... 4692.4 miles / 163.926 gal = 28.63 MPG

AVE COMMUTE only MPG ... 3583.1 miles / 118.03 gal = 30.36 MPG

Doug
 
Hugely appreciate the number update, Doug. I'm going to be buying early next year and whilst the number from the 5.0's have been "good for a V8", these really make the V6 a viable car for me with at least a 90 mile commute every work day.
 
C/P my reply on another board:

just filled my tank for the first time today. doing a bit of quick math (miles/gallons filled), and assuming that my tank was topped off when i got it from the dealer, i'm getting 18.9 MPG. i have a 6 speed MT with a 3.73 rear on my 5.0.

driving style is mostly city with some hard starts on woodward last night :)

did about 78 miles on the highway before filling the tank. so my mileage is based on mostly city with a little hwy. i don't have the heaviest foot out there.
 
I've seen quite a variety out of my 3.73 2011 GT so far at just over 400miles. My '05 GT averaged 18.5mpg for my commute. So far the 2011 has been showing 21mpg for the commute. A few accidental knees on the reset button have put up numbers like 33mpg while cruising 40mph in 6th that went up to 48mpg while going down a hill, but promptly shot down to 19mpg when I found some corners to play on. I'm going to guestimate, once my driving settles down, that it'll be right around 20mpg for my 60 mile commute that's about 50% traffic free 70mph freeway and 50% traffic filled 35mph backroads.
 
Tried something new this week ... had 30 miles on it from driving around town, and decided NOT to top it off Sunday night. Figured I've been seeing around 50 MI to E when filling up each week, why can't I do this extra driving at the begining of the tank ??

Filled up today ... 442.4 miles / 14.798 gal = 29.90 MPG.

At the time of fill up, computer was showing "4-MI to E" and "28.6 AVE MPG".
Total miles on car to date is 5134.8.

There was some pretty heavy rain Monday morning and had MAX-AC on most of the week (hot & muggy high 80's to mid 90's), so this was not too bad.

O/A ave. MPG since new is 28.73 ... but O/A ave. since I 1st broke 30 MPG 3100 miles ago is 30.20 MPG.

I'm real happy with these results.

As I've broke 5000 miles, I'm going to do my 2nd oil change this weekend and switching over to Mobil 1 Full-Syn. Did 1st change @ 1500 mi w/ factory Motorcraft Syn-Blend back in.

Doug