5spd unrealistic milage?

[Talley]

I'm interested in a fiesta however i have an issue. I want the most milage period. I drive 70-75 mph with 75% freeway and 25 city. Now, fords little mileage tags says the 5spd does not get as good mileage as the auto. I would love to have the 5spd but does the auto really get better because from what I have seen on here the 5spd guys if they baby their driving all get 40+ which I would love. Also with the prospects of scca the 5spd would be very appealing. one more thing is the tranny issues. I just see the 5spd as being worry free and easy to repair while the auto would be expensive repairs (i plan on driving the vehicle to 150k or more).

any insight here? 5spd or auto for best mileage?

edit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2011-...#ht_6538wt_953

wow... 5spd lime squeeze 203a locally!!! 16,659 and has winter package/satellite/illumination also. and also has best offer. I don't care really about the color, I would pick from blk/gry/blu/grn so this works. cant' believe i actually found one. I should go test drive it after my $750 private cash could get it in the 15s

[navbtcret]

I have a 5 speed and the wife has an auto. I get better fuel milage than she does and she is by no means a lead foot. Running 70-75 on the highway I am around 38 mpg.

[eRic]

The sticker says:
28 city/37 hwy/32 combined (manual)
29 city/38 hwy/33 combined (automatic)
29 city/40 hwy/33 combined (automatic w/ SFE package)
Your mileage may vary.

[xargos]

Originally Posted by Talley

I'm interested in a fiesta however i have an issue. I want the most milage period. I drive 70-75 mph with 75% freeway and 25 city.

Driving 70-75 MPH with either a manual or automatic of any type will guarantee that you don't get optimal gas mileage. That's just a fact of life. If you slow it down a little your mileage will improve.

[petraman]

I get 40-44 mpg average going 70mph average. Don't believe me?
Peter's Fiesta (Ford Fiesta) | Fuelly
(keep in mind all of those tanks are part highway/part around town.)

[xargos]

Originally Posted by petraman

I get 40-44 mpg average going 70mph average. Don't believe me?
Peter's Fiesta (Ford Fiesta) | Fuelly
(keep in mind all of those tanks are part highway/part around town.)

I can almost guarantee you'll get better at 60-65. I've yet to see a car where this isn't true.

Plus your link shows one tank that high. One isn't an average.

[3Mach1]

YOur splitting hairs over 1 mpg. Driving habits can easily make up for that. Anticipate lights, gradual acceleration, watch your speed, ect....... To me the simplicity of the 5 speed is more pratical and so far it has been very reliable. Dont forget the auto has a 1k price tag with it to boot. Thats a lot of gas or well it used to be. I dont think you would go wrong with the 5 speed. Owners here are reporting very good mileage with them.

[petraman]

Yes, I explained that in my post. I don't drive much on the highway, it's mostly in town. I've never taken a big trip in this car (damn leases)

[Talley]

That'd exactly my thoughts is the 5spd has better potential for better mileage. And the cost savings of 1k over the auto is a huge plus. No dealer around has any se 203a 5spds though

[Pennut]

The reason the auto is rated better gas mileage over the manual is that it has 6 speeds vs. 5 speeds. I test drove both and I could see that at 65 mph, the auto's engine was turning about 200 rpms less due to the extra gear. Regardless the 5 speeds have had no problem getting over 40 mpg.

Traditionally, a manual in a small car gets better mileage than an automatic in the same car. That's because in a traditional automatic, the torque converter robs some of the engines power. However that is not so with the Fiesta as the 6 speed automatic has no torque coverter. It is really a 6 speed manual being shifted automatically by the computer.

And yes, you will always get better mileage going 60-65 mph than 70-75 mph. Because the faster you go, the more hp is required to overcome aerodynamic drag. That's the laws of physics. No way around it. I've driven thousands of miles over the years and in all my cars from V6's to 4's to V8's, as soon as you start going over 65 I started noticing a difference in gas mileage. Going 65 will get you less than 55 for that matter, but I'm not going to do 55 mph on a 65 mph freeway. These people that are doing like 80 mph on the freeway are losing about 3 mpg on average. Some, like those driving big SUV's are losing more easily.