Magnum RT highway mileage

On 26 Oct 2004 14:38:29 -0700,
(AntwainBarbour) wrote:

>Sounds to me like this thing got a lot better mpg than you all thought
>it would. My car is a guzzler right now, so those numbers look great
>to me. Ride nice on the highway?

Very. The seats are comfortable, and the ride is great.

I did notice that the car has tendency to pull ever so slightly to the
right. Another Magnum owner has told me that this is a common
problem, and that the dealers are doing alignments to correct this.

"Dan" > wrote in message
...
| On 26 Oct 2004 14:38:29 -0700,
| (AntwainBarbour) wrote:
|
| >Sounds to me like this thing got a lot better mpg than you all thought
| >it would. My car is a guzzler right now, so those numbers look great
| >to me. Ride nice on the highway?
|
| Very. The seats are comfortable, and the ride is great.
|
| I did notice that the car has tendency to pull ever so slightly to the
| right. Another Magnum owner has told me that this is a common
| problem, and that the dealers are doing alignments to correct this.
|

The 300 has similar "pulling" reports.

"Dan" > wrote in message
...
| On 26 Oct 2004 14:38:29 -0700,
| (AntwainBarbour) wrote:
|
| >Sounds to me like this thing got a lot better mpg than you all thought
| >it would. My car is a guzzler right now, so those numbers look great
| >to me. Ride nice on the highway?
|
| Very. The seats are comfortable, and the ride is great.
|
| I did notice that the car has tendency to pull ever so slightly to the
| right. Another Magnum owner has told me that this is a common
| problem, and that the dealers are doing alignments to correct this.
|

The 300 has similar "pulling" reports.

You should not be surprised. I recently test drove a new GTO (manual) with a
tight engine and took it for a spin at 70 mph (flat road, cruise set) . The
mileage meter showed 25 mpg, a little under the EPA estimate.

We had a 1992 LT1 (300 hp) Corvette and it could deliver 30 mpg @ 70 mph all
day.

The aerodynamics of the Corvette are far superior to the Magnum. Plus the
Corvette barely turns over idle in top gear at highway speeds. The thing is
such a torque monster it just does not need much in the way of rpms to go
fast.

The really interesting designs are the GM OHV V6's. These things are ancient
(but very refined) designs and make good power and get fantastic mileage. A
friend has a new Impala and just got back from a long highway trip (car
loaded with stuff and family) and got 30 mpg averaging about 80 mph. The V6
in the Malibu makes more power and gets better mileage than the Japanese
brand high-tech 4's!

George Litwinski
"Wicked96SS" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 25 Oct 2004, Jack Carter wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Not bad, but just for comparison's sake, that's about 7 or 8 mpg LESS
than
> > what my 405hp Z06 Vette gets under about the same conditions. NO
FLAMING,
> > please. I LIKE the RT and have been trying to negotiate with a dealer to
buy
> > one. But he's just not willing to deal. And, considering the laws of
supply
> > and demand, I guess I don't blame him.
>
> Hardly fair to compare a 6 speed car that is considerably lighter than the
> maganum. Also, can the Vette hold 4 adults and luggage and still get that
> mileage? Heck, it can't even hold 4 adults! I am not flaming you, just
> think you are comparing apples to oranges.
>
> Also, I am a bit sceptical on the mileage you quoted for the Z06...
> Although I am no expert on them, I know several people that have them, and
> NONE of them report gas mileage like that. Although, they might not be as
> controlled as you and able to stay out of the throttle! Again, I am just
> suprised at that number... 29.5 MPG from a Z06? WOW!
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > "Dan" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Just got back from a weekend trip. Here's my stats for highway
> > > mileage on the Magnum RT 5.7L "Hemi":
> > >
> > > 21.51 mpg and 21.48 mpg on two tanks of 89 octane
> > >
> > > This was about 75 percent interstate, running around 80; 15 percent
> > > four-lane divided highway, running 65 or 70; and 10 percent two-lane
> > > running 50, then wide open throttle to 75 when passing, numerous
> > > times.
> > >
> > > Trip was about 315 miles each way, which is about one tank each way.
> > >
> > > This has astounded my friend who has a Magnum with the larger 6
> > > cylinder. He gets less than 20 mpg on the highway, also running 89
> > > octane. And, of course, it's way better than the Dodge Ram trucks get
> > > with their 5.7L, which is a different engine.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

You should not be surprised. I recently test drove a new GTO (manual) with a
tight engine and took it for a spin at 70 mph (flat road, cruise set) . The
mileage meter showed 25 mpg, a little under the EPA estimate.

We had a 1992 LT1 (300 hp) Corvette and it could deliver 30 mpg @ 70 mph all
day.

The aerodynamics of the Corvette are far superior to the Magnum. Plus the
Corvette barely turns over idle in top gear at highway speeds. The thing is
such a torque monster it just does not need much in the way of rpms to go
fast.

The really interesting designs are the GM OHV V6's. These things are ancient
(but very refined) designs and make good power and get fantastic mileage. A
friend has a new Impala and just got back from a long highway trip (car
loaded with stuff and family) and got 30 mpg averaging about 80 mph. The V6
in the Malibu makes more power and gets better mileage than the Japanese
brand high-tech 4's!

George Litwinski
"Wicked96SS" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 25 Oct 2004, Jack Carter wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Not bad, but just for comparison's sake, that's about 7 or 8 mpg LESS
than
> > what my 405hp Z06 Vette gets under about the same conditions. NO
FLAMING,
> > please. I LIKE the RT and have been trying to negotiate with a dealer to
buy
> > one. But he's just not willing to deal. And, considering the laws of
supply
> > and demand, I guess I don't blame him.
>
> Hardly fair to compare a 6 speed car that is considerably lighter than the
> maganum. Also, can the Vette hold 4 adults and luggage and still get that
> mileage? Heck, it can't even hold 4 adults! I am not flaming you, just
> think you are comparing apples to oranges.
>
> Also, I am a bit sceptical on the mileage you quoted for the Z06...
> Although I am no expert on them, I know several people that have them, and
> NONE of them report gas mileage like that. Although, they might not be as
> controlled as you and able to stay out of the throttle! Again, I am just
> suprised at that number... 29.5 MPG from a Z06? WOW!
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > "Dan" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Just got back from a weekend trip. Here's my stats for highway
> > > mileage on the Magnum RT 5.7L "Hemi":
> > >
> > > 21.51 mpg and 21.48 mpg on two tanks of 89 octane
> > >
> > > This was about 75 percent interstate, running around 80; 15 percent
> > > four-lane divided highway, running 65 or 70; and 10 percent two-lane
> > > running 50, then wide open throttle to 75 when passing, numerous
> > > times.
> > >
> > > Trip was about 315 miles each way, which is about one tank each way.
> > >
> > > This has astounded my friend who has a Magnum with the larger 6
> > > cylinder. He gets less than 20 mpg on the highway, also running 89
> > > octane. And, of course, it's way better than the Dodge Ram trucks get
> > > with their 5.7L, which is a different engine.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Dan > wrote in message >. ..
> Just got back from a weekend trip. Here's my stats for highway
> mileage on the Magnum RT 5.7L "Hemi":
>
> 21.51 mpg and 21.48 mpg on two tanks of 89 octane
>
> This was about 75 percent interstate, running around 80; 15 percent
> four-lane divided highway, running 65 or 70; and 10 percent two-lane
> running 50, then wide open throttle to 75 when passing, numerous
> times.
>
> Trip was about 315 miles each way, which is about one tank each way.
>
> This has astounded my friend who has a Magnum with the larger 6
> cylinder. He gets less than 20 mpg on the highway, also running 89
> octane. And, of course, it's way better than the Dodge Ram trucks get
> with their 5.7L, which is a different engine.


It's a little better. I have an '03 3/4 ton with the hemi, and it's
getting about 17-18 in high speed freeway driving, like around 80. In
town, the mileage is much worse, between 12 and 13. I read a writeup
in Car Craft on the '04 hemi. It turns off 4 of the cylinders when the
power isn't needed. I don't think Dodge would put that system in a
truck. I think the greater wind resistance and weight would compromise
its usefulness.

Ken

Dan > wrote in message >. ..
> Just got back from a weekend trip. Here's my stats for highway
> mileage on the Magnum RT 5.7L "Hemi":
>
> 21.51 mpg and 21.48 mpg on two tanks of 89 octane
>
> This was about 75 percent interstate, running around 80; 15 percent
> four-lane divided highway, running 65 or 70; and 10 percent two-lane
> running 50, then wide open throttle to 75 when passing, numerous
> times.
>
> Trip was about 315 miles each way, which is about one tank each way.
>
> This has astounded my friend who has a Magnum with the larger 6
> cylinder. He gets less than 20 mpg on the highway, also running 89
> octane. And, of course, it's way better than the Dodge Ram trucks get
> with their 5.7L, which is a different engine.


It's a little better. I have an '03 3/4 ton with the hemi, and it's
getting about 17-18 in high speed freeway driving, like around 80. In
town, the mileage is much worse, between 12 and 13. I read a writeup
in Car Craft on the '04 hemi. It turns off 4 of the cylinders when the
power isn't needed. I don't think Dodge would put that system in a
truck. I think the greater wind resistance and weight would compromise
its usefulness.

Ken

"Jack Carter" > wrote in message >...

I don't consider that too surprising. A friend of mine has an '01
Trans Am with the six speed, and on a trip last year to LA, he
averaged 28 mpg. It's that steep overdrive in sixth; the motor runs
barely above idle.

Ken

> Not bad, but just for comparison's sake, that's about 7 or 8 mpg LESS than
> what my 405hp Z06 Vette gets under about the same conditions. NO FLAMING,
> please. I LIKE the RT and have been trying to negotiate with a dealer to buy
> one. But he's just not willing to deal. And, considering the laws of supply
> and demand, I guess I don't blame him.
>
>
>
> "Dan" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Just got back from a weekend trip. Here's my stats for highway
> > mileage on the Magnum RT 5.7L "Hemi":
> >
> > 21.51 mpg and 21.48 mpg on two tanks of 89 octane
> >
> > This was about 75 percent interstate, running around 80; 15 percent
> > four-lane divided highway, running 65 or 70; and 10 percent two-lane
> > running 50, then wide open throttle to 75 when passing, numerous
> > times.
> >
> > Trip was about 315 miles each way, which is about one tank each way.
> >
> > This has astounded my friend who has a Magnum with the larger 6
> > cylinder. He gets less than 20 mpg on the highway, also running 89
> > octane. And, of course, it's way better than the Dodge Ram trucks get
> > with their 5.7L, which is a different engine.

"Jack Carter" > wrote in message >...

I don't consider that too surprising. A friend of mine has an '01
Trans Am with the six speed, and on a trip last year to LA, he
averaged 28 mpg. It's that steep overdrive in sixth; the motor runs
barely above idle.

Ken

> Not bad, but just for comparison's sake, that's about 7 or 8 mpg LESS than
> what my 405hp Z06 Vette gets under about the same conditions. NO FLAMING,
> please. I LIKE the RT and have been trying to negotiate with a dealer to buy
> one. But he's just not willing to deal. And, considering the laws of supply
> and demand, I guess I don't blame him.
>
>
>
> "Dan" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Just got back from a weekend trip. Here's my stats for highway
> > mileage on the Magnum RT 5.7L "Hemi":
> >
> > 21.51 mpg and 21.48 mpg on two tanks of 89 octane
> >
> > This was about 75 percent interstate, running around 80; 15 percent
> > four-lane divided highway, running 65 or 70; and 10 percent two-lane
> > running 50, then wide open throttle to 75 when passing, numerous
> > times.
> >
> > Trip was about 315 miles each way, which is about one tank each way.
> >
> > This has astounded my friend who has a Magnum with the larger 6
> > cylinder. He gets less than 20 mpg on the highway, also running 89
> > octane. And, of course, it's way better than the Dodge Ram trucks get
> > with their 5.7L, which is a different engine.

Dan > wrote in message >. ..
> On 26 Oct 2004 14:38:29 -0700,
> (AntwainBarbour) wrote:
>
> >Sounds to me like this thing got a lot better mpg than you all thought
> >it would. My car is a guzzler right now, so those numbers look great
> >to me. Ride nice on the highway?
>
> Very. The seats are comfortable, and the ride is great.
>
> I did notice that the car has tendency to pull ever so slightly to the
> right. Another Magnum owner has told me that this is a common
> problem, and that the dealers are doing alignments to correct this.

I heard that it's a very comfortable ride. Plus, it sounds like there
is a lot of leg and head room. I'm 6'4", it'd be okay for me?