[nonsequitur]

The full year of MINI Motoring went so quickly! Let's do this again, and have some FUN with a subject that has been beat around in this environment of US$2.40/gallon fuel, 20% higher than last year at this time.

In an attempt to take suggestions from last year, there are four separate polls and four separate threads for the 2nd Annual Gas Mileage Contest. This is so we can sort out real experience on the street in 2004. Here are the others:

MINI One D

MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper CVT, MINI Cooper JCW

MINI Cooper S, MINI Cooper S JCW

Since we're not driving an economy car, this is a CONTEST to generate honest numbers we can use to answer the most common question from those who don't know what else to ask about our cars:

What is the best gas mileage you can get with your MINI?

The contest rules:

1.
Record your AVERAGE MILES PER GALLON in the Poll,
from data on your car
generated in a continuous one-way run of ten (10) miles or more,
at a steady state speed of 60 miles per hour or more,
with the motor running and driveline engaged
(no coasting down I-80 to Sacramento!),
using OEM or aftermarket street-legal wheels and tires,
a full tank of fuel onboard,
and no heavily modified aero-bodywork
(no tail faring allowed this year either please!).

We'll get real-world numbers. The one-way run means you can collect data on a trip without retracing your 10-mile route in the opposite direction, but this creates room to cheat (so Rule 5).

2.
The MINI's computer should be used if you have it available in your car. This provides much easier calculations and accuracy because you can reset the computer while underway. This may give a slight disadvantage because most speedometers are a little "optimistic" by 2-3mph. Please validate your speedometer against freeway mileposts (60sec/mile) so you can make a confident claim.

3.
Your posted statement will be believed, so be honest with your claim!

4.
Complete the appropriate Poll option. Choose the right "box" for your calculated claim; ie "33.3mpg" is selected as "33-34".

5.
You may post in this thread with your "claim" details, if you want to be crowned the "MINI High Mileage Champion 2004 - <Category>" for your Motoring effort. Your post must include a very brief but accurate description of your attempt: Car, road location, road grade, car details, your mileage claim (in format "33.3mpg"), and any technique or tricks you used to get to that number you are claiming. Get into it, the statistics from everyone should be interesting.

6.
Winners will declared for each of the following cars:
MINI One

7.
This thread will close on July 31, 2004 to determine the results at that time, and to prepare the list of Winners which will be posted in this same thread before it is closed to further postings for 2004.

8.
Good Luck, and great mileage to you all!

MINI2 Search hit words:
Gas mileage, Petrol consumption, Fuel mileage, Fuel economy, Gas usage, efficiency