Dadhawk's FR-S (6AT Firestorm)

[civicdrivr]

I changed my route to/from work back in June. The direct route takes you right through the city, and there is almost always traffic. The speed limit drops from a 60mph to 55mph, yet many people travel at about 50.

I started driving around the city, approximately 17miles longer each way. Its a 70mph zone the entire trip, and takes the same amount of time. Traffic is nearly nonexistant. Cops aren't out often, and even if they are you can do about 75mph without trouble.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by RYU

I spent the last ~1500 miles on the stock 215/45/17 Primacy HP tires. My first few tank fulls yielded approx 33-34mpg babying the motor upon break-in. However, my last tank was spent with some moderate to hard canyon driving at 3000-6000ft altitude. That yielded approx 28-29mpg (not bad at all)....

I'm still running the Primacy tires, and have never really babied the car except keeping it (mostly) under 4K during break-in. One of the best tanks I had was one where I did about 60 miles of up and down hill twisties in the NC mountains but also included the remaining as highway miles.

I have been so very pleased with the mileage results. I NEVER expected to be averaging over 30MPG.

When I burn off the Primacy tires I will be changing to stickier tires so I expect it to drop a bit.

[Dadhawk]

Interesting that I just had my best tank ever (34.87 MPG) but it was all commuting. This is even better than I did on the couple of road trips I took, although admittedly my road trips were done at a speed probably above optimal.

If I had to guess, I would associate the increase to the cooler temps in Atlanta. I'm no longer running the A/C most of the time which I assume that accounts for some of it. Perhaps the cooler air and fuel would also result in some gains.

We'll see if that holds up with the next tank since the temps have been consistent through it so far.

[RYU]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Interesting that I just had my best tank ever (34.87 MPG) but it was all commuting. This is even better than I did on the couple of road trips I took, although admittedly my road trips were done at a speed probably above optimal.

If I had to guess, I would associate the increase to the cooler temps in Atlanta. I'm no longer running the A/C most of the time which I assume that accounts for some of it. Perhaps the cooler air and fuel would also result in some gains.

We'll see if that holds up with the next tank since the temps have been consistent through it so far.

Does Atlanta have the crazy concept of a Winter Gas blend like CA does? Perhaps you folks switched over like we will in a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, I have some unfavorable but somewhat expected news. I've since switched to a 245/35/18 tire in the rear Hankook Ventus V12s. I'm sure i'm running more front toe in other words more drag with not optimized alignment everywhere else. I'm now averaging about 27-29mpg. I've also been heavier on the gas since the car is *more* fun but i'm shocked my mpg has dropped so much. I was at around 30-34 during the break-in period and about 500 miles after, before switching wheels/tires and lowering it 20mm.

The alignment appt is on Thurs. I'm debating what to do with my toe. I normally run some toe in in the rear and some toe out in the front for performance purposes but I might forgo that keep toe at 0. If anyone notices this impact please share your findings.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by RYU

Does Atlanta have the crazy concept of a Winter Gas blend like CA does? Perhaps you folks switched over like we will in a couple of weeks....

You are right, we do have that in the metro Atlanta area, but I always thought winter blends resulted in lower MPG not higher. I also don't believe we've switched over yet. Of course, I've done no real research on it so can't say for sure.

It's also possible since the 86 requires premium, the summer blends are around longer at the pump since stations don't have to stop selling summer blends, they just can't get a new supply.

[Dadhawk]

(Fuel numbers updated in OP. 3rd straight tank at over 34MPG!)

I came out of work a couple of days ago to find that Skye had parked next to Olivia. From a pure looks standpoint, the Sky is one of my favorite cars GM has done in the past few years. It was on my short-list at one point until GM did away with it. Never did drive one.

Is it just me or does this look like the conversation they are having:

Skye: "Hey, I'm aggh Skye and like I'm just sooo happy to meet you.. Yea, ah ha."

Olivia: "Ugmm, yea, sure, could you move over just a little bit please? Oh and you got something right there, yea on your lip. I'm just gonna turn around now."

[Dadhawk]

Saw this in the parking lot yesterday at work and just had to take a comparison photo since its a near "color match". The new Camaro was one of the cars I was shopping when I came across the FR-S and my auto life was changed forever.

Right color but I was seriously drooling over a ZL1 so the scheme etc would not have been the same.

I still may be a non-ZL1 one day, it's the Carolina boy in me.

[Dadhawk]

(updated MPG numbers in OP)

Just had my first full tank ever with >35MPG (35.17MPG)! All commuting miles.

I think the biggest contributor is no A/C. I didn't need the A/C the entire tank since its been relatively cool in Atlanta. Either windows cracked or vents was more than enough.

Also, since my Learning2DriveHawk is using our Suburban for "training" I haven't been doing nearly as many quick errand drives in the FR-S.

[Dadhawk]

10/18 was my 160th day of ownership. Some interesting stats:

I've driven 8119.6 miles and averaged 50.79 miles per day.
I've used 251.056 gallons of fuel at 32.34MPG.
Lowest tank was 29.32, highest was 35.17.
Average cost paid for fuel was $3.73 for a total of $934.71.

At the current rate here is when I'll meet some milestones. I've fallen off my original pace shown here:

Event Miles Date
Warranty 32,000 1/31/2014
PowerTrain 60,000 8/5/2015
100,000 9/30/2017
200,000 2/20/2023
To the Moon 238,857 3/26/2025
Astro died 289,000 12/8/2027

[bestwheelbase]

Updates, @Dadhawk updates.

[Dadhawk]

Sorry, @bestwheelbase it has been a while hasn't it!

I've been traveling off and on for business the last few weeks, with a week off at Thanksgiving thrown in so more life as usual than anything else. I do have a couple of items to share though so I'll update now.

[Dadhawk]

4A4 (Cornelis Moore Field) is a small airport in NW Georgia. It's primary claim to fame is being home to a rather large jump school for parachutists in the Atlanta area.

Being obsessed with small planes, I couldn't help but drive in when I was up that way a few days ago on a leisurely drive through the country. After walking around looking at some planes and doing a little "hanger flying" with the locals I happened upon a good parking spot on my way out and took advantage of it for a photo op.

I really need to start carrying my good camera with me!

[Dadhawk]

It had been building for weeks, well really months.

I have a 15 year old, just learning to drive. He got his learner's permit about the same time I got the FR-S. Every time I picked him up or drove him somewhere the conversation was the same "Hey, when do I get to drive it" and the answer was always, "eventually".

So, in the interim SonHawk has been learning to drive in his brother's old Accord, and (primarily) in the family's Suburban.

Last Sunday, as we were leaving from Church where he had performed a particularly moving trumpet solo as part of the music that day, the question came up again.

"Ugmm, so Dad, when do I get to drive it"

I threw him the keys and said "Now's as good time as any"

He caught the keys, looked at them, looked at the car, looked at me, looked at the car again and said "Really?"

"Yep, lets go"

He ran to the driver's side, slid the seat back (he's a good 3 to 4 inches taller than me) and was ready to roll, big grin on his face.

As we pull out of the lot he get's the thumbs up from his friends, he continues to try to act cool.

It was a relatively quite ride, me giving a couple of pointers on being careful with a lighter, tighter car, him saying "I know DAD!"

When we got out about 10 minutes later, he threw me back the keys, smiled a big grin and said

"I love that car!"

I just nodded and said "Yep, me too".

[wbradley]

I have a 14 year old daughter. Thankfully, still a bit of time before she starts to drive.

More importantly, it's my son driving eventually that concerns me. Fortunately he's still 5!

I understand why you go to church Maybe I'll start going to synogogue soon.