MPG in a Auto....

[beegee]

Hi

I have not fully looked into this as yet so dont shoot me down...

My sis's 1988 900 Aero Turbo which is an auto apparently is only getting around 20mpg...about 340kms per tank, she's only doing fairly short trips in it but running it on BP Ultimate and the car is in pretty good nick. My one's same but a manual (thank god!) gets around 420kms a tank on the same stuff. I did notice last time I drove it that the Turbo gauge was not reaching round any further the vertical but she reckons thats just the gauge.

Is this really bad for an auto?

[philbert]

I have four automatics, all turbos. My '87 gets 26-27 mpg, the others get 22-23 mpg. It doesn't seem to make any difference as to the type of driving that's done (city vs. highway). This is of course US gallons too remember.

[arouch]

I get at least 400km per tank and up to 440km if I stretch it or get a few more highway kms in. 45 litres to 55 (yellow light).

My GPS says average speed while moving is about 45km/hour and overall average is about 35km/hour. I have a 25km commute one way so about 25% of my trip time is stationary.

This is a 1990 auto Turbo convertible.

[jameschong]

The consumption is around 12-13 litres per 100km. I use the A/C 50% of the time, and it's mainly an urban cycle.

The vert is heavy to start with, and driving with the roof down, especially fast, is terrible for fuel economy, thanks to the poor aerodynamics.

[16saabs]

the poor?? mpg is down solely to the gbox. 3rd/drive in an auto saab is only equivelant(approx) to 4th gear in a 5spped manual. my first saab was a carb 4 spped got 25-26 max even on a steady journey,my wife has a 900vert lpt auto and 25-26 is the best we ever get yet the 5 speed lpt vert i have gets 32+ best, and my 900 5dr i had(5speed) was 33+ all the time unless driven really hard.
i believe there is no room to put a bigger drive gear etc, and some cars have a 4th, but normally they are rear wheel drive like the xjs auto we had 30+mpg cruising in 4th 60-70mph for a 3.8 ltr MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.