Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General MPG? 4cyl vs, 6 cyl

I have a '98 Mystique (for one more week) with a 4 cyl and automatic. It has 96 000km on a new engine and tranny,new plugs,wires,thermostat,recent tune up and I just got 415km to a tank of gas. Best I've ever done,and I drive it hard,just to keep up with traffic. I regularly see 350-375 to a tank,but I always fill up with about 1/4 tank left,or just under.

I always thought for a 4 cylinder,I got piss poor ecomony,but let it slide because it's an automatic and I drive the crap out of it just to keep pace with traffic. I absolutely hate the 4 cylinder in these cars. It's too underpowered for the vehicle it's in.

So that's why I bought a '95 Contour with a V6 and 5 speed. I won't complain about mileage now because it's a V6,and to me,it would be more acceptable to see 375km to a tank with heavy driving rather than in the 4 cylinder.