f5fstop
09-08-2005, 10:57 AM
On my recent trip to TN and back to MI, I kept careful records of the fuel used; I will say I was pleasantly surprised.
With a full tank of gas, I drove approximately 50 miles of city roads, hitting every light on one 12-mile stretch of local roads in Rochester Hills/Troy MI, then interstate driving at approximately 70-75 miles per hour through MI and Indiana. This leg of the trip was driven without A/C but all four windows were open about 1 inch and the sunroof was fully opened.
Fuel level remaining, ¼ tank, 279.4 miles driven, 16.372 gallons = 17.065 mpg.
From Indian to TN, vehicle was driven with A/C on, speeds ranging from 75 to 85 (I have a heavy foot and know where it is safe to “slightly” speed in TN, besides I was keeping up with traffic). This leg included some very light traffic on the Indianapolis bypass.
Fuel level remaining at fill-up, E (and I mean empty), 374.3 miles driven, 20.733 gallons = 18.053 mpg. Yes, I was on fumes, if the tank only holds 21 gallons.
Combination city/highway driving in and around TN. From where I was staying to actual city driving consisted of a two-lane, very hilly, and curvy state road with a 55 mph speed limit. Whether or not I could travel this speed depended on how many slow driving pick-up trucks were in front of me. Some minor heavy city driving in Franklin TN and Columbia TN. About 50/50 with air on or off.
Fuel level remaining at fill-up, ¼ tank, 235.6 miles driven, 14.855 gallons = 15.859 mpg.
First leg of return trip started with about 30 miles of country road, but fairly flat, the interstate; all with the A/C on. Speeds again were averaging about 75 mph, with some areas hitting 80.
Fuel level remaining, E, 378.8 miles driven, 20.091 gallons = 18.854 mpg.
Next leg was short since I wanted to fill-up prior to leaving IN, and having to pay Michigan’s ridiculous prices for fuel. This leg of the journey had some stop and go thanks to IN road construction through Fort Wayne.
Do not remember how much fuel remained, but I traveled 139.5 miles, 7.754 gallons = 17.990 mpg.
Problems (but nothing to complain to the dealer):
First thing I will comment on is the LOW FUEL indicator…it sucks. On my first EMPTY fill-up, the light had just come on, and it appears I had less than half a tank of fuel. On my second EMPTY fill-up, the indicator had not come on, and I had less than one gallon remaining. This might be a problem with the BCM program, and I will be calling someone in regard to this.
(Yes, I was foolish to run the fuel down this low, but I was curious as to when the low fuel indicator would come on. I was prepared to use OnStar to call the Hummer assistance number for some fuel.)
Would like more room between the door handle and the steering wheel so that I can bend my left leg while driving. Right now my knee is wedged between the handle and the wheel.
Speedometer is off 2 mph, per my GPS. However, it is on the safe side, so that when I have the cruise set at 80 mph, my GPS shows 78 mph. This is well within the range spec given by the Federal Government, and at least it won’t get you in trouble and cause you to speed.
Notes on vehicle (no complaints):
In regard to performance, yes the vehicle is rather gutless at trying to pass at 70 mph or above, but when merging from rest areas and fuel stops, the vehicle held its own. No, it is not a Corvette, but it is adequate; especially considering how much weight is being propelled by the engine. It does downshift a lot when heading up a hill, but that is to be expected.
The H3 handles quite well on the Interstate, as well as the hilly and curvy TN roads. Again, not a Corvette when handling the curves. Tracks straight, no vibrations up to 85.3 (highest recorded speed on my GPS).
Surprises:
I was pleasantly surprised by the fuel mileage considering the speeds and conditions I was driving in (A/C on). The engine only has a little over 2000 miles and in my opinion is not broken in. I would guess it would be easy to obtain the rated 19-mpg, if I drove at around 60, with the A/C off, and cruise control set on a flat highway. I will probably never drive like this, so I will be happy with the 18 mpg (almost 19 on one leg).
This is my first SUV and I loved it (I don’t consider my Wrangler an SUV). I will have to purchase a car carrier for trips to Utah, since my 4-month old Malamute puppy pretty much took up the entire back end, and I take one large rolling camera bag and two large shoulder bags, as well as clothes. The front D-Rings are great to attach the dog’s leash to while washing the front windows. As flying insects increased; further south I traveled, the more I had to clean the windshield at every rest stop. This was expected, and I travel with a towel and a can of Stoner’s windshield cleaner. Not sure how a short person will reach the center of the windshield, since I could just reach it comfortably at 6’2”.
My handgun in my right-side strong-sided holster did not rub against the console as it did in my Corvette.
So much for my first trip in the Hummer.
Just a note on some of the comments received.
All were very complimentary, including one from a person driving a new H1 Alpha I parked next to in Franklin TN. He really like the H3, but would not trade. One person who was following me in TN on I-40, pulled into the rest area and made a comment about the vehicle did not appear to be “under powered,” considering the speeds I was traveling. One Jeep owner was very curious as to the comfort of the ride, and how it did off-road. Could only comment on the comfort and referred him to many of the onsite and magazine write-ups on the off-road capabilities.
Only one bad comment in an Indiana rest stop from a “large” woman driving an Insight (still trying to figure out how she fit in that little car). She asked me if I felt bad driving a vehicle that only gets 10 mpg and uses all “our” valuable resources. I explained she had no idea what she is talking about, since at that time I had figured out I was getting at lease 17 mpg…. NOT 10. I also told her I would drive what I wanted, and didn’t care what she thought. Tried to stop the conversation then, since I had to get to the rest room, but she continued to make comments so I was forced to look at her and ask her if she had a problem eating up enough resources to feed a family of four for two-days, just to keep her oversized body in the same shape. This did result in a F-U for a reply but a large smile on my face as I walked to the rest room; with a quick, reply that I had her license plate number…just in case she was thinking of doing something.
With a full tank of gas, I drove approximately 50 miles of city roads, hitting every light on one 12-mile stretch of local roads in Rochester Hills/Troy MI, then interstate driving at approximately 70-75 miles per hour through MI and Indiana. This leg of the trip was driven without A/C but all four windows were open about 1 inch and the sunroof was fully opened.
Fuel level remaining, ¼ tank, 279.4 miles driven, 16.372 gallons = 17.065 mpg.
From Indian to TN, vehicle was driven with A/C on, speeds ranging from 75 to 85 (I have a heavy foot and know where it is safe to “slightly” speed in TN, besides I was keeping up with traffic). This leg included some very light traffic on the Indianapolis bypass.
Fuel level remaining at fill-up, E (and I mean empty), 374.3 miles driven, 20.733 gallons = 18.053 mpg. Yes, I was on fumes, if the tank only holds 21 gallons.
Combination city/highway driving in and around TN. From where I was staying to actual city driving consisted of a two-lane, very hilly, and curvy state road with a 55 mph speed limit. Whether or not I could travel this speed depended on how many slow driving pick-up trucks were in front of me. Some minor heavy city driving in Franklin TN and Columbia TN. About 50/50 with air on or off.
Fuel level remaining at fill-up, ¼ tank, 235.6 miles driven, 14.855 gallons = 15.859 mpg.
First leg of return trip started with about 30 miles of country road, but fairly flat, the interstate; all with the A/C on. Speeds again were averaging about 75 mph, with some areas hitting 80.
Fuel level remaining, E, 378.8 miles driven, 20.091 gallons = 18.854 mpg.
Next leg was short since I wanted to fill-up prior to leaving IN, and having to pay Michigan’s ridiculous prices for fuel. This leg of the journey had some stop and go thanks to IN road construction through Fort Wayne.
Do not remember how much fuel remained, but I traveled 139.5 miles, 7.754 gallons = 17.990 mpg.
Problems (but nothing to complain to the dealer):
First thing I will comment on is the LOW FUEL indicator…it sucks. On my first EMPTY fill-up, the light had just come on, and it appears I had less than half a tank of fuel. On my second EMPTY fill-up, the indicator had not come on, and I had less than one gallon remaining. This might be a problem with the BCM program, and I will be calling someone in regard to this.
(Yes, I was foolish to run the fuel down this low, but I was curious as to when the low fuel indicator would come on. I was prepared to use OnStar to call the Hummer assistance number for some fuel.)
Would like more room between the door handle and the steering wheel so that I can bend my left leg while driving. Right now my knee is wedged between the handle and the wheel.
Speedometer is off 2 mph, per my GPS. However, it is on the safe side, so that when I have the cruise set at 80 mph, my GPS shows 78 mph. This is well within the range spec given by the Federal Government, and at least it won’t get you in trouble and cause you to speed.
Notes on vehicle (no complaints):
In regard to performance, yes the vehicle is rather gutless at trying to pass at 70 mph or above, but when merging from rest areas and fuel stops, the vehicle held its own. No, it is not a Corvette, but it is adequate; especially considering how much weight is being propelled by the engine. It does downshift a lot when heading up a hill, but that is to be expected.
The H3 handles quite well on the Interstate, as well as the hilly and curvy TN roads. Again, not a Corvette when handling the curves. Tracks straight, no vibrations up to 85.3 (highest recorded speed on my GPS).
Surprises:
I was pleasantly surprised by the fuel mileage considering the speeds and conditions I was driving in (A/C on). The engine only has a little over 2000 miles and in my opinion is not broken in. I would guess it would be easy to obtain the rated 19-mpg, if I drove at around 60, with the A/C off, and cruise control set on a flat highway. I will probably never drive like this, so I will be happy with the 18 mpg (almost 19 on one leg).
This is my first SUV and I loved it (I don’t consider my Wrangler an SUV). I will have to purchase a car carrier for trips to Utah, since my 4-month old Malamute puppy pretty much took up the entire back end, and I take one large rolling camera bag and two large shoulder bags, as well as clothes. The front D-Rings are great to attach the dog’s leash to while washing the front windows. As flying insects increased; further south I traveled, the more I had to clean the windshield at every rest stop. This was expected, and I travel with a towel and a can of Stoner’s windshield cleaner. Not sure how a short person will reach the center of the windshield, since I could just reach it comfortably at 6’2”.
My handgun in my right-side strong-sided holster did not rub against the console as it did in my Corvette.
So much for my first trip in the Hummer.
Just a note on some of the comments received.
All were very complimentary, including one from a person driving a new H1 Alpha I parked next to in Franklin TN. He really like the H3, but would not trade. One person who was following me in TN on I-40, pulled into the rest area and made a comment about the vehicle did not appear to be “under powered,” considering the speeds I was traveling. One Jeep owner was very curious as to the comfort of the ride, and how it did off-road. Could only comment on the comfort and referred him to many of the onsite and magazine write-ups on the off-road capabilities.
Only one bad comment in an Indiana rest stop from a “large” woman driving an Insight (still trying to figure out how she fit in that little car). She asked me if I felt bad driving a vehicle that only gets 10 mpg and uses all “our” valuable resources. I explained she had no idea what she is talking about, since at that time I had figured out I was getting at lease 17 mpg…. NOT 10. I also told her I would drive what I wanted, and didn’t care what she thought. Tried to stop the conversation then, since I had to get to the rest room, but she continued to make comments so I was forced to look at her and ask her if she had a problem eating up enough resources to feed a family of four for two-days, just to keep her oversized body in the same shape. This did result in a F-U for a reply but a large smile on my face as I walked to the rest room; with a quick, reply that I had her license plate number…just in case she was thinking of doing something.