i was wonderign the same thing, we gotta get mythbusters on this and their fuel cell to prove this myth

 

This could be related to the torque curve of the engine versus the gearing. My friend used to have a 99 Mitsubishi Mirage. It would get 35mpg at 60mph, but 41mpg at 70mph. Some engines literally need to be deeper into their torque curve to get their best gas mileage. The best way I can explain it is that the engine is working harder to create enough power to maintain its speed (especially on inclines) at a lower RPM, whereas it makes enough power not to strain at a higher RPM. I've never tried experimenting on either of my Z's, because I always assumed that the VQ made enough low-end torque for this to be a non-issue while cruising.

 

^^^^^ Hmm I learn new things everyday. Wow, and I have always shifted at around 2k when not doing spirited driving... I will try shifting at like 3k and cruise at 3-4k and post back results as opposed to 2k shifts and 2k rpm cruise. Will report back

 

I was thinking the H style exhaust pipes.. since they connect at the centre to form an H, or i guess X

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The engine "works" less to keep the car up to speed.

 

The souls screaming from the honda engines they melted down to build the VQ.....

-J

 

I always really wondered too...thanks

I agree, boxers have a distinct note just like the VQ does. It deffinitly doesnt sound bad what so ever but its not as refined as a VQ like someone said before...it sound like a muscle car...in fact i believe better than a muscle car

hahaha yes!

 

I can't figure out what gives Spork such his girly looks and figure

 

Nissan made sure that there was just the right amount of cowbell when they were designing the VQ...

 

You, sir.

Win epicly.

I have an Invidia G200 exhaust with a JWT Pop Charger on mine, and although it's LOADS deeper than the stock sound you still get a vague whiff of VQ-ness when you smash your foot into the carpet. Still sounds great, don't get me wrong, but It's a bit.... American Muscle-ish for my taste. After I finish stocking up on drift stuff a new exhaust is going to be next on my list.

 

It sounds dope thats all i know

 

Just when i thought of not getting rid of my z a new reason to get rid of my z now has arrived............"bubbly whop"

 

Well i did the test yesterday and my car did not get better MPG. I do about 30% city and 70% highway and avg cruise speed of 65 mph (5th gear), shifting at 3k rpm. I got 21.9. I used to get 23.0 mpg shifting at 2k and cruising in 6th. Today I decided to get cruise at ~70 mph in 6th gear and it increased my mpg to around 25 mpg. So my conclusion is that shifting and cruising at 2.5k is idea.

I have no idea why you get better mpg than me.

 

I noticed the mpg start to drop when cruising at 3-4k in city driving.

 

Here are my personal observations about gas mileage with this car:

My 05 base model w/6mt got about 21-22mpg around town when I shifted between 2500 and 3000 rpms. It originally got 28mpg on the highway at 70mph, 6th gear of course. Once I installed a plenum spacer, I got 29.5-30mpg at 70mph on the highway. This is with stock wheels and stock tires sizes (225/50/17 front, 235/50/17 rear).

My 07 touring w/6mt gets about 20-21mpg around town while shifting between 2500 and 3000 rpms. It gets 27-28mpg highway at 70, 6th gear of course. Rarely do I actually see a solid 28mpg. Usually in the 27.2ish range. This is with the stock 18-inch touring wheels, stock front tire size (225/45/18), and 255/45/18 rears. I got about the same mileage with my stock rear tires too.

The thing that confuses me a bit is the fact that I got worse mileage with my HR than I did with my DE. It's not a huge difference, but definitely noticeable. My HR has a larger diameter wheel+tire combo on it, and it turns fewer RPMs on the highway at 70 than my DE did. I guess it could be the extra 200ish pounds of the car itself, or the heavier wheel+tire package. Or it could be the HR engine just using more fuel to do the same thing (or to turn a lower RPM).

I don't completely understand it. I have been tempted to get some super-lightweight wheels just to see the difference.

 

correct me if i am wrong, but wasnt the VQ engineered and built by the french? that may have to do with the european sound.

 

I doubt it, Renault just owns shares of Nissan and vice versa. I believe the VQ is engineered and built in Japan.

 

Yeah definitely something to do with the the higher RPM range for the 07 that changes the whole torque curve... No wonder people say that shifting to 6th at 40 mph would not be too good for the engine since the engine has to use more power (and more gas) to push its own weight up.

 

^^^ Wow, there's something really jacked up with my AFRs or something than, cuz I've never gotten a constant 20+ MPG. Even when stock my best MPG was 18.7 (shifting at 2.5-3k). Now after the headers/tps/cat back plus pop charger and plenum spacer I'm averaging about 15 at 2.5-3k and 17MPG at 3-4k... When I drop in my Twin Turbos later this month I'm gonna have to take out a day or 2 tuning my ECU just to see what's with my VQ guzzling gas, cuz if I don't I'm gonna be averaging like 9MPG LOL :'(

 

You're not alone, I don't get 20-21 mpg around city either... City is like 18 mpg as well. Wow, and people always claim to see an mpg increase after dropping in bolt-ons, i guess it really depends on the kind of bolt-ons.

What mpg do you get on highway?