Best fuel mileage?

john chesnut · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 02:21 PM

Yes, I know that owning a Cobra is not about economy or fuel mileage. But, I was shocked when I checked my fuel mileage this weekend. I filled my tank in Grantham, NH Saturday night. My son drove my Cobra to our home in the Adirondacks of NY. He followed me while I drove the truck and car trailer. We were on freeway to Burlington, Vt. Secondary roads from there to our home in Elizabethtown, NY. (Took a ferry, but DIDN'T count those miles).
On Saturday morning my wife and I drove the Cobra to Ticonderoga, NY and meet up with a cool group of VT Cobra owners for a day trip through the Adirondacks. I filled the car in Ticonderoga and it took 5 gallons even. I couldn't squeeze in another drop. That is 190 miles on 5 gallons! 38mpg!

My car has a Shell Valley body. I built the frame. The drivetrain is 2003 Z06 vette. I used the stock 405hp LS6 engine, stock 3:42 diff, and vette suspension narrowed to fit the Cobra. The trans is a double overdrive T56 from a Camaro.

My car is plenty fast for me, handles great, the fuel efficiency is a bonus.

twobjshelbys · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 03:33 PM

I get 20+ on the freeway when going in 5th at 75 +/-. Roush 427IR fuel injected. This is mountains around here so it's always going up or down, rarely flat.

Silverback51 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 04:17 PM

Last year on vacation I averaged 8.5 MPG for the trip.

Guess I will not win any awards, but I do get a personal Christmas card from OPEC.

fordracing65 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 05:38 PM

26 mpg, 80 mph, 6th gear, 1700rpm, ford racing t50 cammer

twin turbo · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 05:43 PM

That is amazing. I know the newer vettes can get high 20's mpg. I would think the lighter weight of the Cobra would be handicapped by the significantly inferior aerodynamics. Just doesn't seem to add up. Cheers.

Cobrajames · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 05:51 PM

I am averaging 13 mpg in my SB 427 with TKO600(.82 5th) and 3.46(?) BTR rear end. About half and half street/highway. Not much to brag about.

Got the Bug · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrajames

I am averaging 13 mpg in my SB 427 with TKO600(.82 5th) and 3.46(?) BTR rear end. About half and half street/highway. Not much to brag about.

Pretty much the same set-up. 13 mpg on the freeway is about the best I've gotten from my Roush 402 SR/TW. My BMW diesel does a bit better. I got nearly 37 mpg recently driving from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara.

fordracing65 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john chesnut

Yes, I know that owning a Cobra is not about economy or fuel mileage. But, I was shocked when I checked my fuel mileage this weekend. I filled my tank in Grantham, NH Saturday night. My son drove my Cobra to our home in the Adirondacks of NY. He followed me while I drove the truck and car trailer. We were on freeway to Burlington, Vt. Secondary roads from there to our home in Elizabethtown, NY. (Took a ferry, but DIDN'T count those miles).
On Saturday morning my wife and I drove the Cobra to Ticonderoga, NY and meet up with a cool group of VT Cobra owners for a day trip through the Adirondacks. I filled the car in Ticonderoga and it took 5 gallons even. I couldn't squeeze in another drop. That is 190 miles on 5 gallons! 38mpg!

My car has a Shell Valley body. I built the frame. The drivetrain is 2003 Z06 vette. I used the stock 405hp LS6 engine, stock 3:42 diff, and vette suspension narrowed to fit the Cobra. The trans is a double overdrive T56 from a Camaro.

My car is plenty fast for me, handles great, the fuel efficiency is a bonus.

Your getting better mpg than a honda civic with 130 stock hp , your gauge is wrong.

terry mason · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 06:18 PM

Took a trip out old 66 and up the Pacific Coast highway a couple of years ago and averaged 21mph. slab side with a 302 roller motor and t-5 3:5 9" 7500 miles in 31 days.
Great Trip!

terry mason · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 06:21 PM

Took a trip out old 66 and up the Pacific Coast highway a couple of years ago and averaged 21mph. slab side with a 302 roller motor and t-5 3:5 9" 7500 miles in 31 days.
Great Trip!

Dwight · #11 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 06:39 PM

last June I checked my mileage on the trip to London Cobra Show, 1130 miles. I got a little over 20 mpg.
I have a stroked 302 fuel injected making 400 rear wheel horsepower.

I think I would have got better but I drove 300 miles in the rain to get home, but I saved a little by getting blackballed on Main Street on my first run.

Dwight

mdross1 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-16-2011, 06:38 AM

I don't remember ever checking milage.Maybe I just don't want to know.Course it would not matter what it is, the fun factor is over the top.Know for certain the motor is running at peak efficiency thats all that matters to me.

Silverback51 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-16-2011, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdross1

I don't remember ever checking milage.Maybe I just don't want to know.Course it would not matter what it is, the fun factor is over the top.Know for certain the motor is running at peak efficiency thats all that matters to me.

I'm with you. The only reason I knew mine from the trip was because I had my credit card records, and I wrote down the mileage at the beginning and end of the trip.

PDUB · #14 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry mason

Took a trip out old 66 and up the Pacific Coast highway a couple of years ago and averaged 21mph. slab side with a 302 roller motor and t-5 3:5 9" 7500 miles in 31 days.
Great Trip!

Dude, you need a real Cobra engine to get that speed up a lil' bit

!

7500 miles in 31 days... that's like 11.5hrs a day behind the wheel at that speed... you must have had a sore

!

YerDugliness · #15 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 08:17 PM

Last time I checked I was getting around 24 mpg. My Cobra has what I THINK is a box-stock '89 5.0HO/WC T-5 from an '89 Mustang GT, 9" 3.70 gears with posi. I actually like the way it sounds at about 65 mph in that 5th gear (.63 OD, I think) with earmuffs on, smooth, a low pitched rumble with enough "snarl" to make it interesting, so I probably spend most of my time around 65 mph on the highway. In town I drive it like a wimp, don't like the way the red car attracts the attention of every lawman within sight, but once I turn onto the highway, I drive it like I suspect most of us drive....in what I would call "...a spirited manner

".

Cheers, Dugly

Zoom This · #16 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 08:29 PM

Drove my SPF on a 3k mile, 8-day road trip last year from Washington state to Canada, Wyoming, Montana etc., etc. I averaged 16 mpg for the whole trip. Montana highway speeds were 90-100 mph. Car has a 418W, 550 hp, Tremec 5 speed OD. Car has gotten 18-20 mpg on the freeway at 70 mph. Around town?....8-10 mpg.

Dirty Harry · #17 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 08:52 PM

13-16 in mixed driving, 22 on the interstate, fairly mild 358 with 3.25 gears

Jimeg · #18 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 07:53 AM

Gentlemen, nothing wrong with getting good fuel economy, I envy you guys. I have clocked 2,200 mi on my Roush 427SR/TW 515hp. and the best I get on all all highway trips is 12.6 mpg. Around town I'm getting around 8 mpg.

jhv48 · #19 (**permalink**) 10-11-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimeg

Gentlemen, nothing wrong with getting good fuel economy, I envy you guys. I have clocked 2,200 mi on my Roush 427SR/TW 515hp. and the best I get on all all highway trips is 12.6 mpg. Around town I'm getting around 8 mpg.

Same as mine. Everyone else (other than the 302's) are lying.

Jerry Clayton · #20 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 08:00 AM

So John is the only one that drafted a truck and trailer close and used a ferry???