Mileage dilemma

[knotwerk]

I don't know what some of you people expect for gas milage out of a 4000lb SUV. Seriously, to say gas milage is crap is either an exageration, or a total lack of experience. I average 17-18 around town in mine, and I've seen as high as 24mpg on the highway. And I do it regularly. Honestly, what more do you want out of something this size? I just took a 350+mile trip over the week-end, with mixed driving and got 22mpg while running the A/C the whole time. If you think that's inefficient, get in a 4.3L equipped GM vehicle, with less power, and much worse gas milage(most people I know with 4.3's report 12-15mpg, with nobody getting their rated 22mpg highway rating), or a 4.0L Ford engine, with larger displacement and slightly worse gas milage. Both my OHV 4.0 Fords could barely crack 16mpg on the highway, and my SOHC 4.0 Ford could get 21 on it's best day. All three with larger displacements and less power than the 3.7L.

If you want efficiency go get a car...or a Ford Escape...just expect to sacrifice in other categories...like capability.

As far as brakes go....I replaced the original pads on all four corners of mine at 43k miles...their crap? Whatever...

I've come to the conclusion that when most people complain about gas milage and brakes.....what's to blame is mostly their driving habits.

i agree hole heartedly.... i just filled my tank for the first time after driving all weekend...(just picked mine up thursday 04 limited) .. and I love it 45 bucks to fill the tank!... thats half of what it took to fill the tank in my truck. My f150 was getting 10mpg at the most now that i see this thing getting 19-23 (thats what ive been averaging in mixed driving) ... I seriously changed my driving habits while driving a large gas guzzling truck. hardly ever wanted to hit the gas, and it was like stopping a freight train so i always slowed early. Now that I carry these traits over it seems to be helping in the smaller vehicle. of course this thing is fun to drive, so we'll see how long that lasts.

Mike