My mileage log...

[Colin]

I've been driving my Sambar daily for a while now - here's the mileage data I've recorded:

http://www.gassavers.org/garage/view/666

http://www.gassavers.org/garage/viewgaslog/666?

My commute is about 15 miles, more than 10 of which are highway miles (~60 mph.) I always see people claim 40 mpg with these trucks - here's a little more realistic data for road driving. I bet if someone were to keep idle time to a minimum and toodle around town or stay below 40 mph on their farm or ranch, they could easily top that figure. :)

Colin

[Acerguy]

Heh. I see you've named it the Minimog. I arrived at that same term a while back when I first started looking at these. A mini Unimog indeed! :D

[Colin]

Yeah, now I just need some knobby tires, a winch, and some auxiliary lighting to bolster the "Minimog's" offroad uhh... street cred. :p

Colin

[Wolfman]

Cool log. I do hope I pull higher mileage figures than what you seem to be getting, when I get mine on the road.

[Colin]

Unless the gearing is significantly taller (numerically lower) in the Daihatsu, don't get your hopes up. I haven't got a tachometer in my truck, but I suspect it's turning 4,000 RPM or better at 65 mph. Like I said, though, if you live in town and keep it below 40 mph, you'll probably do 40 mpg or better. High RPMs kill fuel economy.

Who am I to complain, though? My daily driver gets twice the mileage of most peoples' trucks, it gets comments and jaw-dropping reactions everywhere I drive it, and chicks dig it. :D

Colin

[Wolfman]

I tend to keep to a top speed of 55. That said, the first right hand turn off of my road, is a 60 mph posted county road. So, I don't forsee myself keeping it under 40 pretty much anywhere I go.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was indeed turning 4k rpm at 65. The little Geo Metros wound up pretty good on the highway. They were still able to keep well into 40 mpg territory, and without too much efford, exceed 50.

I'll see where I land mileage wise, once I start driving it. Where ever that is, it'll still be MUCH better than the upper teens from the F150.

I was expecting to take about a month to get mine plated. After another talk this morning to the other TX driver, it looks like my primary hurdle is going to be getting it insured. I'm working with his agent, since they are already insuring one, and AIG wanted me to clear cut a forest with extra paperwork. With any luck, I should have plates on it in a couple of days.

[stdavid]

I've been driving my Sambar daily for a while now - here's the mileage data I've recorded:

http://www.gassavers.org/garage/view/666

http://www.gassavers.org/garage/viewgaslog/666?

My commute is about 15 miles, more than 10 of which are highway miles (~60 mph.) I always see people claim 40 mpg with these trucks - here's a little more realistic data for road driving. I bet if someone were to keep idle time to a minimum and toodle around town or stay below 40 mph on their farm or ranch, they could easily top that figure. :)

Colin

Those knobby tires will only make you mileage worse. Are you keeping a really clean air filter etc in you engine?
Thanks for your info:)

[Colin]

I haven't recorded my mileage since mounting the snow tires. The filter is clean.

I stopped logging my mileage a while ago because I cracked the outlet nipple on the fuel tank... it seeps slightly at the moment. Haven't found the time to drop the tank, cleanse it, and weld an NPT bung in place.

Colin

[miniMOG]

Yeah, now I just need some knobby tires, a winch, and some auxiliary lighting to bolster the "Minimog's" offroad uhh... street cred. :p

Colin

Hi Guys- Just kinda stumbled across you, and thought I would register and let you know the name of my business is Liberty miniMOG! Been in the import biz for 15 yrs, and been selling trucks under the miniMOG name for about 4 yrs. Sorry for the hijack- thought you might be interested.

Have a good one!

www.libertyminimog.com

[Colin]

Oh, cool. You can have the name - my truck isn't exactly living up to it anyway. :p

[unclejemima]

I haven't got a tachometer in my truck, but I suspect it's turning 4,000 RPM or better at 65 mph.
Colin

Thou I drive a Honda acty, its a 5spd(not 4spd) and I assume the gearing is similar. I have a tach in mine, and at 60mp/h it rev's about 5300rpm. You have to remember these trucks are 660cc 3cyl, so a whopping 220cc per jug, pretty small. Most 660cc 4wd quads have a hard time doing 60mph, and are turning pretty high rpm as well, and thats usually a single cylinder!!! These things aren't exactly torque pigs!
Regardless, max redline is 7500rpm on the Acty, so 5200rpm leaves quite a bit to go, thou i usually dont rev past 4500rpm when driving normally.
Take care,
-mark

[Colin]

The Sambar is only displacing 165cc/cylinder. :p