[dynodon]

On my 300C I can see "average" MPG, but not the instant or "current" MPG. Most cars with enough computer power to figure MPG also give the instant MPG.

It really isn't of much use, but sometimes I like to know what is happening at the moment.

For instance if you take the average MPG function on the 300, and just hit RESET. YOu will get for a second or two the "instant" MPG figure as it starts averaging.

On one trip, I kept resetting the average figure to find out how the car did in certain situations.

Against a wind on the level: about 20 mpg.
Against a wind going up a slight hill? about 17-18
No wind on the level: 24-25
No wind up a slight hill: 21-22

It was pretty clear that wind and a hill dropped the car out of 4 cyl mode (hemi) and dropped the MPG drastically. any hill or wind seems to really hurt mpg. My 540i 6-speed would do instant mpg on the level no wind of 30+ and in other situations keep above 20 easily.

There are still reasons why that car cost 50G or more new, and how it can be as fast with less HP and get more MPG.

Don't get me wrong, I love the 300C better than the 540 (it was a '97 model) but I still marvel at how the Germans and Japanese deliver 300+ hp from under 5 liters and get better MPG.

Americans still have a way to go.