Passed safety/emissions and went on a trip which was 260 miles each way. The verdict was 28.2 mpg on the way up, and a whopping 33.8 mpg on the way back. With fuel being as expensive as it is, it's a good thing the Maxima can hang at 75 mph on cruise and deliver some mpgs. Cleaned K&N seems to last for a little but the mileage dips after only 5K or so. Think 5-speed / cruise control is the way to go.

We also took my buddy's 2001 Sentra on a 1000 mile trip and it delivered about 36 mpg highway (auto), so the Max really does well considering it's got about 63 more hp. The Sentra is a decent car, even has stuff that the 4th gen doesn't. The A/C light doesn't go on when you hit the defrost, even though the a/c is running. Isn't that smart? Also, with the new rear-glass mounting you don't get those annoying drip marks over the rear quarters when you clean the rear glass at the filling station. Sometimes one has to wonder, is a Maxima really worth ten grand more than a Sentra? Maybe in the old days, but the new one is a pretty solidly built car. Guess the 2002 Altima is Nissan's chosen one.

 

I got like 32 mpg once on a 160 mile trip. I had the cruise on 70 mph.

 

highest ive gotten was 28 mpg on a 400 mile (each way)trip but i wasnt going a steady speed the whole way. varied from 45 mph stretches to 70 mph stretches. that same trip i got pulled over for going 76 in a 45. that was probably one of the scariest moments in my life. the cop said that was an automatic loss of my license but he changed it to 60 in a 45 because he rules.

 

i get about 21-22 mpg, but thats city pizza delivery leadfoot mileage...hehe.

 

So putting the car in cruise on the highway will give me better fuel mileage??

 

definitely. it hardly uses any fuel to keep a car moving. acceleration is what eats the most gas. i get about 21 normally and about 28 on trips