1987 Buick Regal Grand National Long-Term Road Test - MPG
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1987 Buick Grand National: Fuel Economy Update for April
May 7, 2013
We filled-up our Grand National's gas tank four times over 704 miles during the month of April. Without any additional crazy lead-foot shenanigans, our Buick's lifetime average remained a steady 15.8 mpg.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 9,952 miles
Worst Fill MPG: 8.5
Best Fill MPG: 20.6
Average Lifetime MPG: 15.8
EPA MPG Rating (City/Highway Combined): N/A
Best Range: 282 miles
Current Odometer: 9,952 miles
1987 Buick Grand National: Fuel Economy Update for March
April 2, 2013
We hit an all-time low for fuel economy in our 1987 Buick Grand National in March. It's not really fair to judge the car on this score because it was only a half-tank fill-up. But with so few fill-ups this month, I didn't want to discount the half tank.
For March we only managed to add 258 miles to our GN's odometer. We averaged 12.4 mpg for the month which dragged our lifetime average down a bit.
Worst Fill MPG: 8.5
Best Fill MPG: 20.6
Average Lifetime MPG: 15.8
EPA MPG Rating (City/Highway Combined): N/A
Best Range: 281.9 miles
Current Odometer: 9,248 miles
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
1987 Buick Grand National: Fuel Economy Update for February
March 5, 2013
With so many new test cars in and out of our garage during the past month, our 1987 Buick Grand National was a little underutilized.
After the addition of just one tank of gas, the fuel economy averages remain unchanged for February.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 9,038 miles
Worst Fill MPG: 14.0
Best Fill MPG: 20.6
Average Lifetime MPG: 16.1
EPA MPG Rating (City/Highway Combined): N/A
Best Range: 282 miles
Current Odometer: 8,810 miles
1987 Buick Grand National: Fuel Economy Update for January
February 4, 2013
Our 1987 Buick Grand National is a fuel-thirsty beast. No surprise for a car of its era, and intentions.
The Grand National managed to earn 20.6 mpg from its best tank of fuel so far, and a lowly 14 mpg from its worst tank, resulting in an average of 16.1 mpg over the life of our test.
Automotive Editor Mark Takahashi was behind the wheel for the Grand National's best tank. Read more about his recent trip to Las Vegas here.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 8,810 miles
Worst Fill MPG: 14.0
Best Fill MPG: 20.6
Average Lifetime MPG: 16.1
EPA MPG Rating (City/Highway Combined): N/A
Best Range: 282 miles
Current Odometer: 8,810 miles
1987 Buick Grand National: Las Vegas Road Trip, Part 3
January 30, 2013
It was a whirlwind trip on a number of levels. I intended to leave Las Vegas at 6:30 a.m. on Monday morning so I could meet up with Riswick, new staff writer Mark Holthoff and blast-from-the-past editor, Josh Sadlier for a round of golf in Malibu. When the clock struck 3:00 a.m. I realized I wasn't going to make my tee time and kept going. Considering the latest developments, I was quite all right with this.
We took our time leaving Las Vegas, checking out at 10:45 a.m. and hitting the road for L.A. around noon. There were a couple of pockets of traffic, but for the most part the Grand National handled the intrusion well. At one point the engine did die, causing a very brief moment of dread, but it fired right back up.
The fatigue I felt from the drive up was amplified by the revelry from the night before. It felt like my body was wrecked before we even hit Barstow. It seems that this Buick from 1987 was in better shape than I.
On the return trip to L.A., I managed to get 20.6 mpg, which represents the best tank of the trip. The worst tank was the first, from L.A. to Barstow, which registered a lowly 14.1 mpg. The average came to 17.6 mpg over the 600-mile road trip.
After all was done, I was glad for the experience and gained yet another deathbed memory. After we unload the Grand National after its Edmunds tour of duty is up, I think I'll have fond memories of this car.
Mark Takahashi, Automotive Editor @ 8,805 miles
1987 Buick Grand National: Phoenix and Back Part 2
October 27, 2012
As I already reported a few days ago I recently road tripped the Buick to Phoenix and back to Los Angeles. Well, here are the long awaited fuel economy numbers over the 1,000 mile mostly highway trip.
Best Tank: 20.5 mpg
Worst Tank: 14.0 mpg
Avg. over the trip: 17.0 mpg
Back in 1987 the EPA said the car should get 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg out on the highway.
Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief @ 7,032 miles
1987 Buick Regal Grand National: The More Things Change...
October 26, 2012
Gas is (kind of) expensive. You've likely seen it in the news. Recently I took our GN up and down the coast at varying speeds at varying levels of flooring it.
The trip took about 9 gallons of fuel which worked out to $45 bucks or so. I'd say I got $45 worth of enjoyment out of the trip, but still.
What about in 1987, though? Well according to the LA Times on July 13, 1987, gas prices spiked to over $1/gallon "for the first time in 16 months..."
Must've been rough.
Mike Magrath, Features Editor
