First off, I'm on my first fill up in my new-to-me 2000 Neon auto. I am assuming it's a 12 gal tank since I put 11.3 in it. I barely hit 75 miles on the first quarter and 125 on the first half (I was shocked the needle was off "full" at 10 miles). My Ram has exactly .5 tank at 5/8 mark. The mileage per quarter drops off fast on it (I get 75 before it comes off "full", 125 at 3/4, 200 at 1/2, 320 at E). I'm not going to have a chance to run the tank out before my wife goes out of town with it on Tuesday. 12gal @ 25mpg = 300, and since I'm only at 125 at 1/2, I know I'm not getting 25mpg. I realize it's a three speed and is running way higher at freeway speeds than it needs to, but my Accord EX coupe would get 30mpg at 172k miles (5 speed). Is there an aftermarket 4th gear I can put in, or an overdrive gear?

Are there any good performance mufflers that won't make it sound like a motorcycle (those zoom tubes are flat stupid, sorry)? I should also add that I'm looking in the <$150 price range.

 

just to let you know, the gas gauges in neons are exactly accurate.... I ran my tank bone dry until it started to stutter doing city and highway driving and got 296 miles.. that was with 20,000 miles on it. But the needle was bouncing off the stopper for the last 50+ miles... Stupid I know, but I just wanted to know.

If you want to put a decent cheap exhaust u can have a flowmaster exhaust welded on at a muffler shop for 75- 100 bucks.. drop another 100-200 and you can have a better flowing cat put in. Or if you live in one of the states that doesn't do inspections, just have it ripped out.