This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain.

Key takeaways

  • Returns 46% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Compact Cars class for the 1986 model year (22.4 MPG class average).
  • The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1986 model year is the Ford Escort FS at 38 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $14,250 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
  • Subject to the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, which applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 12 MPG
City MPG 11 MPG
Highway MPG 14 MPG
Annual fuel cost $5,000
Tailpipe CO₂ 741 g/mi
Fuel type Regular

How the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC compares

The 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC returns 12 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 22.4 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 46%.

The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1986 model year is the Ford Escort FS at 38 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Texas Coach Company 500 SEC alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 1986 model year (across all classes) returns 19.8 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 1986 model year is on its own page.

1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC
12 MPG
Class average, 1986
22.4 MPG
Class best, 1986
38 MPG
Average new car, 1986
19.8 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 1250 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $2,500
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $5,000
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $8,333

Compare against other Compact Cars for 1986

If you are cross-shopping the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Ford Escort FS leads this group at 38 MPG, 26 MPG ahead of the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC.

Specifications

The 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC runs a 5-liter 8-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 4-spd, sending power through rear-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Compact Cars
Engine
5L 8-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic 4-spd
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Regular
Annual petroleum use
24.8 barrels per year
Gas guzzler tax
Applies (federal)

Common questions about the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC.

  • Is the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC fuel efficient?
    Not particularly. The 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC returns 12 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year by about 46%.
  • What MPG does the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC get?
    The EPA rates the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC at 12 combined MPG, 11 MPG in city driving, and 14 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $5,000 for the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • What fuel does the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC use?
    The EPA lists the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity.
  • How much CO₂ does the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 741 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 11,109 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC?
    City driving returns 11 MPG and highway driving returns 14 MPG, a gap of 3 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns.
  • What engine is in the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC?
    The 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC has a 5-liter 8-cylinder engine (EPA description: (GUZZLER) (FFS)).
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC have?
    The 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive.
  • How does the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1986 model year is the Ford Escort FS at 38 combined MPG. The Texas Coach Company 500 SEC returns 12 MPG, a gap of 26 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
  • Does the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC qualify for the gas guzzler tax?
    Yes. The federal Gas Guzzler Tax applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG, and the 1986 Texas Coach Company 500 SEC falls below that threshold. The tax is paid by the manufacturer at the point of sale and is built into the sticker price, so you will not see a separate line item at the dealership. Pickup trucks and SUVs are exempt from this tax even when their efficiency is lower.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.