Actually George, I wouldn't say you'd get bad mileage until you enter vtec. we got 27-30mpg in craig's car at 5000-5500rpm towing a trailer with some redline bursts.. so even above 5000 (but not in vtec all the time) mileage isn't all that bad.

In VTEC constantly I get ~6-7mpg in my GS-R. (vtec constantly == road course use)