Advice and range
On the 1996 DX model, once the fuel light first flickers on you've consumed ~10 gallons. If you reset your trip odometer when you filled up, take the milage showing (for example, 277.5) and move the decimal point to the left. (27.75). This is the mileage average you've gotten for this tank. If you continue driving as you had previously, you'll have an absolute maximum range of 3.2 * (current MPG), here 3.2 * 27.75, or about 89 miles.
Take note, the fuel tank holds 13.2 gallons from absolutely full to absolutely empty, and the gas pump does require a certain depth of fluid to operate properly. For safety, assume--if you're in an area where fillups are readily available--that you've got one and a half gallons left. That leaves you some emergency range and also some spare gas if you need to change speeds quickly.
Many factors can improve that last-ditch mileage...if on the highway, slowing down to ~65, engaging cruise control, and turning off radio/AC/cigarette-lighter accessories can give you anywhere from 30 to 36 MPG on your emergency reserve (depending on your load and car's health) regardless of what the average has been UP TO now. This means you may have a range of 36*3.2 miles, but don't count on it! On the freeway, at the extreme limit of fuel, the pump will starve and not be able to keep up with the desired speed, even though there may still be enough to run the engine at idle or slightly above.
Hopefully this helps somebody out there.
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