I am also at 8.5. I am working hard to get to 9mpg.
According to Fuelly, I'm at 9.0 mpg for the last 10 fillups, and since recently discovering an ignition timing problem which I've been trying to figure out since forever, I'm looking forward to better mileage. Eventually I'll have the EFI with spark control and that should help even more.
Overall 25,000+ miles it's at 8.6 mpg