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[tunnie]

You can probably see where this is going 

But at the weekend I was due to meet some mates, we arranged for a bit of lads weekend in Peterbough. So when leaving early Saturday morning, as I had huge chunks of average speed camera road works, I decided to see what I can really squeeze out of my VW. Add in the fact that I was in the car, climate set just so and tunes blasting through Spotify I was super comfy. No little MissT to worry about, no work.

So I really did not care if the drive took 2hrs or 2hrs30, such a rare chance to just sit and listen to music with no disturbances these days. Throw into this I was driving along the car parks known as M1 & M25.

This is what I got...



Over...



I remember thinking about Top Gear's challenge when they drove from south of France, Clarkson had Jag, Hammond the Polo may had a Subaru I think? 

I remember clips from inside car with Clarkson going on with trucks passing him in the background.

I was not that slow. Cruise control set dead on 60mph.

On the way back I did not bother with being careful, cruise set at 85mph instead. MPG? Forgot to take a photo but got 52mpg on the return run.

/Waits for abuse about driving too slowly 

[tunnie]

Now also consider the book values are 72mpg for 'extra urban' and it's 4 years old and done 85k, did not think that was too bad. 

[Viral_Jim]

Impressive! Especially considering the car has very acceptable performance

Have you previously checked the MFD for accuracy? The one on the yeti is correct to within about 1mpg of actual. On the volvo it seems to be about 1-2mpg off actual (both optimistic as you would expect).

I managed 48.2 in the Swede over an 800mile tank last week, which I thought was good, particularly as I was just doing what the conditions would allow, up to about 75mph max. I think the most that would be achievable in mine is about 55-58mpg, but I'd have to find a lot of HGV's to slipstream  .

Now, if I can just get a decent DAB kit fitted...

[tunnie]

I've found in 6th gear at 55-70mph it's incredibly good on fuel, you need at least 55mph or 6th is to high. On a run to Wales to see the in-law's I've seen 64mpg over a long run, that was with cruise set at 70mph. I've always thought a 60mph cruise would get it into the 70's, but I was surprised it went so high.

I think a 55mpg cruise would have seen 80+ average, but even for me trucks over-taking me is too slow. 

As you say performance is acceptable, mid range it's very punchy thanks to same torque as the 3.2 V6.

Only thing I really miss is the 80mph+ kick down, do that in the 3.2 and your off leaving most things unable to pass. Can't quite do that in the VW.

[tunnie]

No I need to check the MFD, but so far it's saying 360 miles on the trip and it's not used half a tank yet   

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Well....

The mighty Signum shows 27.6 MPG over 19867 miles.

The other one shows 22.9 MPG over the last 6543miles. On a 'forced economy run' like Mr Tunnie describes it once averaged 30 MPG.

70 MPG plus is showing off .....and nobody likes a smartarse.

[tunnie]

You wait until I crack 80mpg average 

[aaronjb]

I think I would die of boredom if I sat at 60mph with the cruise on, so ~52mpg is about the best I've seen on a run (and much less across a tank as at least half the week is short journeys).

Usually the run to work is 50-52mpg (*cough* 70mph north of MK, slowly dropping to ~60mph by the time you're near Luton where everyone seems to have received their driving license free with 8 packs of cornflakes, then the usual 0-50-0 stop-start on the M25 until Heathrow) and the run home is mid-40s as the traffic is worse.

[Doctor Gollum]

Setting your cruise control at 55 mph will see your actual speed at circa 51mph as VAG speedos overread quite generously (hence the error between computer and real world)... this puts you very close to the plus 10% minimum required for safe overtaking of trucks doing an actual 56mph... Borderline suicidal.

I would rather get 25mpg less and not risk being crushed in the car.

[Kevin Wood]

In fact, does anything from VAG tell the truth?

[tunnie]

I think I would die of boredom if I sat at 60mph

For me, it was as if I was sat in the living room on the sofa with music on. Just happen to be in the car. 

The times when I don't have to deal with my daughter, or have a pile of things to sort at home is very rare.

When you have a daughter and wife to support, trust me time alone is relax is rare 

In fact, does anything from VAG tell the truth?

Not really, but then again does any car maker? Jag's have a distinct case of BS as well when it comes to their figures vs real world.

[aaronjb]

this puts you very close to the plus 10% minimum required for safe overtaking of trucks

Could someone tell that to the truckers? Every morning the M1 slows down from 70+ to 62mph because there are long lines of artics in lanes 1 & 2 overtaking each other with a speed differential of about 0.000001% and then there's Bob in his Luton van doing 62mph in the outside lane trying to get past all of them..

When you have a daughter and wife to support, trust me time alone is relax is rare 

It's bad enough with just a girlfriend.. I can't imagine having a sprog as well! I intend never to find out, though.. Still, I spend plenty of time in the car alone and I don't find it that relaxing as you still have to concentrate (OK, I'm well aware plenty of people don't, and that's why I see them upside down/sideways/in many pieces on the M1 on a regular basis!). Not that I don't find it enjoyable to drive when it's not rush-hour - I genuinely enjoy driving - it's just not as relaxing as being at home in front of the idiot box (my other hobby )

Anyhoo.. 72mpg is still impressive, any which way you cut it.

Ironically now I don't do the commute four days a week there was no real reason for me to get a frugal derv - I could have (should have!) kept the truck and I'd be better off at this point. Hindsight, and all that..

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

My 3.2 elite, driven quite gently averages 23.8mpg, but I don't care. 
Other car which gets used 70% of the time has almost infinite mpg. 

[tunnie]

this puts you very close to the plus 10% minimum required for safe overtaking of trucks

Could someone tell that to the truckers? Every morning the M1 slows down from 70+ to 62mph because there are long lines of artics in lanes 1 & 2 overtaking each other with a speed differential of about 0.000001% and then there's Bob in his Luton van doing 62mph in the outside lane trying to get past all of them..

When you have a daughter and wife to support, trust me time alone is relax is rare 

It's bad enough with just a girlfriend.. I can't imagine having a sprog as well! I intend never to find out, though.. Still, I spend plenty of time in the car alone and I don't find it that relaxing as you still have to concentrate (OK, I'm well aware plenty of people don't, and that's why I see them upside down/sideways/in many pieces on the M1 on a regular basis!). Not that I don't find it enjoyable to drive when it's not rush-hour - I genuinely enjoy driving - it's just not as relaxing as being at home in front of the idiot box (my other hobby )

Anyhoo.. 72mpg is still impressive, any which way you cut it.

Ironically now I don't do the commute four days a week there was no real reason for me to get a frugal derv - I could have (should have!) kept the truck and I'd be better off at this point. Hindsight, and all that..

76mpg 

[YZ250]

That's impressive  , especially as you were on cruise for some of the journey as I find I can drive more economically when I don't use cruise.
A 420d Beemer won't get anywhere near that, most I've seen on a constant run is 62.9mpg and 50mpg from the 430d on the same run. 

[tunnie]

That's impressive  , especially as you were on cruise for some of the journey as I find I can drive more economically when I don't use cruise.
A 420d Beemer won't get anywhere near that, most I've seen on a constant run is 62.9mpg and 50mpg from the 430d on the same run. 

But given that's a 6 pot with oodles more power and smoothness, equally impressive. 

I'd have a 430d in a heart-beat, if it was within my budget. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

this puts you very close to the plus 10% minimum required for safe overtaking of trucks

Could someone tell that to the truckers? Every morning the M1 slows down from 70+ to 62mph because there are long lines of artics in lanes 1 & 2 overtaking each other with a speed differential of about 0.000001% and then there's Bob in his Luton van doing 62mph in the outside lane trying to get past all of them..

When you have a daughter and wife to support, trust me time alone is relax is rare 

It's bad enough with just a girlfriend.. I can't imagine having a sprog as well! I intend never to find out, though.. Still, I spend plenty of time in the car alone and I don't find it that relaxing as you still have to concentrate (OK, I'm well aware plenty of people don't, and that's why I see them upside down/sideways/in many pieces on the M1 on a regular basis!). Not that I don't find it enjoyable to drive when it's not rush-hour - I genuinely enjoy driving - it's just not as relaxing as being at home in front of the idiot box (my other hobby )

Anyhoo.. 72mpg is still impressive, any which way you cut it.

Ironically now I don't do the commute four days a week there was no real reason for me to get a frugal derv - I could have (should have!) kept the truck and I'd be better off at this point. Hindsight, and all that..

76mpg 

76.2 MPG for the pedants among us.

[Varche]

I wonder what I would get in my Passat/Golf that I still haven't found, on cruise set at 124 km p h on our empty roads Will I ever find out

[Viral_Jim]

50mpg from the 430d on the same run. 

Not that impressive from a pure mpg standpoint, however in terms of available performance and mpg figures, the big BMW diesels offer a superb mix. Once I'm "over" the m140i, a 3.0 F11 (in either fuel variety) is mighty tempting.

[aaronjb]

Likewise, I have something like that on my list of "When the PassatSuperb is done" cars, though part of me would love another Ranger because to hell with practicality Also on the list are the Q7/Touareg or a good ol' fashioned RR (Ranger Rover, not Rolls Royce ).

Either way it'll be older (3+), rather than new, this time.

[tunnie]

50mpg from the 430d on the same run. 

Not that impressive from a pure mpg standpoint, however in terms of available performance and mpg figures, the big BMW diesels offer a superb mix. Once I'm "over" the m140i, a 3.0 F11 (in either fuel variety) is mighty tempting.

I would never have considered a M235i before, but having a few drives in one I would. Even driven quite hard, over 30mpg on the London commute was achievable.

Being so light and so much spare power, took very little to move it quickly.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

50mpg from the 430d on the same run. 

Not that impressive from a pure mpg standpoint, however in terms of available performance and mpg figures, the big BMW diesels offer a superb mix. Once I'm "over" the m140i, a 3.0 F11 (in either fuel variety) is mighty tempting.

I would never have considered a M235i before, but having a few drives in one I would. Even driven quite hard, over 30mpg on the London commute was achievable.

Being so light and so much spare power, took very little to move it quickly.

New M5 out soon.

600+ BHP and 4 wheel drive. Should be a nippy little thing.

Close to £100,000 I imagine.

[aaronjb]

New M5 out soon.

600+ BHP and 4 wheel drive. Should be a nippy little thing.

Close to £100,000 I imagine.

If you mean just north of, then I'd agree!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

New M5 out soon.

600+ BHP and 4 wheel drive. Should be a nippy little thing.

Close to £100,000 I imagine.

If you mean just north of, then I'd agree!

You're a man with almost limitless wealth, Aaron. Tempted?

[TD]

When I first got my Ford, I reset the fuel comp when I got on M4 jn15 on a trip to Heathrow...Drove at a fairly constant 70mpg....didn't set cruise...as that tends to use more fuel....when I got to Heathrow fuel comp reckoned it had done around 75mpg 

Currently the fuel comp is reporting 50.something .... but I haven't reset it in many thousands of miles...and it spends most of its time doing town work....ie lucky to go faster than 30mph....actually iirc the fuel comp reckons my average speed is 17mph 

[aaronjb]

You're a man with almost limitless wealth, Aaron. Tempted?

  I wish! I would love to pick up an older (E60) M5 Touring but, alas, I am not really made of money..

[Andy B]

...

70 MPG plus is showing off .....and nobody likes a smartarse.

Agreed 

I don't manage 50 in either of the Smarts ..... but I suppose I could try more than I do 

[BazaJT]

I think I've seen something like 34 out of the Omega once and just into the 40's out of the Volvo,both occasions driving like Miss Daisy.ordinarily I just chuck more fuel in before I run out of it.Life really is too short to worry.

[Sir Tigger KC]

My 18 year old BMW 530d Auto does 38mpg, but my 9 year old Ford Mondeo 2.2TDCi Manual only does 35mpg. 

[tunnie]

My 18 year old BMW 530d Auto does 38mpg, but my 9 year old Ford Mondeo 2.2TDCi Manual only does 35mpg. 

Something very wrong with the Ford then 

[Viral_Jim]

New M5 out soon.

600+ BHP and 4 wheel drive. Should be a nippy little thing.

Close to £100,000 I imagine.

If you mean just north of, then I'd agree!

You're a man with almost limitless wealth, Aaron. Tempted?

TBH I would never have a new M5 given the existence of the 550i: awd, 0-60 in 4.0s and won't look like you covered it in Halfords bling. Oh and it'll be cheaper, with comfier seats and a better ride. 

[tunnie]

New M5 out soon.

600+ BHP and 4 wheel drive. Should be a nippy little thing.

Close to £100,000 I imagine.

If you mean just north of, then I'd agree!

You're a man with almost limitless wealth, Aaron. Tempted?

TBH I would never have a new M5 given the existence of the 550i: awd, 0-60 in 4.0s and won't look like you covered it in Halfords bling. Oh and it'll be cheaper, with comfier seats and a better ride. 

I'd be very tempted to put a 520i badge on it 

[Varche]

Back in the 70's my brother had a 2cv 375 cc (not the bigger version)  he used to come and visit me andget backon a tankful. In those days fuel economy was never ever a consideration for me.

Funny how times change. 70 will be double what I get now.....

[TheBoy]

I need to check the trips (it has 3, 2 controlled by driver, 3rd is a pure journey based one), but it was reading 37mpg on trip, but reality was nearer 32mpg going by Road Trip.

Most people tell me its easy to crack 40mpg, and 50mpg isn't hard to achieve.  Yeah, yeah, not in my lifetime

And it seems most XJ's trips overestimate MPG by around 10%.

[TheBoy]

My 18 year old BMW 530d Auto does 38mpg, but my 9 year old Ford Mondeo 2.2TDCi Manual only does 35mpg. 

Something very wrong with the Ford then 

Why? I would say 40mpg should be about what it would be, being an older engine and a big heavy car (assuming the pre 2008 model).

[Nick W]

I need to check the trips (it has 3, 2 controlled by driver, 3rd is a pure journey based one), but it was reading 37mpg on trip, but reality was nearer 32mpg going by Road Trip.

Most people tell me its easy to crack 40mpg, and 50mpg isn't hard to achieve. Yeah, yeah, not in my lifetime

And it seems most XJ's trips overestimate MPG by around 10%.

How many times have you managed 400miles from an Omega tankful?

[TheBoy]

The Zafira's average has gone up from high 20s/low 30s to high thirties, following MDTM's magic earlier in the year...  ...despite the fact I distinctly heard him say at one point "I hate your bloody car"

[TheBoy]

I need to check the trips (it has 3, 2 controlled by driver, 3rd is a pure journey based one), but it was reading 37mpg on trip, but reality was nearer 32mpg going by Road Trip.

Most people tell me its easy to crack 40mpg, and 50mpg isn't hard to achieve. Yeah, yeah, not in my lifetime

And it seems most XJ's trips overestimate MPG by around 10%.

How many times have you managed 400miles from an Omega tankful?

On the old TD tractor, frequently.  On the petrols, 270-320 miles was the norm from the 3.0l, and 250-300 miles from the 3.2.

That said, I have managed more than 500 miles from a tank of petrol in the 3.0l, but we were driving in convoy in France, on Autoroutes, at a reasonably constant 130kph.