I'd say that overall, my 24v Senator was more economical than my 3.0 Omega. Around town mine will do about 20/21mpg whereas the Senator would be 22/23mpg, not a huge difference but it was better.
If you noticed aprox 3000 in the Senator was aprox 90mph, but the same revs in my Omega is nearer 80mph.
I do have to say though, that I got 35pmg going south a few months ago and I don't remember ever getting quite that from the Senator.
The best i got out of a senator was 38mpg, in a manual chipped car, the auto would do 36mph the monza would easily do 32mpg, my old estate was about the same.
Different overall gearing from a Senator (presume the same for a Carlton 24v) and heavier.
Have you check cam belt timing? If you've never worked on it yourself don't be surprised if it's a tooth or 2 out, the lads that do a lot of work on these cars seem to find various cars with timing issues.
The cambelt has been done properly. I the car has been stood for long periods over the past 6 months. Could it be that the lambdas have rusted over perhaps? I checked the exhaust and theres a tiny blow right at the back so i doubt that will be having any effect.
It's wierd, i think the Senator is a bettter car than the Omega, but then i think the monza is better than the Senator! Thats mainly because the monza is the easiest to work on and by far the most reliable because its so simple! At the end of the day if i were to drive the Senator everyday it would be rotten within a year, the Omega however is newer and doesnt rust, ir drives the nicest and looks the smartest its just a shame the engine needs to be kept on top off constantly! I tend to find anything post 1995 from vauxhall have one inherant fault and thats the unreliable engine management systems they put in them.