Car fuel economy myths...
- 4 April 2013 10:46223678Fuel economy: the real story - Introduction
"Your car's actual fuel economy and its official figures can differ wildly - but why? We tested 26 cars to find out.
Not getting close to your car's claimed fuel economy figures? It's a common problem - and there's a good reason for this: the official figures are obtained using tests that are unrepresentative of the sort of driving you actually do.
Sure, but even if you can't match the official figures, at least they provide you with a level playing field, so you can compare one car's economy directly with another's, right?
Well, that's how the argument goes, but when we asked fuel consumption expert Peter de Nayer to test 26 cars, it turned out that you need a much bigger pinch of salt with some models' real-world economy than others..."
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/fuel-economy-the-real-story/242373Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 4 April 2013 11:05223683Well it was good news for me, my car has the 1600 hdi engine in and is very good on fuel.beer the food of the gods
- 4 April 2013 16:12223734I get around 50 plus mpg, so I'm pleased with my car.
Roger - 4 April 2013 18:11223753Gov figures for our Polo are 44.7 mpg; we get about 43 pottering around and 50 on a motorway run. My old Citroen AX diesel used to do 64 average but we once managed 77 on a gentle drive to Birmingham and back.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
4 April 2013 21:32223784I have a peugeot 206 1.9 diesel.Its getting old but its so cheap to run that i,m reluctant to part with it.It manages around 45mpg local and will still manage 50-60mpg on a run.I know that some of the fuel economy figures for new cars were to say the least were very hard to achieve.A certain japanese car back in the 1980s claimed it could achieve around 80mpg in its diesel form.It was revealed some years later how it was done.The driver was of below average weight.Anything not needed in the car such as spare wheel,radio,even rubber mats,etc were removed to save on weight.Finally the tyres were inflated much higher than normal to save on drag/friction and the car was driven in top gear at just below 50mph.Hence the 80mpg figure was achieved. - 4 April 2013 22:24223786I used to use Michelin Energy tyres at 40 psi, bouncy ride but brilliant fuel economy.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- 5 April 2013 11:55223841Sounds like some good tips there.
Driving on the motorways, you'd think people aren't concerned at all about the cost of fuel.
Roger