Fuel Economy...

[rfn]

Now, I've done some searching and head a read of this thread, but I'm intruiged to get some figures.

I'm looking to buy a Mk2.5 1.8 Sport. What sort of economy can I expect over a tankful?

I'm probably going to be doing 300/400 motorway miles a week for at least the first six months.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If it's 90% motorway driving, keeping to a constant 70-80mph then you'll probably see low 30s, maybe as much as 35mpg if you're careful. If you "enjoy" the drive a bit more it will drop a bit though.

[rfn]

That sounds like good news.. I had done my "cost to change" spreadsheet on it getting approx 32mpg.

Is the 6 speed happy cruising at 70 in top, or does it suffer from a lack of torque (I'm coming from a diesel)?

[Toecutter]

rfn said:

Is the 6 speed happy cruising at 70 in top, or does it suffer from a lack of torque (I'm coming from a diesel)?

If you want to accelerate quickly drop it down to 5th or even 4th, remember it is a fairly low weight sports car not a Turbo diesel, so it will not be anywhere near as torquey. Unless you get the '5 turbocharged or supercharged you will need to drop it down a gear or two to get decent acceleration.

My father had a Mk2.5 1.8 VVT Sport, If he cruised at 70-75mph he could average 37-39mpg when in 6th.

ETA: Have just seen on your profile you are driving a ST TDCi mondeo, you will notice the lack of torque in the '5 compared to your current car, but you will have more fun in the twisties though with the '5.

Edited by Toecutter on Thursday 27th November 18:01

[Planet Claire]

rfn said:

That sounds like good news.. I had done my "cost to change" spreadsheet on it getting approx 32mpg.

Is the 6 speed happy cruising at 70 in top, or does it suffer from a lack of torque (I'm coming from a diesel)?

I have a 6 speed Mk2 and do 300 miles per week going to work and back, most of this is on the M3 heading towards the M25, so not the most fastest of moving traffic. When I first started doing this journey I monitored my fuel consumption and used to get about 34mpg. The most I've ever done before filling up was 328 miles, and I still ended up putting 41 litres in.

Even in rush-hour traffic the car has no problems cruising in 6th.

[hcanning]

MX-5 Lazza said:

If it's 90% motorway driving, keeping to a constant 70-80mph then you'll probably see low 30s, maybe as much as 35mpg if you're careful. If you "enjoy" the drive a bit more it will drop a bit though.

You'll get more than that at 70mph IMHO

[rfn]

Planet Claire said:

rfn said:

That sounds like good news.. I had done my "cost to change" spreadsheet on it getting approx 32mpg.

Is the 6 speed happy cruising at 70 in top, or does it suffer from a lack of torque (I'm coming from a diesel)?

I have a 6 speed Mk2 and do 300 miles per week going to work and back, most of this is on the M3 heading towards the M25, so not the most fastest of moving traffic. When I first started doing this journey I monitored my fuel consumption and used to get about 34mpg. The most I've ever done before filling up was 328 miles, and I still ended up putting 41 litres in.

Even in rush-hour traffic the car has no problems cruising in 6th.

What sort of RPM is it cruising at in 6th gear?

Thanks for all the comments - any more greatly welcome!

hcanning - would 40mpg (on a trip) be wishful thinking?

[hcanning]

Overall yeah probably, but I'd expect at least 35 if you didn't venture too far past 70 for too long. I managed 43 in a lardy Vectra 1.8 yesterday

[Planet Claire]

rfn said:

What sort of RPM is it cruising at in 6th gear?

Thanks for all the comments - any more greatly welcome!

hcanning - would 40mpg (on a trip) be wishful thinking?

At 70mph it's at 3000, 80mph it's 3500rpm - roughly 500rpm per 10mph

[Evil Edna]

hcanning said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

If it's 90% motorway driving, keeping to a constant 70-80mph then you'll probably see low 30s, maybe as much as 35mpg if you're careful. If you "enjoy" the drive a bit more it will drop a bit though.

You'll get more than that at 70mph IMHO

No you won't. Lazza is bang on the money. I have never seen more than 34mpg in my car, and that was doing 65-70.

[hcanning]

Proves my point in an earlier thread that MX5s are woeful motorway cars then hehe

[rfn]

hcanning said:

Proves my point in an earlier thread that MX5s are woeful motorway cars then hehe

Admittedly it won't be as happy on the motorway as something like my Mondeo, but I can't see it being particularly unbearable?

[megab]

I've always found it fine on the motorway, though it can be a bit noisy, especially when it's windy.

Gab

[Evil Edna]

rfn said:

Thanks for all the comments - any more greatly welcome!

Tomorrow, I will be doing my 70 mile round trip to work and back in the MX-5. Around 60 miles of the journey are on the motorway. Am I looking forward to it? No. I will be dragging my heels all the way down the driveway to the garage.

But, I know that as soon as I open the garage door my mood will change. By the time I have plonked myself down in the driving seat and crawled 100yds up the road, I will remember why I bought this car. Every single journey I make in that car is a special occasion, the driving position, the feel and response of the steering, the chassis dynamics, the ride quality...etc Pick any facet you like, they are all first class. Mazda really got a lot of things right with the MX-5.

Would a 6-speed 1.8 be as good as your STD on the the motorway? No.

Would it be unbearable? No.

Could you or I drive one everyday to work and back? Yes.

Would you or I enjoy driving one everyday to work and back? Yes.

Will you regret buying one? Definitely, not.

[rfn]

That's ace Edna - thanks! What economy do you tend to average then? low 30s?

[Evil Edna]

rfn said:

That's ace Edna - thanks! What economy do you tend to average then? low 30s?

I get 32-33mpg cruising at 80-90.

Regardless of cruising speed, I never get less than 30mpg or more than 34mpg.

[hcanning]

Evil Edna said:

rfn said:

Thanks for all the comments - any more greatly welcome!

Tomorrow, I will be doing my 70 mile round trip to work and back in the MX-5. Around 60 miles of the journey are on the motorway. Am I looking forward to it? No. I will be dragging my heels all the way down the driveway to the garage.

But, I know that as soon as I open the garage door my mood will change. By the time I have plonked myself down in the driving seat and crawled 100yds up the road, I will remember why I bought this car. Every single journey I make in that car is a special occasion, the driving position, the feel and response of the steering, the chassis dynamics, the ride quality...etc Pick any facet you like, they are all first class. Mazda really got a lot of things right with the MX-5.

Would a 6-speed 1.8 be as good as your STD on the the motorway? No.

Would it be unbearable? No.

Could you or I drive one everyday to work and back? Yes.

Would you or I enjoy driving one everyday to work and back? Yes.

Will you regret buying one? Definitely, not.

You see, I have exactly the same feelings about my 1.6 MX5. It's just such a "special" car to drive, and feels it. Every time I drive it, I enjoy the superb dynamics and ergonomics, coupled with the nice engine note and the feeling you're not just in another humdrum hatchback.

However, my journey to work manages to suck most of the life, and the above qualities, out of driving. It's a 17-mile mix of congested town driving, followed by a stint of M3, followed by more congested, boring town driving.

This sort of journey is not what the MX5 is for, it's not what I bought it for, and in my opinion, "wastes" the driving experience. Thus, I'd rather keep the MX5 for weekend or "out of work" jaunts, and use my other "commuting" car during the week. One that I can get in to on a cold wet windy dark night after work, and have adequate comfort, heating, entertainment (stereo) etc. That way, the MX5 doesn't just degenerate into a boring, everyday car, and is kept nice for the weekends, where I can appreciate it more, and I'm not sitting it, angrily drumming my fingers against the steering wheel while pumping the clutch up and down as I move 6 feet forward in the Friday evening Greater London traffic, wishing I was just home already.

If it's your only car, then fair enough. But consider what I said about it being a waste. Driving an MX5 100 miles on the motorway regularly is not a fun experience, and it'll just skewer your opinion of it for the wrong reasons. It's a fun car, not a long distance cruiser. Buy a Mondeo as a daily hack and leave the MX5 in the garage

I really wish my place of work was at the other end of 10 miles of lovely windy A and B roads, but alas, I'm not going to change jobs just for that reason alone



Sorry for the rambling! It's of course my opinion and not to be taken gospel etc etc

Edited by hcanning on Thursday 27th November 21:37

[rfn]

Cheers Edna & hcanning.

Any more personal opinions/thoughts etc most welcome .

[MX-5 Lazza]

rfn said:

Any more personal opinions/thoughts etc most welcome .

Get one

[megab]

I second that.