MPG and your reasons!!!
Discussion
It's strange that people are so obsessed with mpg when:
(1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be b
ks.
Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
(1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be b
ks.Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
I have become a little bit obsessed with it since getting my company car. Yes I only have to fuel the thing (pre facelift current shape Astra 1.7 cdti) in reality but that's £70 every two weeks at the moment! I even did half a tank using cruise control everywhere and half off resetting the computer every time. Mind you the average of 56mpg isn't too bad I guess.
My Mini does about 30-36mpg on average but then I hardly drive the thing and if I was that fussed I shouldn't have a car
like that!
My Mini does about 30-36mpg on average but then I hardly drive the thing and if I was that fussed I shouldn't have a car
like that!
ORD said:
It's strange that people are so obsessed with mpg when:
(1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be bks.
Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
Its well over 50% of the total cost to run my car - and any family trips bump it up even higher. (1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be b
ks.Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
Everything is a compromise as you could find perfectly fine usable vehicles which can do the same transport for a 1/4 of the cost the difference to pay off mortgage more holidays/better holidays more meals out better clothes etc more charity donations.
ORD said:
It's strange that people are so obsessed with mpg when:
(1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be bks.
Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
Hence why i asked the question to see people's reasons.(1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be b
ks.Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
I'm sure everyone knows that lab tests are toffee as for the cost part I suppose milage really dictates that.
my personal view towards mpg is that it is a factor in costs e.g. insurance (my main concern being 22), tax (i will not pay above £280), purchase price then mpg.
Welshbeef said:
Its well over 50% of the total cost to run my car - and any family trips bump it up even higher.
Everything is a compromise as you could find perfectly fine usable vehicles which can do the same transport for a 1/4 of the cost the difference to pay off mortgage more holidays/better holidays more meals out better clothes etc more charity donations.
Over 50% including depreciation ? If so, you are in a small minority. Most people do nowhere near enough miles to make mpg a substantial cost compared to depreciation or lease costs, taxation, new tyres, etc.Everything is a compromise as you could find perfectly fine usable vehicles which can do the same transport for a 1/4 of the cost the difference to pay off mortgage more holidays/better holidays more meals out better clothes etc more charity donations.
JamesD1 said:
I want to know if MPG bothers you or not and why?
I'll start; I think a car should have the ability to do reasonable mpg when your foot isn't welded to the loud pedal, why? because I personally hate going to the petrol station and find it a chore.
It's only an issue for me in a saloon/estate car, as these should be as efficient as possible for the performance. In a sports car it is not particularly important. I'll start; I think a car should have the ability to do reasonable mpg when your foot isn't welded to the loud pedal, why? because I personally hate going to the petrol station and find it a chore.
It's a challenge seeing what I can get out of the car. Sure it may not be as "PH" as charging down a stretch of B road and seeing how many tenths you can shave off your time, but it's still something to work towards that won't cause any harm to the car, myself or any other road users.
For the record I don't go in for any hypermiling madness, though I will admit to regular motorway speeds of 60MPH when possible. There will also be times that I will put my foot down for a short blast.
I do less than 8K a year so squeezing out an extra MPG or two will make no financial difference whatsoever.
For the record I don't go in for any hypermiling madness, though I will admit to regular motorway speeds of 60MPH when possible. There will also be times that I will put my foot down for a short blast.
I do less than 8K a year so squeezing out an extra MPG or two will make no financial difference whatsoever.
ORD said:
It's strange that people are so obsessed with mpg when:
(1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be bks.
Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
If i was driving a car doing 25mpg, i'd be paying approx £6,000 a year for fuel.(1) it is a tiny fraction of the total motoring costs for most people.
(2) The real world differences between a lot of cars are minimal. For example, dull turbo four pots get about the same as NA six cylinders in actual driving by actual people. The lab tests tell a different story, of course, and people buy on the basis of tests that they know to be b
ks.Trying to get the mpg up or down does make a boring drive less boring, though. My record s are an indicated 38mpg from Oxford to London with a 3.4 l NA engine and an indicated 37mpg from Cheltenham to Newcsstle
By being "obsessed" with fuel economy and driving a car from which i can get 67mpg, I'm spending roughly £2,200 a year.
So theres £3,800 a year i'm not spending on fuel unnecessarily.
Also come resale time a high miles golf diesel will be easier sold than a high miles petrol car.
ORD said:
Welshbeef said:
Its well over 50% of the total cost to run my car - and any family trips bump it up even higher.
Everything is a compromise as you could find perfectly fine usable vehicles which can do the same transport for a 1/4 of the cost the difference to pay off mortgage more holidays/better holidays more meals out better clothes etc more charity donations.
Over 50% including depreciation ? If so, you are in a small minority. Most people do nowhere near enough miles to make mpg a substantial cost compared to depreciation or lease costs, taxation, new tyres, etc.Everything is a compromise as you could find perfectly fine usable vehicles which can do the same transport for a 1/4 of the cost the difference to pay off mortgage more holidays/better holidays more meals out better clothes etc more charity donations.
Tyres - probably £150s worth a year.
Service £200.
And thats with me driving something thats doing 67mpg. If i was running a car doing 40mpg fuel will be well over 60% of my running costs.
It didn't used to bother me, in all honesty still doesn't too much. The last toy though was bought primarily with mpg in mind, my ex girlfriend would have been running it and the fuel costs of the daily were painfull for her.
so it was a sportscar but compromised. It's turned out to be a brilliant car to drive so I'm very happy.
so it was a sportscar but compromised. It's turned out to be a brilliant car to drive so I'm very happy.
daemon said:
Also come resale time a high miles golf diesel will be easier sold than a high miles petrol car.
Being a tdi owner myself I wonder about this given DPF/EGR worries of high mileage cars of this type. I console myself by thinking your average Joe won't be as aware of this as your typical PHer but it still remains to be seen. Anyone who buys a recentish tdi privately with approaching 100k on the clock is a bit of a gambler in my bookVeeFource said:
daemon said:
Also come resale time a high miles golf diesel will be easier sold than a high miles petrol car.
Being a tdi owner myself I wonder about this given DPF/EGR worries of high mileage cars of this type. I console myself by thinking your average Joe won't be as aware of this as your typical PHer but it still remains to be seen. Anyone who buys a recentish tdi privately with approaching 100k on the clock is a bit of a gambler in my bookYes, totally agree RE: diesels being a gamble used. It was the main reason i bought nearly new. I plan on running on at it as long as poss so i know it will be driven right and serviced right and properly maintained.
ORD said:
Welshbeef said:
Its well over 50% of the total cost to run my car - and any family trips bump it up even higher.
Everything is a compromise as you could find perfectly fine usable vehicles which can do the same transport for a 1/4 of the cost the difference to pay off mortgage more holidays/better holidays more meals out better clothes etc more charity donations.
Over 50% including depreciation ? If so, you are in a small minority. Most people do nowhere near enough miles to make mpg a substantial cost compared to depreciation or lease costs, taxation, new tyres, etc.Everything is a compromise as you could find perfectly fine usable vehicles which can do the same transport for a 1/4 of the cost the difference to pay off mortgage more holidays/better holidays more meals out better clothes etc more charity donations.
Looking back over my figures, since I'm an obsessive who keeps records of everything
, fuel has accounted for 40-50% of my costs over the last 15 or so years. That's at a very rough 20,000 miles per year, give or take depending on what job I've been doing.I'm currently in a company car, so BIK and fuel are the only costs now, but BIK is irrelevant for this discussion.
daemon said:
VeeFource said:
daemon said:
Also come resale time a high miles golf diesel will be easier sold than a high miles petrol car.
Being a tdi owner myself I wonder about this given DPF/EGR worries of high mileage cars of this type. I console myself by thinking your average Joe won't be as aware of this as your typical PHer but it still remains to be seen. Anyone who buys a recentish tdi privately with approaching 100k on the clock is a bit of a gambler in my bookYes, totally agree RE: diesels being a gamble used. It was the main reason i bought nearly new. I plan on running on at it as long as poss so i know it will be driven right and serviced right and properly maintained.
Incidentally, are you planning on running your car into the ground? Because you'll almost certainly need a new DPF if nothing else. I'm not sure whether I'd sell mine at about 70k (and take the potential hit) or get it mildly remapped and at the same time have the EGR & DPF mapped out. My concern about the latter is firstly the cost, but secondly I've read modern turbos are designed to also be de-sooted along with the DPF to prevent blocking of the vanes etc as this then allows for a more efficient design for better airflow through the turbo.
Edited by VeeFource on Monday 25th August 11:08
I dont use my 350Z all the time as it does get expensive, sub 20 mpg locally, 250 miles from ninety quid, I just use it when I want to and it is appropriate, car full, we go in the Galaxy, nipping to the supermarket, go in the C1 as it is so easy to park, oh and I cycle to work a fair proportion of the time, just really to get some exercise, plus each day I do, versus the 350Z, I save a gallon of super unleaded, I could put more in but I dont like to over use it, mainly so it doesnt lose the novelty.
I tend to budget £200 a month to fuel the cars, 80-90 in the 350, couple of 40 quid fills in the C1 that my wife and son use mainly and the rest in the Galaxy, would be less bothered if I had more spare.
I tend to budget £200 a month to fuel the cars, 80-90 in the 350, couple of 40 quid fills in the C1 that my wife and son use mainly and the rest in the Galaxy, would be less bothered if I had more spare.
I can't help wondering, those who drive a juicy car and don't car about mpg, if they were going on a longish drive, (100 miles) if they had to factor in a fuel stop, would they arrive before a Hyundai i10 that didn't need a fuel stop?
I realise it's a daft question as it has far too many other variations, but for all the "I don't cares", they don't actually mention the hassle of filling up, queuing up to pay etc etc.
In my house my wife drives the extravagant car (25 mpg, 3000 miles a year) and I drive the frugal car (60 mpg, 14K miles a year). She refuses to contemplate a boring small car, but when I pointed out to her that if she drove my car she'd only have to fill up 2 or 3 times a year, she was gobsmacked. She fills up about once a month.
I realise it's a daft question as it has far too many other variations, but for all the "I don't cares", they don't actually mention the hassle of filling up, queuing up to pay etc etc.
In my house my wife drives the extravagant car (25 mpg, 3000 miles a year) and I drive the frugal car (60 mpg, 14K miles a year). She refuses to contemplate a boring small car, but when I pointed out to her that if she drove my car she'd only have to fill up 2 or 3 times a year, she was gobsmacked. She fills up about once a month.
Currently average around 29mpg in my ST but in all honesty it doesn't bother me, my commute is 4 days a week and 26mi round trip so the costs aren't great. If I had a longer commute I'd probably be more conscious of it but right now I don't care because it makes me smile every time I drive it
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