Ford MPG figures optimistic?

[simbax]

Hi,

I've been looking at buying a used car, possibly a Mondeo and I'm surprised by their claimed MPG figures for the 2.0TDCi (140bhp). They claim 53mpg (combined), which is more than the Seat Altea 1.9TDi (105) that claims 51mpg. I was speaking to a friend who had a Ford C-Max that claimed 50MPG and he says he got little more than 40MPG.

I usually check the MPG figures on the Parkers website. Can anyone please tell me if the claimed mpg figures are quite typical for the average user or are they generally optimistic?

I'm also looking at a rare SEAT Altea Freetrack which claims 41MPG, which is less than I want but if I can feasible get more than this then that would be fine.

Many thanks

[White Lightning]

I cant comment specifically on those cars, however in my experience quoted mpg figures generally dont relate to real world driving. So i'd always bank on up to a 10mpg drop on the quoted combined figure.

Fairly poor example; but Ford claim 30mpg for the Focus ST, and i get about 23/24mpg

HTH

[Merp]

Fiesta ST claim about 38 I rarely see 32

[Iang84]

The best I normally see on my mondeo (2.2tdci) is 43-45

[HellDiver]

Depends on your driving patterns.

In the snowy weather I was getting 17mpg, on long trips in decent weather I get well in to the 40's. That's a Mk3 1.8 petrol Mondeo.

[asn163]

I've. had a 58 plate 2.0 TDCi 140 Mondeo for nearly a year, and in 12000 miles it has averaged 45 mpg.

[Podie]

It's not Ford at fault, but the system. Google for how mpg is calculated and the speeds involved.

[boredofmyoldname]

Podie said:

It's not Ford at fault, but the system. Google for how mpg is calculated and the speeds involved.

It is very rare for any makers figures to be achievable by average joe on an average trip.