S there such a thing as an economical V8?I

[Mike_C]

I love V8's, I really do. I love the noise, the performance, everything about them...apart from the economy.

My current car is a V8, a G4 Challenge Range Rover Sport and it's not bad on fuel, around 20mpg average, but significantly worst than my BMW 330Ci, for instance.

So, is there a particularly economical V8 engined car that will delivery say 25-30mpg average? The 550i in 'Spotted' got me thinking that a 550i estate really would fulfil my every need.

Of course, LPG is an option but I'm told the Jaguar 4.4 V8 in my RRS doesn't like LPG conversions as much as the BMW sourced 4.4 V8 in the standard RR - so are BMW V8's on the whole ripe for LPG conversions? Can any car be LPG converted? I have a 3.9 V8 RR Classic on LPG which wasn't brilliant, but then that was an old single point conversion - have things moved on since then?

Hmm...the cogs are definitely whirring now!!

Edited: No ad links please

[4key]

The problem with being attracted to the noise is that it only happens when you press that pedal on the right, theres little chance if being economical whilst doing that

[6fire]

I am sure this is a completely daft idea, but wasn't there someone years ago who would fit some 6.something diesel v8 from a humvee in a range rover? And then bolt turbos on to give it more torque than a supertanker.

[bigandclever]

Lexus LS600h is supposed to do over 30mpg combined.

[hornetrider]

I give that advert five minutes

[falkster]

I'm averaging 21mpg out of my ML55 with a mixture of driving.

[anonymous-user]

any car plus this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OvPlhWuzYM&fea...

soundracer v8

[HiAsAKite]

I get average of 25mpg mixed road hooning (ok, down to 22 if I really hoon it), and 29 on a sensible distance run with the roof off on my 4l chimaera.....


Probably last thing you had in mind when you wrote your post but its a v8 and manages 25-30mpg...

[RevolveR]

When it was launched the Volvo 4.4 V8 was meant to be very compact and lightweight. It might also be more economical than most V8s.

[HustleRussell]

The SRT spec Chrysler 300C has a V8 which only runs on 4 cylinders when cruising. Can't be arsed to look up the MPG but I expect that even with the extra weight and friction, that'll save a fair bit of fuel.

[scotty_d]

A light weight car like a TVR with a rover v8 should do around 25mpg i hit 31mpg from my old Chim once

My V8 in my Cerb see's around 15-17mpg and my Range rover 4.0se is around 11-16mpg. Same as you love them but they do drink the juice.

[J4CKO]

falkster said:

I'm averaging 21mpg out of my ML55 with a mixture of driving.

Thats good, we used to get less than that from an ML 320 !

[chris182]

I get about 22-23 from my 5.6l V8 Mercedes and that's a heavy old car with a slushbox so I'm sure there must be modern V8s that can be persuaded to give nearly 30mpg.

[007 VXR]

I AVG about 22/24mpg from my Monaro (s/c 650bhp+)
on long runs can do 30mpg, but around town 12/14 and pushing hard
WELL under 10mpg

[sparkyhx]

LPG is the answer, can it be done - depends whether it is direct injection (newer cars) - check with an installer first.

You may even be able to get a pre converted one - V8's are popular conversions as they break even relatively quickly.

Edited by sparkyhx on Monday 15th October 22:26

[51mes]

HustleRussell said:

The SRT spec Chrysler 300C has a V8 which only runs on 4 cylinders when cruising. Can't be arsed to look up the MPG but I expect that even with the extra weight and friction, that'll save a fair bit of fuel.

Yeah the New SLK55 AMG does the same thing - below 3500 RPM in economy mode it only uses 4 cylinders....

When you put your foot down it all wakes up - and all hell breaks loose... ;-)

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/...

autocar says it's the most fuel efficient v8 - 33.6 MPG...

Simes.

[GreatGranny]

A mate had an S4 with LPG and he said he didn't notice any difference in noise and performance.

[Blib]

I cured the issue of low MPG by my Maserati by buying a Fiat 500 Twin Air to pootle around in London.

I now have a 'combined MPG' of 30 odd.

[jimmy156]

Blib said:

I cured the issue of low MPG by my Maserati by buying a Fiat 500 Twin Air to pootle around in London.

I now have a 'combined MPG' of 30 odd.

Excellent man-logic. I love it .

Reading that review of the slk55 makes me think. They call it inert and uninvolving. I'm sure if i drove it, or any other average petrolhead, it would be an absolute blast. Are modern cars all good enough now that it doesent matter which one you choose?

[CampDavid]

Blib said:

I cured the issue of low MPG by my Maserati by buying a Fiat 500 Twin Air to pootle around in London.

I now have a 'combined MPG' of 30 odd.

I did the same thing, I bought a Smart 42 Cabrio for short stuff so the 740i could do long trips. I've not driven the Smart in 3 weeks and the battery's flat.

I've had over 30mpg from the 7er on a 200 mile trip at 70mph