Discussion
Following on from the worst ever MPG thread, what's the best you've seen that has surprised you?
One of my drivers Prius was showing a 65mpg average. Nothing unusual there you may say, except very little was town driving. Mostly A roads, motorway and dual carriageways.
My V70 2.4 petrol auto is notoriously low 20s around town and country, but on the motorway, fully laden with four adults and luggage, is happy at 80mph doing 40mpg average.
Filled my i40 estate the other day, averaging 47mpg which I pleased with considering the way I drive and the stop start nature of what it had been doing.
And the wife's Corse D 1.3 cdti is ridiculous averaging easily 60+ and not driven sympathetically at all. Well, not by her anyway.
One of my drivers Prius was showing a 65mpg average. Nothing unusual there you may say, except very little was town driving. Mostly A roads, motorway and dual carriageways.
My V70 2.4 petrol auto is notoriously low 20s around town and country, but on the motorway, fully laden with four adults and luggage, is happy at 80mph doing 40mpg average.
Filled my i40 estate the other day, averaging 47mpg which I pleased with considering the way I drive and the stop start nature of what it had been doing.
And the wife's Corse D 1.3 cdti is ridiculous averaging easily 60+ and not driven sympathetically at all. Well, not by her anyway.
I posted on the other thread, about a disastrous XJ40 2.9 I owned, which burned fuel for fun.
Conversely, I once had a MkV Golf GT TDi DSG I bought specifically for commuting (100 mile round trip up and down the M1 every day).
As most of my commute was through 50mph roadworks on the M1, the fuel economy was absolutely stunning. I was regularly seeing MPG in the high-sixties. Became a bit of an obsession after a while, but it at least gave me something to focus on through mile after mile of speed restricted roadworks.
Even when I was booting it around the place on my days off, the fuel economy rarely dropped below high-forties.
Actually, that's not true. I once saw 25mpg after chasing my mechanic down country lanes on our way out to dinner. The lunatic was in a Nissan Navara, and whilst he wasn't getting away from me, it wasn't exactly easy keeping up with him!
Conversely, I once had a MkV Golf GT TDi DSG I bought specifically for commuting (100 mile round trip up and down the M1 every day).
As most of my commute was through 50mph roadworks on the M1, the fuel economy was absolutely stunning. I was regularly seeing MPG in the high-sixties. Became a bit of an obsession after a while, but it at least gave me something to focus on through mile after mile of speed restricted roadworks.
Even when I was booting it around the place on my days off, the fuel economy rarely dropped below high-forties.
Actually, that's not true. I once saw 25mpg after chasing my mechanic down country lanes on our way out to dinner. The lunatic was in a Nissan Navara, and whilst he wasn't getting away from me, it wasn't exactly easy keeping up with him!
Best for relative for the car was the current Z4 Coupe - got over 40mpg on the way up to Scotland from London (measured by fill ups, not indicated). That isn't bad for a 3.0 IMO.
I think best outright would likely be a holiday rental - I think I managed to get a Skoda Fabia diesel about 20 miles without the needle moving from "full". This was the old trick of having to return the tank "full", so fill up cheaply in town to avoid expensive stations near the airport.
I think best outright would likely be a holiday rental - I think I managed to get a Skoda Fabia diesel about 20 miles without the needle moving from "full". This was the old trick of having to return the tank "full", so fill up cheaply in town to avoid expensive stations near the airport.
Best I've personally seen was from my 1.5 diesel Pug 106. This was best part of 13 years ago. I'd just started running it on the Shell V-Power diesel. And recorded a best of 78mpg over an entire tank. The last tank before it went it was looking at beating this, but I never got the chance to refill and work it out.
I did many many thousands of miles in that car as I had a long commute at the time. On normal diesel it returned 62-66mpg on most tank fulls. However drive the car just a little bit harder or do a little town work and you'd be averaging more like 45mpg for the tank. So you really did have to drive it right.
I did many many thousands of miles in that car as I had a long commute at the time. On normal diesel it returned 62-66mpg on most tank fulls. However drive the car just a little bit harder or do a little town work and you'd be averaging more like 45mpg for the tank. So you really did have to drive it right.
Used to have a 3.0V6 Ghia X Mk3 Mondeo that achieved a fairly consistent 27-29mpg. Nothing wrong with that.
One day, however, I had to collect Mrs D.R. from Heathrow on a Sunday evening. I had to fill up with petrol and, on resetting the trip meter I went overboard and managed to reset the entire trip computer. Anyway, i checked my phone and spotted that her flight was delayed so I got onto the M3, set the cruise control for 65mph and enjoyed the pleasant summer evening drive with a few good tunes.
On arrival at Heathrow I decided to see what mpg I’d averaged and was rather surprised when ‘42.5’ popped up.
One day, however, I had to collect Mrs D.R. from Heathrow on a Sunday evening. I had to fill up with petrol and, on resetting the trip meter I went overboard and managed to reset the entire trip computer. Anyway, i checked my phone and spotted that her flight was delayed so I got onto the M3, set the cruise control for 65mph and enjoyed the pleasant summer evening drive with a few good tunes.
On arrival at Heathrow I decided to see what mpg I’d averaged and was rather surprised when ‘42.5’ popped up.
For me the most impressive mpg was a blast down to Dorset about 10 years ago.
5.7 V8 Camaro z28 4 speed auto. 1999 vintage.
2 up and loaded with camping gear.
Being followed by some family in a brand new Seat 1.6 petrol (also 2 up)
Camaro did 31.6mpg calculated.
Seat did an indicated 32mpg (so probably less knowing OBCs...)
5.7 V8 Camaro z28 4 speed auto. 1999 vintage.
2 up and loaded with camping gear.
Being followed by some family in a brand new Seat 1.6 petrol (also 2 up)
Camaro did 31.6mpg calculated.
Seat did an indicated 32mpg (so probably less knowing OBCs...)
300bhp/ton said:
Best I've personally seen was from my 1.5 diesel Pug 106. This was best part of 13 years ago. I'd just started running it on the Shell V-Power diesel. And recorded a best of 78mpg over an entire tank. The last tank before it went it was looking at beating this, but I never got the chance to refill and work it out.
I did many many thousands of miles in that car as I had a long commute at the time. On normal diesel it returned 62-66mpg on most tank fulls. However drive the car just a little bit harder or do a little town work and you'd be averaging more like 45mpg for the tank. So you really did have to drive it right.
That seems to be the case for most small turbocharged engines; If you drive them for economy, in a way I'm not sure any actual person can do for more than one experimental trip, they really can hit the book figures but the slightest deviation from hypermiling style inputs and actually using all that lovely accessible torque they have sees you getting half the claimed figure. I did many many thousands of miles in that car as I had a long commute at the time. On normal diesel it returned 62-66mpg on most tank fulls. However drive the car just a little bit harder or do a little town work and you'd be averaging more like 45mpg for the tank. So you really did have to drive it right.
If you have a long commute just about the only fun to be had is seeing how high you can get the economy. When I was much younger I'd drive like an utter tit, desperate to get one car ahead and filled with frustration at the dawdlers and dimwits to the point I'd arrive at the end of my journey a bit frazzled. What a knob.
I did get 40 mpg once, but usually about 34mpg at the moment with the Type R. And that's with some spirited driving, not too bad for 320hp, the fuel tank is the size of a thimble though!
The best was in the BMW i8, with 56mpg, amazing for the performance.
The best was in the BMW i8, with 56mpg, amazing for the performance.
Edited by jamesbilluk on Wednesday 17th February 11:31
I owned a 2.0 TDi Golf for a while, a 2012 Mk6 "Match" (DAB radio, parking sensors), Bluemotion.
Fantastic car, great for everyday use, did everything well. I once did a round trip from Southampton to Hull and back in a day, mostly motorway, with a small element of getting lost when I reached Hull, and managed to average 50mph and 70mpg.
I think that was my best mph/mpg achievement. I used to try to get 100+ (adding mph and mpg together) on longer trips. These days I do much shorter journeys, and own a Golf R. 100+ is no longer viable, but the R is more fun.
Fantastic car, great for everyday use, did everything well. I once did a round trip from Southampton to Hull and back in a day, mostly motorway, with a small element of getting lost when I reached Hull, and managed to average 50mph and 70mpg.
I think that was my best mph/mpg achievement. I used to try to get 100+ (adding mph and mpg together) on longer trips. These days I do much shorter journeys, and own a Golf R. 100+ is no longer viable, but the R is more fun.
I'm not getting mega mpg from my X3 35D with probably 35-40 on motorways but I do like the fact that it's the same or better than the 2.2 diesel CRV auto it replaced with more than double the BHP and a shed load more torque. Only 4 years difference between the cars too as the Honda was 2010 and the BMW is 2014.
I had a couple of the diesel SLK 250 CDi.
Not a slow car by any means, and they also had a rather whopping 500Nm of torque.
I commuted Rochdale <-> Leeds every day and was getting some mental fuel economy - 76mpg wasn't uncommon. The thing seemed to run on fresh air.
Another miserly car, but not surprising, was a Citroen C1 on a similar commute for the OH and it was doing 66mpg *average* all the time. On the motorway it must have been getting 90mpg.
Not a slow car by any means, and they also had a rather whopping 500Nm of torque.
I commuted Rochdale <-> Leeds every day and was getting some mental fuel economy - 76mpg wasn't uncommon. The thing seemed to run on fresh air.
Another miserly car, but not surprising, was a Citroen C1 on a similar commute for the OH and it was doing 66mpg *average* all the time. On the motorway it must have been getting 90mpg.
Fiat Panda diesel, 57 plate with 95k on the clock, a horrendous flat spot below 2000rpm until it warmed up, and a clutch that was on it's last legs.
I ran it for about 6 months of mostly local journeys (5 to 10 miles), and got a true 72mpg, measured brim to brim over several tankfuls.
I replaced it with a much newer Citigo (60 bhp model). Much nicer to drive, and that got a shade over 60mpg with the same usage.
I currently have a Picanto with the 1 litre turbo engine. It's obviously a fair bit faster and probably heavier, but that struggles to get 50mpg.
I ran it for about 6 months of mostly local journeys (5 to 10 miles), and got a true 72mpg, measured brim to brim over several tankfuls.
I replaced it with a much newer Citigo (60 bhp model). Much nicer to drive, and that got a shade over 60mpg with the same usage.
I currently have a Picanto with the 1 litre turbo engine. It's obviously a fair bit faster and probably heavier, but that struggles to get 50mpg.
2 cars stand out for me from an economy perspective.
1 was a 2003 Volvo S60 D5 - 5 pot 163bhp manual gearbox.
Got around 950 miles from a tank once driving from Hampshire to Bordeaux on holiday. Cruising attained around 50-55mpg.
Current car BMW 640d - if you try hard on the motorway - i've seen it as high as 58mpg. It refuses to do less than 36mpg even on short journeys. Sat at 70 on the motorway it gives around 48mpg on cruise control. I have noticed that i get higher economy if i drive the car myself, rather than use cruise.
Given that it's been remapped to over 360bhp/600nm, that's quite incredible.
1 was a 2003 Volvo S60 D5 - 5 pot 163bhp manual gearbox.
Got around 950 miles from a tank once driving from Hampshire to Bordeaux on holiday. Cruising attained around 50-55mpg.
Current car BMW 640d - if you try hard on the motorway - i've seen it as high as 58mpg. It refuses to do less than 36mpg even on short journeys. Sat at 70 on the motorway it gives around 48mpg on cruise control. I have noticed that i get higher economy if i drive the car myself, rather than use cruise.
Given that it's been remapped to over 360bhp/600nm, that's quite incredible.
In my own car:
Best ever for me was 81.1mpg for a full tank.
Car was a 2004 Peugeot 206 1.4HDI. On paper probably one of the most fuel efficient cars ever.
Averaged 73.9 over 11k miles. All measurements done using the fuel added as indicated on the pump and miles driven as per the odometer in the car, which when checked via Google satnav was pretty much spot on.
On a test at Mondello Park I managed 91.1 MPG in a Peugeot 308 HDI.
Not the best record to hold on a race track, but a record none the less.
Best ever for me was 81.1mpg for a full tank.
Car was a 2004 Peugeot 206 1.4HDI. On paper probably one of the most fuel efficient cars ever.
Averaged 73.9 over 11k miles. All measurements done using the fuel added as indicated on the pump and miles driven as per the odometer in the car, which when checked via Google satnav was pretty much spot on.
On a test at Mondello Park I managed 91.1 MPG in a Peugeot 308 HDI.
Not the best record to hold on a race track, but a record none the less.
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