Driving economically is more fun than driving quickly
Discussion
With fuel prices out of control and it becoming tedious fulling up every 5-6 days, I started seriously considering selling my M240i and after seeing how much I’d have to chip in for something more ‘economical’, I’d be spending a few thousand more to save money on filling my car up so it didn’t make sense unless I downgraded to a smart car. I also do not want a diesel so there’s that too.
I decided to drive slowly/economically and it has been so much fun. It’s like a game, having to anticipate traffic flow, traffic lights and hills, putting the car in neutral (it’s a manual) and rolling to a stop.
Eco pro mode is a massive help as it softens the throttle considerably.
What I love the most about driving economically is how much more time you have to think and how much more you can enjoy listening to music.
It sounds like I used to drive like a maniac before hand but it was more due to enjoying the car, engine, handling etc. I live in a somewhat rural area and my commute is loads of long wide roads.
My long term average is now up to 21.5, up from 19.8 mpg however my trip computer which resets every day hasn’t dipped below 30 which I’m very chuffed with.
My over all range is now showing 380 miles after a mostly traffic ridden 53 mile day of going to the highstreet, supermarket, gym and work. This is huge for me as my range usually is no more than 250 on a good week!
The B58 engine really can be very economical but make no mistake, if you’re buying it purely for economy, might as well not get it because if you intend to use an inch of its performance, the range and mpg plummets.
Pistonheads…Economy matters
I decided to drive slowly/economically and it has been so much fun. It’s like a game, having to anticipate traffic flow, traffic lights and hills, putting the car in neutral (it’s a manual) and rolling to a stop.
Eco pro mode is a massive help as it softens the throttle considerably.
What I love the most about driving economically is how much more time you have to think and how much more you can enjoy listening to music.
It sounds like I used to drive like a maniac before hand but it was more due to enjoying the car, engine, handling etc. I live in a somewhat rural area and my commute is loads of long wide roads.
My long term average is now up to 21.5, up from 19.8 mpg however my trip computer which resets every day hasn’t dipped below 30 which I’m very chuffed with.
My over all range is now showing 380 miles after a mostly traffic ridden 53 mile day of going to the highstreet, supermarket, gym and work. This is huge for me as my range usually is no more than 250 on a good week!
The B58 engine really can be very economical but make no mistake, if you’re buying it purely for economy, might as well not get it because if you intend to use an inch of its performance, the range and mpg plummets.
Pistonheads…Economy matters
It can certainly make the commute more interesting. I prefer to drive on an open country road and not care about MPG. However, when faced with a long commute to the office in busy but flowing traffic I often watch the economy for entertainment. Here's an example from my McLaren a few weeks ago, I could have saved maybe 2 minutes over 100 miles with a heavier right foot:
targarama said:
It can certainly make the commute more interesting. I prefer to drive on an open country road and not care about MPG. However, when faced with a long commute to the office in busy but flowing traffic I often watch the economy for entertainment. Here's an example from my McLaren a few weeks ago, I could have saved maybe 2 minutes over 100 miles with a heavier right foot:
Wow that’s brilliant, I haven’t seen that yet, we’ll I’ve seen 40mpg but only if I’m doing a steady 40-50 mph.As you said, it is interesting. It’s also nice not to be concentrating so hard when speeding, or looking out for under cover police cars
M235 averaging 18.6mpg.
About 2 months ago I put the car into econ or whatever the mode is called for first ever time in over 2 years of owning car.
I did it for a week, I get it, its a bit of a game, seeing the blue colour on the dash, telling myself after a week i have a free litre of something.
In the end i was driving terrible, trying not to brake when i really should, coasting, feather on the accelerator, making a mess out of everything.
Bought a 125cc scooter for 1k and i use that for short commute and get about 100mpg while ragging its neck, much more fun than nearly rear ending others while trying to coast and save fuel.
About 2 months ago I put the car into econ or whatever the mode is called for first ever time in over 2 years of owning car.
I did it for a week, I get it, its a bit of a game, seeing the blue colour on the dash, telling myself after a week i have a free litre of something.
In the end i was driving terrible, trying not to brake when i really should, coasting, feather on the accelerator, making a mess out of everything.
Bought a 125cc scooter for 1k and i use that for short commute and get about 100mpg while ragging its neck, much more fun than nearly rear ending others while trying to coast and save fuel.
Well driving economically saves you bricking it for 2 weeks after you notice the white van parked behind a hedge. Some people are lucky but most aren't in that where most of us live gives as much chance to drive properly 'fast' as we have of going on holiday to the moon. Some weeks ago I drove a 1.5TSi Octavia (petrol) 210 motorway miles and averaged 66.8 MPG, because I wasn't filling up at motorway services prices and was facing jams on the way anyhow. That was at 65 MPH, and it ran most of the way in 2 cylinder eco mode. It wasn't fun though.
Edited by Rich Boy Spanner on Tuesday 31st May 18:19
Fun ?
I can't see it catching on to F1 - the last one to run out of fuel wins......
Interesting every now & then - I drove through France yesterday, 600 miles at 80 instead of my usual comfortably quicker - I managed to make it to my destination (just) & fill up there rather than on the motorway, so satisfying, but I wouldn't call it fun.
It was strange seeing the cameras and not having to brake.....
I can't see it catching on to F1 - the last one to run out of fuel wins......
Interesting every now & then - I drove through France yesterday, 600 miles at 80 instead of my usual comfortably quicker - I managed to make it to my destination (just) & fill up there rather than on the motorway, so satisfying, but I wouldn't call it fun.
It was strange seeing the cameras and not having to brake.....
It's easier to do when you drive a s
te old boring car. I'm always in uber eco mode in my 1.9 tdi Saab as it's utterly lifeless and flat as a fart. I take sad respite in knowing it will do 850 miles to a tank and averages 48 mpg as a trade off. Admittedly, it makes motorway driving more relaxing. Stick in lane 1 and turn the radio up.
te old boring car. I'm always in uber eco mode in my 1.9 tdi Saab as it's utterly lifeless and flat as a fart. I take sad respite in knowing it will do 850 miles to a tank and averages 48 mpg as a trade off. Admittedly, it makes motorway driving more relaxing. Stick in lane 1 and turn the radio up. Had a 123d a few year ago, great little car. Stuck driving down the M6 in heavy but moving traffic. Managed to get 65mpg out if it! Decided to see how long I could keep this up when the traffic eased. Lasted about 15 minutes until I became so utterly bored and frustrated that I gave up and blasted the rest of the way home.
Sorry, economical driving is OK, when needed. But I was always taught that its safer to not be rolling road block. I have sympathy for drivers of vehicles that cant go that quick, but for everyone else, drive at the appropriate speeds for the conditions and the roads - and if that means being a little heavy footed, so be it. Better to be safe and use a little extra fuel than it is to put yourself or others at risk.
I'll go without other stuff like a Starbucks coffee or dinner out than have to drive slowly in my cars. Sorry.
Sorry, economical driving is OK, when needed. But I was always taught that its safer to not be rolling road block. I have sympathy for drivers of vehicles that cant go that quick, but for everyone else, drive at the appropriate speeds for the conditions and the roads - and if that means being a little heavy footed, so be it. Better to be safe and use a little extra fuel than it is to put yourself or others at risk.
I'll go without other stuff like a Starbucks coffee or dinner out than have to drive slowly in my cars. Sorry.
I don't see the fun in trying to make a really inefficient and fairly expensive (but fast and enjoyable to drive) car a bit more efficient.
You could get better MPG by simply replacing the car with something like a Focus and driving it like you stole it. Driving a Focus or similar normally you would get double the MPG you can get by driving the performance car really economically.
Trying to be a really economical but without hanging about can be an interesting exercise, but is far more rewarding in something like a hybrid Corolla where you are rewarded with a genuinely decent MPG in the 70s or 80s which wouldn't be possible by any other means.
You could get better MPG by simply replacing the car with something like a Focus and driving it like you stole it. Driving a Focus or similar normally you would get double the MPG you can get by driving the performance car really economically.
Trying to be a really economical but without hanging about can be an interesting exercise, but is far more rewarding in something like a hybrid Corolla where you are rewarded with a genuinely decent MPG in the 70s or 80s which wouldn't be possible by any other means.
Well let me be clear, when I mean economically, I don’t mean everywhere or when the road is open, I mean in normal traffic. I do the speed limit, maybe 5mph over but it usually takes a while to reach that speed.
I can’t imagine the amount of fuel I burnt through but my way was S+ everywhere, floor it in every gap, accelerate like hell on slip roads and stay in a low gear, enjoying the torque of the car. I did it to make the most out of the car and engine but with my new found discovery (might last, might not), I’ve realized it’s a bit like the saying, ‘stop and smell the roses’.
I can’t imagine the amount of fuel I burnt through but my way was S+ everywhere, floor it in every gap, accelerate like hell on slip roads and stay in a low gear, enjoying the torque of the car. I did it to make the most out of the car and engine but with my new found discovery (might last, might not), I’ve realized it’s a bit like the saying, ‘stop and smell the roses’.
Spleen said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Sorry,but it really isn't fun. It's bloody boring.
But then, I've two V8s totalling nearly nine litres between them so probably this isn't the thread for me.
Ooh, this is fun. My two V8s add up to 8.7 litres. Yours?But then, I've two V8s totalling nearly nine litres between them so probably this isn't the thread for me.
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