Sensible sleeper - bangers

[TEKNOPUG]

Big Rod said:

Omegas are great, but they're thirsty.

Yet you suggest the following as alternatives

Big Rod said:

Early Lexus LS400/GS300?

Lexus Soarer, V8 or twin turbo V6?

What is the OP's idea of sensible MPG? What sort of driving is he doing - M-Way, Urban - mixed? Will make a big difference to MPG and the sort of car you should be looking for.

[WeirdNeville]

^I agree, but those Mpg figures are wildly optomistic in my experience.
40Mpg is hypermiling it IME
80-90 yields below 30Mpg.

I calculate my mpg from filling the tank, the trip compter is about 10% optomistic and I haven't got around to adjusting it yet.

[dvance]

WeirdNeville said:

^I agree, but those Mpg figures are wildly optomistic in my experience.
40Mpg is hypermiling it IME
80-90 yields below 30Mpg.

I calculate my mpg from filling the tank, the trip compter is about 10% optomistic and I haven't got around to adjusting it yet.

+1

I cannot see a car with an engine >2.3L returning >35mpg at speeds over 75mph

[TEKNOPUG]

dvance said:

+1

I cannot see a car with an engine >2.3L returning >35mpg at speeds over 75mph

Depends upon weight, gearing, aerodynamics etc

[V8mate]

Sleeper bangers?

Only popped in to confirm that everyone needs a bosom for a pillow!

[mmm-five]

TEKNOPUG said:

dvance said:

+1

I cannot see a car with an engine >2.3L returning >35mpg at speeds over 75mph

Depends upon weight, gearing, aerodynamics etc

You can get 30mpg out of a Z4M at constant 70mph (but you wouldn't want to), and there are 2.5/3.0 litre ones averaging well over 30mpg with 40mpg on steady runs.

[boredofmyoldname]

dvance said:

+1

I cannot see a car with an engine >2.3L returning >35mpg at speeds over 75mph

35mpg over 250 miles in a 2.0T mostly motorways and at least 60% at 70 or higher.

[mmm-five]

boredofmyoldname said:

35mpg over 250 miles in a 2.0T mostly motorways and at least 60% at 70 or higher.

I can get 50mpg out of my mum's 1.2 Fabia at 80mph, but it's not enjoyable and it's not >2.3L either

[TEKNOPUG]

mmm-five said:

You can get 30mpg out of a Z4M at constant 70mph (but you wouldn't want to), and there are 2.5/3.0 litre ones averaging well over 30mpg with 40mpg on steady runs.

I'd imagine that there are lots of cars with engines of 3.0l or over that can average over 30mpg at 70mph or above. As I said, it depends upon weight, gearing and aero.

You don't require a lot of power to maintain a speed of 70mph, just decent torque, so if you have a tall 5/6th gear - like a Corvette that's barely idling with 1500rpm @ 70mph then decent mpg with large engines is possible.

Or you could have a small hot hatch like a Clio or 205 and it's nearer to 4000rmp @ 70mph and will return worse figures.

[MoonMonkey]

TTwiggy said:

My XJ8 averages around 19mpg, which isn't bad.

Not that quick off the line, but packs quite a punch once moving.

Mine's for sale too.

Go on then I'll bite... gotta link to the ad

[Gachet]

slipstream 1985 said:

xsara vts. very comfy car to cruise in lots of equipment, 6 disc changer electric mirrors ac. looks very normal will do 35+mpg cruising but really fun when you drop a cog or 2.

What a great car those are; the ride is harsh, the gearboxes are notchy, you'd be lucky to get 30 mpg and the chance of all the electrics working properly at this price point are pretty slim.

To the OP, I'd look at the Honda Civic 1.8 Vti if you need to leave it in undesireable locations as they look like something Grandad would drive so no-ones going to take a second look, but are quick and should be fairly reliable.

[2 Wycked]

hora said:

Looking at your profile you only bought it a few months ago- has it turned out to be a dog?!!!

I replaced the majority of the cooling system as a matter of course (weak spot on M50s) and the alternator failed a week after buying it. It now runs and drives beautifully with no knocks or bangs, so not a dog, just a little bit of spending initially.

My reason for trying to sell it was the cost of insurance shooting up, but I managed to find a price that I was willing to pay, so I kept it.

[Twincam16]

If you're driving round dodgy areas and you don't want people breaking your car, get one of these:



Fuel economy's rubbish, price is out of your bracket, dimensions are close to unmanageable, but for sinister urban presence, nothing comes close to the Kraymobile.

[boredofmyoldname]

Twincam16 said:

If you're driving round dodgy areas in the late 70's and early 80's and you don't want people breaking your car, get one of these:

EFA.

You now need a RRS or X5 with tints, or similar.

[dan101smith]

E39 540i/6.

Manual gearbox makes a massive difference to the economy. Can get mid 30s on a (very) sensible run, 30 on a normal run, less if you want to.

They don't turn up all that frequently, but they do turn up.

The 328i is another option as mentioned. The 540 is a country mile quicker, but the 328i is probably the better steer.

[gareth_r]

Big Rod said:

...Lexus Soarer, V8 or twin turbo V6?...

Straight six, and it's a Toyota.

[sim16v]

I'd suggest that the BMW options, despite being great cars, might be more prone to vandalism than other cars.


My suggestions are still German though.

Audi 80/A4 V6
Audi A4 1.8T
Merc C or E class with minimum 200bhp engines
Passat V6/1.8T
Vento VR6, or golf VR6 for that matter.

All should do 25-28mpg on normal driving, 33-35 on a run

[cptsideways]

gareth_r said:

Big Rod said:

...Lexus Soarer, V8 or twin turbo V6?...

Straight six, and it's a Toyota.

V8's are'nt hideous on fuel, 30+ mpg on a run, wont ever go wrong bar the starship enterprise blinky dash panels which to be honest you can live with. Twin turbo's are quite saught after for the engines.

[dvance]

TEKNOPUG said:

I'd imagine that there are lots of cars with engines of 3.0l or over that can average over 30mpg at 70mph or above. As I said, it depends upon weight, gearing and aero.

You don't require a lot of power to maintain a speed of 70mph, just decent torque, so if you have a tall 5/6th gear - like a Corvette that's barely idling with 1500rpm @ 70mph then decent mpg with large engines is possible.

Or you could have a small hot hatch like a Clio or 205 and it's nearer to 4000rmp @ 70mph and will return worse figures.

I demand a NA petrol engined example of that statement A real world one as well

[dan101smith]

My E39 540i/6 is a real-world example.

HTH.