Sensible sleeper - bangers
Discussion
My B10 V8 had an average of 24 while i owned it. And cruising at 70 would hit 30mpg, from a 4.6!
my new bangernomics 540i touring that replaced it is achieving 24 avg and 28ish on a run.
I have a friend who is only getting 26 avg from a S3. Dont write off the big V8s on economy so quickly.
my new bangernomics 540i touring that replaced it is achieving 24 avg and 28ish on a run.
I have a friend who is only getting 26 avg from a S3. Dont write off the big V8s on economy so quickly.
dvance said:
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 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.
A real world one as well 
used to have a Mk2 Audi A8 4.2 V8 which averaged 28.2mpg 4 up (plus luggage) at an average of 83mph (excluding time on ferry) between Verbier and Taunton.
it could 30 with 1 person at 70. (but then it did 28 at 110- so you might as well spend a bit extra and get there in 2/3 of the time!)
It would also do 2 Gallons to the mile in sport mode booting it from first up a hill.
it could 30 with 1 person at 70. (but then it did 28 at 110- so you might as well spend a bit extra and get there in 2/3 of the time!)
It would also do 2 Gallons to the mile in sport mode booting it from first up a hill.
Thanks for all the replies. A 328i touring would be nice, I'm a fan of RWD and 6 pots, but they aren't sleepers really.
The Honda Vti or rover 620 are indeed sleepers, nobody would look twice, therefore appealing. Also maybe a Citroen BX Gti if there are any left....
A friend has a late 90's Golf with a 1.8t motor and that is fairly handy and he says it always does mid 30's without him trying too hard. it looks oh so ordinary as well.
I was offered an Omega V6 a year back but had just bought an Audi diesel for the family runaround, so didn't have any spare money. I do feel I missed out there as I know the owner and it was a good well cared for car.....
I just don't want to get it wrong, I recently sold a Bmw E30 325i which was wonderfully nippy but undergeared for it's power so I never saw more than 30mpg no matter how slowly I went. It just wasn't what I expected.
I assume the later ones have a taller diff - I realise how much of a difference that makes. Whatever I get it needs to have fairly long gearing as I'm not going to be using it for track days.
Something that can achieve 35mpg at a 70 - 80mph run would be nice. Am I likely to see that from a mid 90's XJ6 3.2 as I do like them and have had a Jag before......and miss it....
The Honda Vti or rover 620 are indeed sleepers, nobody would look twice, therefore appealing. Also maybe a Citroen BX Gti if there are any left....
A friend has a late 90's Golf with a 1.8t motor and that is fairly handy and he says it always does mid 30's without him trying too hard. it looks oh so ordinary as well.
I was offered an Omega V6 a year back but had just bought an Audi diesel for the family runaround, so didn't have any spare money. I do feel I missed out there as I know the owner and it was a good well cared for car.....
I just don't want to get it wrong, I recently sold a Bmw E30 325i which was wonderfully nippy but undergeared for it's power so I never saw more than 30mpg no matter how slowly I went. It just wasn't what I expected.
I assume the later ones have a taller diff - I realise how much of a difference that makes. Whatever I get it needs to have fairly long gearing as I'm not going to be using it for track days.
Something that can achieve 35mpg at a 70 - 80mph run would be nice. Am I likely to see that from a mid 90's XJ6 3.2 as I do like them and have had a Jag before......and miss it....
georgezippy said:
Something that can achieve 35mpg at a 70 - 80mph run would be nice. Am I likely to see that from a mid 90's XJ6 3.2 as I do like them and have had a Jag before......and miss it....
Not a chance.As for the E36 not being a sleeper - they're so common that no-one gives them a second glance.
How many miles do you do in a year? Have you worked out what the difference in fuel cost is for 5mpg difference based on your actual mileage?
I can vouch for the Sleeper-ness of a 328i Touring. You can hear the jaws open when you drop the hammer. 
Also, I've just changed the air filter and given the MAF sensor a good squirt of industrial solvent. 34Mpg on a race up North was the result, along with a much smoother engine... Perhaps I was being a bit harsh to people suggesting 30Mpg+ was a possibility.
Also, I've just changed the air filter and given the MAF sensor a good squirt of industrial solvent. 34Mpg on a race up North was the result, along with a much smoother engine... Perhaps I was being a bit harsh to people suggesting 30Mpg+ was a possibility.
Twincam16 said:
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.
I would 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.
LOVE one of those in black or navy. Where would I look and what sort of price are they?
I used to have a Jaguar 1984 V12 Sov. True, every drive was just a joy but normal driving saw 16mpg and really trying saw 23mpg. On a 250mile trip that I do from time to time that was ridiculous, easpecially as it made such a nice noise when nailed.... It had a crap gearbox, and need an overdrive for motorways. It even made me cry twice......once when I was filling it with fuel after only 250 miles - in the same day! and the other time was when I sold it.
Think I'm leaning towards a 328i touring.....
Maybe 5mpg either way doesn't make much difference but fuel is so expensive, and won't ever get cheaper. I'm trying to strike that fine balance between something that's quickish/nice to be in - yet not a guzzler. In my opinion 30 - 35mpg (on a run) is that. I don't do much town driving.
Think I'm leaning towards a 328i touring.....
Maybe 5mpg either way doesn't make much difference but fuel is so expensive, and won't ever get cheaper. I'm trying to strike that fine balance between something that's quickish/nice to be in - yet not a guzzler. In my opinion 30 - 35mpg (on a run) is that. I don't do much town driving.
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