REALLY NEED ALL PH'ers HELP

[japes]

Really need all PH'ers help here. My brother bought an 03 Focus C-Max 2.0 TDCi in Jan this year. Thought the car was pretty good until he realised he was getting an average of 32 mpg...and he's no hooligan. The dealer says that figure is poor but Ford Customer relations have washed their hands of it and say that the Govt figures are only a guide and shouldn't be taken seriously. Eh...? What's the point of them then !?! Ford are happy to brag on about 50 mpg combined on their website...but seem happy to admit the figures are bullshit in reality...by 50%. Has anyone else found their C-max performing this badly ? Should they get away with this kind of deceit ?

[Fatboy]

Sounds like utter bollox from Ford customer services to me - there's no way a modern turbodiesel in a hatchback should be giving fuel economy that low, there's blatantly something wrong with the car. My old petrol mk2 Golf got that mpg!!!!

[leorest]

I agree. I get better milage in a 1999 105,000 mile 2.0l Mundeno estate and that's thrashing it up and down the A34 and some country lanes! Thanks for the tip off. Won't be getting one of those next!

[Podie]

That doesn't sound great to be honest, but then when you read how the figures are produced, you're realistically never going to get near them...

Fuel consumption figures are completed in accordance of EEC Directive 1999/100/EC

directive said:

Urban An engine started from cold in laboratory conditions operated at varying speeds, maximum 31 mph, average 12 mph over a theoretical distance of 2.5 miles (4 km). Extra Urban Conducted immediately after the urban cycle, it consists of half steady speed driving and half varying speed driving, maximum 75 mph over a distance of 4.3 miles (7 km). Combined This is an average of the two parts of the test, weighted by the distances covered in each part.

The problem is that all manufacturers follow the directive and will use a caveat.. for example..

Ford Wesbite said:

The CO2 emissions and fuel consumption test figures shown in the chart do not express or imply any guarantee of the emissions or fuel consumption of a car of the class in question.

Also, those figures will be for one vehicle of a certain spec (as dictated in the directive). If your brother has air con, added equipment, different wheels etc etc... then consuption can be affected.

Not sure if there is anything you can do, but I would suggest checking the tyre pressures as this can have a huge effect on consumption..

[deltafox]

Trading standards?

[peanutjb]

Podie said:

That doesn't sound great to be honest, but then when you read how the figures are produced, you're realistically never going to get near them... Fuel consumption figures are completed in accordance of EEC Directive 1999/100/EC directive said: Urban An engine started from cold in laboratory conditions operated at varying speeds, maximum 31 mph, average 12 mph over a theoretical distance of 2.5 miles (4 km). Extra Urban Conducted immediately after the urban cycle, it consists of half steady speed driving and half varying speed driving, maximum 75 mph over a distance of 4.3 miles (7 km). Combined This is an average of the two parts of the test, weighted by the distances covered in each part.

I drive these tests at work, albiet for emmissions purposes. But what I can tell you is that it is in no way whatsoever representative of how people actually drive. Its an absolute farce that this is where they quote their figures from.
Peter

[NST]

japes said:

Really need all PH'ers help here. My brother bought an 03 Focus C-Max 2.0 TDCi in Jan this year. Thought the car was pretty good until he realised he was getting an average of 32 mpg...and he's no hooligan. The dealer says that figure is poor but Ford Customer relations have washed their hands of it and say that the Govt figures are only a guide and shouldn't be taken seriously. Eh...? What's the point of them then !?! Ford are happy to brag on about 50 mpg combined on their website...but seem happy to admit the figures are bullshit in reality...by 50%. Has anyone else found their C-max performing this badly ? Should they get away with this kind of deceit ?

i would get the EGR valve checked, and get the latest ECU map put on. there is a know issue with poor fuel consumption on the 2.0 TDCI unit, check out www.ffoc.co.uk and look in the c-max section.

[annodomini2]

My boss at work has one, will check what mpg he is seeing.

[jcas]

I'd get it checked. My Dad has a 2.0 TDCi mondeo and his trip computer shows 49mpg average - that includes time spent towing his caravan as well as my car on its trailer.

James

[wedg1e]

Now you mention it, I've just worked out what my Transit Connect TDCi does: about 330 miles on 60 litres.
That's 25 mpg... ... though I drive it like I have a company fuel card...

[japes]

Just to say thanks for all your thoughts...it's very much appreciated and will help to make a case for a replacement. The dealer seems to be coming round to swapping it for a C-Max that works...It looks to be a common problem with the C-Max. Various forums suggest that some of them do 40 plus and some are disapointing the owners with low mpg. It's been by far the least economical diesel we've ever owned...but we've always bought VW/Skoda up til now...hmmm.