M@'s MPG Disappointment....
Discussion
quote:
Cor.. now it looks like I'm whinging.. which wasn't the purpose of this thread.. I was hoping for some..
.."have you considered XYZ part.."
.."when was it last tuned.."
.."I find optimax gives me a better MPG.."
..etc
..etc
not... "stop whining and get on with it..." Oh well...
Sorry but there is no real answer to it. I bought a Cerbera for everday use and gave in after a month,not I might mention because of the MPG.I bought A BMW318i for £1400 and kept the Cebera for High days and Holidays.
As Steve says do you use UL Matt? Might save you a bit.
I did a run from Porstmouth to Preston and got somewhere near 30mpg (4 litre Chimaera), stopped at Brum to visit some relatives half way but for the whole journey kept it about 3000rpm - 90ish mph.
I did read somewhere - probably here - that someone indeed got more mpg at higher speeds as it was just a sweet spot for the engine? Next time you do the run, knock up the old speed by a couple mph.
I did a run from Porstmouth to Preston and got somewhere near 30mpg (4 litre Chimaera), stopped at Brum to visit some relatives half way but for the whole journey kept it about 3000rpm - 90ish mph.
I did read somewhere - probably here - that someone indeed got more mpg at higher speeds as it was just a sweet spot for the engine? Next time you do the run, knock up the old speed by a couple mph.
M@,
Oh yeah didnt mention that Optimax does improve the fuel consumption - not a massive amount, but expect something like 2-3 extra in the TVR. Makes a bigger difference in a more modern car with a sophisticated engine management system...which the TVR doesnt have..
Mines been de-tuned in the past for unleaded which is OK, but it does mean that I loose some power (does it really matter?). However, the benefit of optimax / super is in the smoother running - much better than standard UL.
As for stuff like octane boosters and funny plug-in things for the fuel system - they dont really work. They may give you a little more MPG, but for the cost and the marginal gain they really arent worth the money. Best off with Super UL and maybe a tune - you never know it might be running too rich or off tune..
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. Remember that a tune will probably cost the thick end of £200 so that buys a lot of fuel in the first place.
Oh yeah didnt mention that Optimax does improve the fuel consumption - not a massive amount, but expect something like 2-3 extra in the TVR. Makes a bigger difference in a more modern car with a sophisticated engine management system...which the TVR doesnt have..
Mines been de-tuned in the past for unleaded which is OK, but it does mean that I loose some power (does it really matter?). However, the benefit of optimax / super is in the smoother running - much better than standard UL.
As for stuff like octane boosters and funny plug-in things for the fuel system - they dont really work. They may give you a little more MPG, but for the cost and the marginal gain they really arent worth the money. Best off with Super UL and maybe a tune - you never know it might be running too rich or off tune..
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. Remember that a tune will probably cost the thick end of £200 so that buys a lot of fuel in the first place.
quote:
As Steve says do you use UL Matt? Might save you a bit.
I did a run from Porstmouth to Preston and got somewhere near 30mpg (4 litre Chimaera), stopped at Brum to visit some relatives half way but for the whole journey kept it about 3000rpm - 90ish mph.
I did read somewhere - probably here - that someone indeed got more mpg at higher speeds as it was just a sweet spot for the engine? Next time you do the run, knock up the old speed by a couple mph.
The views expressed in this post are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of other law abiding PHr's or its Board of Directors. PH makes no representation concerning and does not guarantee the source, originality,
accuracy, completeness or reliability of any statement, information, data, finding, interpretation, advice,
opinion, or view presented.
Steady.
I run it on UL, but stick optimax in it for long hard runs - otherwise it pinks.
Using my Chim 500 as my everyday car in '99, my fuel costs for the year were £3087 for the year (about 16K miles worth). That's about an average of 20mpg.
Was doing a lot of continental driving where I found that best fuel economy was around 90mph in 5th. This gave about 26-28mpg. Uk motorways (70mph) around 23mpg, urban 15-20mpg and having a blast 10-15mpg.
Add another £1500 for servicing and £500 misc gives a nice running figure of £5000 for 16K miles and 12months. And that doesn't include the £10K worth of depreciation (car was owned from new). So that's about 31p per mile (93p including dep.).
Was doing a lot of continental driving where I found that best fuel economy was around 90mph in 5th. This gave about 26-28mpg. Uk motorways (70mph) around 23mpg, urban 15-20mpg and having a blast 10-15mpg.
Add another £1500 for servicing and £500 misc gives a nice running figure of £5000 for 16K miles and 12months. And that doesn't include the £10K worth of depreciation (car was owned from new). So that's about 31p per mile (93p including dep.).
quote:
Was doing a lot of continental driving where I found that best fuel economy was around 90mph in 5th.
I rest my case.
And then whatever this may mean...
The views expressed in this post are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of other law abiding PHr's or its Board of Directors. PH makes no representation concerning and does not guarantee the source, originality,
accuracy, completeness or reliability of any statement, information, data, finding, interpretation, advice,
opinion, or view presented.
quote:
M@
You're a bloody whinger, you're driving a 4 litre Chimaera for christ's sake ... !
You did your homework on the costs of buying it, maybe you should have done some on the running costs too ...
Just enjoy it and x0ll0b to the cost of the fuel.
well thanks for that...
why is it that everyone who knows it does 18 to the gallon appears on PH after you've bought one, and more significantly doesn't contribute to my earlier threads asking about MPG..?? 
be consistant you lot 
Being serious for a minute, M@, give it a few tankfuls to allow your driving style to adjust to the different characteristics of the engine.
Ride the torque curve by staying in a higher gear and using less revs, for example - you don't need to fizz the nuts off the V8 to make progress.
The 500's do 18mpg for sure, but with your 400 you should be able to hit the mid-20's like you budgetted for with a little restraint.
Every performance car I've owned has had shitty mpg for the first few tanks because, no matter how restrained you are, you still give it a bit of large because its your new car!
Ride the torque curve by staying in a higher gear and using less revs, for example - you don't need to fizz the nuts off the V8 to make progress.
The 500's do 18mpg for sure, but with your 400 you should be able to hit the mid-20's like you budgetted for with a little restraint.
Every performance car I've owned has had shitty mpg for the first few tanks because, no matter how restrained you are, you still give it a bit of large because its your new car!
quote:
Try taking the Beetle every other day ... problem solved.
Beetle??? As long as it isnt an orignal one (not one of those Golf based ones) - you would be lucky to get 25 out of the 1300 one...! If it has had any improvements to make it faster then you are looking at 20 at best.... and it has to be 4 star!!!
Cheers,
Paul
mmm i use my 4ltr most days and used to do kidderminster to cheltenham (north place) 2/3 times a week and always got over 20mpg.
i have managed single figures on the track, but always get over 20 on the road....
your probably just in the holigan new car stage, and will calm down a bit after a whilte
Enjoy
G
i have managed single figures on the track, but always get over 20 on the road....
your probably just in the holigan new car stage, and will calm down a bit after a whilte
Enjoy
G
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