Performance cars driven slow for increased mpg

[pimping]

Just driving up the A55 and passed a lovely blue blobeye subaru impreza wrx driving at a constant 60mph with a very bored looking driver and occupants.

This has got me wondering, do people buy performance cars then say 'what the heck' to petrol consumption and blitz it or do they lay off and drive sensibly for most of the time to achieve maximum mpg whilst still having a fast car and going balls out every now and again.

Got to say that whatever I drive I always end up trying to maintain momentum to achieve the best return per tank of fuel whether it's a guzzler or not. A bit sad I know but it suits my relaxed driving style.

Any thoughts on the matter?

[43034]

pimping said:

This has got me wondering, do people buy performance cars then say 'what the heck' to petrol consumption and blitz it or do they lay off and drive sensibly for most of the time to achieve maximum mpg whilst still having a fast car and going balls out every now and again.

I know someone who does exactly that. 147GTA. Rather shameful, will plod along at 55mph on the Motorway.

Shouldn't have purchased it if you don't like the specs IMO.

[KB_S1]

If I am doing a M'way slog for work purposes I try and keep the car off-boost.
The difference of 5mph on my average M'way run adds a couple of minutes at most but changes the consumption from mid 20s to low 30s.

Then it means more petrol available for the interesting roads.

[daydotz]

im guitly of this 180bhp driven to achieve 40mpg

[iphonedyou]

Absolutely. I've a DC5, and if I'm driving to work on a Monday morning, I'm not going to be accelerating and decelerating harshly. What's the point? Especially if you're just driving up the motorway, and carrying passengers. Certainly in my case, that wouldn't be the time or place for spirited driving. I'll save that for empty B roads

Don't see a problem with saving fuel where you can, and using it elsewhere

[Magic919]

I assumed all Turbo Imprezas were driven like that. Motorway at 56 seems to be the norm.

[fluffnik]

If you've got the time there's little joy to be gained burning fuel on the motorway...

[Mastodon2]

If I'm driving to work, I never give it full boost - can't remember the last time I did it. I would only be stuck up the chuff of a lorry or a 50mph in a 60zoner in a few seconds anyway, and the roads are too busy to overtake at rush hour, there simply aren't big enough gaps in oncoming traffic, so I take it easy. I generally try to use as little boost as possible in these situations, no sense wasting petrol and wearing parts when you aren't really having fun.

This seems to be a common topic, "I have seen fastcarxxx being driven slowly and sensibly, do all drivers of fastcarxxx do this?", but most modern performance cars are so fast and capable that you can barely test their limits on public roads without losing your licence, or crashing, potentially killing yourself and others. Why risk your livelihood and safety? If you want to see fast cars being driven fast, keep your eyes open on quiet roads, late at night or early in the morning!

[kambites]

I tend to plod along the motorway/dual carriageway at the same speed as the lorries. Nothing to do with fuel saving, I just find it more pleasant.

[Zwoelf]

fluffnik said:

If you've got the time there's little joy to be gained burning fuel on the motorway...

Definitely this most of the time.

[PumpkinSteve]

Zwoelf said:

Definitely this most of the time.

Yep. Workmates take the piss when the see me doing my Miss Daisy routine on the way to work whilst they are driving flat out at and over the speed limit, why on earth would I be in a hurry to get to work and waste more fuel than necessary?

[benny 61]

I tried driving economically once but gave it up as a bad job, i simply haven't the patience. I would sooner it cost me a bit more.

[clarkmagpie]

Laura drives the Elise like an angel, I Drive it like the devil would.
The Griff, what the heck to MPG, have you heard the thing on full chat?!!
Same goes with the GTV.

We don't do massive miles so I don't give a monkeys!

[Ricky_M]

Its not just performance cars, I have to drive my 2.0 Focus gently in order to return 30+MPG. If there was ever a car that didn't have the go to match the fuel consumption, that would be it!

[dcb]

benny 61 said:

I tried driving economically once but gave it up as a bad job, i simply haven't the patience. I would sooner it cost me a bit more.

Gaining a few mpg to waste time that costs at
anything from National Minimum Wage to hundreds of
pounds per hour seems daft to me.

Even more so if you're economically active
enough to afford a performance car in the first
place.

Ok the Werther's Original Mob bimbling about under
the influence of Harold Wilson in lane 1 have all
the time in the world, but even a low grade office
worker on £10 an hour who saves 3 mpg by driving
slow - it simply doesn't add up.

[tercelgold]

The bigger the engine the better mpg it will get doing 70.

[MartyPubes]

benny 61 said:

I tried driving economically once but gave it up as a bad job, i simply haven't the patience. I would sooner it cost me a bit more.

This applies to me too. I simply can't stand 'plodding along'.

[jas xjr]

I regularly drive from Hertfordshire to Staffordshire . I find it really difficult to drive economically . Also sitting in the car for so long is tiring. Take it easy maybe three hours ,trousers on fire two hours fifteen . Obviously that depends on traffic and weather conditions.

[mrmr96]

daydotz said:

im guitly of this 180bhp driven to achieve 40mpg

You wanna get a diesel mate - I have 204bhp and 43mpg. :-) (330d)

[Classic Grad 98]

No point ragging the nuts off it when road conditions aren't conductive to 'fun'! You won't see me driving the caterham economically on the open road though.