Who Drives/Rides to get the most MPG?

[Smiler.]

Recently, I have become increasingly intent on upping the MPG of the current daily wagon (Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTec).

Honda MPG figures:
Urban 35.3
Combined 43.5
Extra urban 50.4


What is the criteria for the above classification? Urban I'm guessing would be a fair amount of stop/start?

So far, the highest I have seen is 40.9 (driving around country lanes 30 or so miles of the M4). At the start of that journey, the figure was 34.0

I used the cruise control thingy on the M4, and that explains some of the behaviour I have witnessed whilst driving/riding.

My daily drive to the office is less than 3 miles, which may explain why the MPG has dropped as low as 27.

Are the manufacturers figures ever achievable in the real world?

[kambites]

I think the official consumption figures are a combination of a drag test (which I think they do by measuring deceleration from a fixed speed while freewheeling); vehicle weight; and fuel used during a set of defined speed changes on a rolling road which is meant to simulate each type of driving.

I average around 36-37mpg in the Elise (the official figure is 42) but my commute is only 4 or 5 miles so it's often cold and when I'm going further, I don't tend to drive remotely gently. I think 42mpg would be an easily achievement average if my journeys weren't quite so short and I wasn't driving hard.

I've seen 50mpg on long, relatively slow, motorway runs, which is about on a par with the extra-urban figure.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 14th July 09:56

[balders118]

I voted smoothly does it, but its not always the case. It depends what mood i'm in and the road/distance/time i'm driving on/to and have to get to my destination.

[ewenm]

I always try to drive smoothly in any of my cars, doesn't mean I'm thinking about MPG though.

[Crusoe]

Depends, long journey on motorways where there isn't an arrival time to meet then might as well save some fuel (had the M3 up to 36mpg on a long run) but the rest of the time it's used as intended.

[slomax]

I think both of my parents are bettering the manufacturers predictions. My mums 1.6D c4 is averaging mid 60s and my dads 04 vectra 2.0D is averaging 57mpg at the moment.

[Munter]

The Avensis I drive smoothly and try to maximise the MPG while driving at the speed limit. It's Averaging about 54MPG, but the Average at 70 is about 58. Through reasonably flat 50 sections it'll return closer to 65mpg.

Then you think I'm refunded ~33p a mile over the year. 54 miles * 33p = £17.82 refund for every gallon of fuel burnt.

Then factor in diesel at £5.41 a gallon. Well it's worth my while getting the best MPG I can.

[nonuts]

Really? This is not a thread I expected from you!

I don't drive for MPG however sometimes I'm interested in how low / how high it gets.

[lost in espace]

My old school non PD Tdi + used veg oil is the most mpg I can get, 40mpg and mixed with derv about £2 a gallon. So I drive it flat out.

[Danny S]

I do drive quite economically ie rolling towards roundabouts and down hills. But i always seem to ruin my MPG with the odd squeeze now and then!

Ahh well. Currently doing mid 30's in an Astra 1.8.

[omgus]

I spend most of my time driving very smoothly trying to get the best mpg I can (around 22-25) to make up for the 18-20mpg average that I tend to get over a tank.
On a long 65-70mph motorway run I can see 30mpg, or at least I have once.

[cmackay81]

everytime i visit the petrol station I spend around 10 miles trying to maximise my MPG.

however at about this point I always forget and start driving to enjoy it again :P

[Mars]

The Scooby does between 18mpg and about 22mpg. The difference is so minimal that I just drive it as hard as conditions allow. I'm resigned to the fuel consumption. In fact it's quite liberating to not even consider it.

[DJC]

lost in espace said:

My old school non PD Tdi + used veg oil is the most mpg I can get, 40mpg and mixed with derv about £2 a gallon. So I drive it flat out.

Im on 90% veg oil at the moment, the turbo on the tdi is kaput and Im still seeing 50mpg @ 80p/ltr.

I love it!

VAG no PD TDi's absolutely rock I think they would actually run on anything liquid you could throw down them because to be honest I throw any old crap down mine.

17,000 miles since January and counting. Another 1000 will go on her this week.

[patmahe]

You can drive smoothly and quite quickly and still have reasonable fuel consumption

[Smiler.]

nonuts said:

....Really? This is not a thread I expected from you!.....

Shut-it you

Now where'd I put me slippers?

[Fastra]

Given the cost of petrol and the rising cost of everything else these days I've GOT to watch how I drive, so smoothly does it for me.

I've also upped the tyre pressures a couple of PSI too (to 31 front and 33 rear) and gained an extra 40 miles range per tank full.

Edited by Fastra on Wednesday 14th July 10:49

[jmorgan]

When going to work in the barge mobile, its mpg as best possible (within reason). When out in the Tiv its "what is mpg?"

[GSP]

I have always managed or improved on manufacturer MPG figures... even on Fords.

55 - 60mph behind a truck is the only way to achieve the MAX mpg in most cases.

[MondeoMan1981]

When I spank it I usually average 62/63mpg but when I take it easier the best I've seen from a tank, with 60% motorway driving was 73mpg.

I miss buying sweets and crap at the petrol station