Will a Subaru Impreza WRX turbo ever see 30mpg combined?

[G_T]

From Parkers:

"Subaru Impreza Estate (00-05) 2.0 WRX AWD Turbo 5d

MPG 30"


Surely bks? Is there any chance of a Scooby WRX turbo seeing 30mpg combined?

What would be more realistic? 22 MPG on super?

[sebhaque]

Yes, 22-25mpg was the general mpg I got out of my old 05 STi (on super). However, if I stuck to about 60mph on the motorway, I'd be off-turbo and I've seen 31mpg out of it before. That's probably 85% motorway (@60), 13% town driving (not stop-start), and 2% foot down as I remember "enjoying" the southbound M5/M4 merge twice.

[G_T]

Very tempted now.

But combined is still quite a bit below 30?

[300bhp/ton]

G_T said:

Very tempted now.

But combined is still quite a bit below 30?

LPG kit?

[homerjay]

ive never seen anywhere near a combined figure any of my past cars.

i rarely see the urban figure.

i used to get about 18mpg in my sti type-uk ppp on a 5 mile daily commute, (40mph A road, roundabout, 40mph A road, roundabout, 30mph B road) with very little traffic.

[G_T]

300bhp/ton said:

G_T said:

Very tempted now.

But combined is still quite a bit below 30?

LPG kit?

Ummm'd and arr'd over one of those kits before from Tinley Tech. Had the money for the kit. Read into the installation, roped an engineer into helping me but it still never happened.

I guess I'm just too lazy. I would also have concerns over the lack of cooling in a turbo charged car. But then again 220bhp isn't asking that much and I live in Scotland where cooling isn't the biggest issue.

Hmmm...

[Animal]

I averaged 25.5mpg over 20,900 miles (2 years) in mine. Best mpg from a tank was 31.7mpg (all motorway cruising).

[halo34]

Do you really want to be buying a car like this and worrying about fuel use?

A serious question - I find the fun factor is rubbed off somewhat (ooh err) when I am worrying about my MPG.

The subaru engine is not economic in the slightest but is a right hoot in the right form. The weird and wonderful word of tuning means that a higher powered properly mapped car with a closed loop custom map can be more economic that a standard car as well.

My friend who has one of the limited editions is happy if he manages 200 miles on a tank.

PS sorry real world I managed 26 mpg on my old classic impreza which was running around 300 bhp combined. On a hoon that would drop to around 18mpg or lower so I would plan for 22 mpg personally.

Edited by halo34 on Tuesday 26th October 12:01

[Fume troll]

Quick bit of arithmetic: How much will it cost you to do your annual mileage at 30mpg vs 25.

Cheers,

FT.

[G_T]

I don't agree that when you buy a WRX you shouldn't worry about fuel. It's a compromise purchase not an all out sports car. I'm mostly after the AWD and estate capability to be honest.

In my experience there's a hell of a difference between 20, 25 and 30 MPG when it comes to living with cars.

It's no so much the annual running costs. But you'll find yourself saying horrible things like "taking the back rounds has just cost me £20", or "we'll take the micra to Perth because it will save £50 on fuel".

I can't let that happen. I won't drive the Micra again.

[G_T]

Fume troll said:

Quick bit of arithmetic: How much will it cost you to do your annual mileage at 30mpg vs 25.

Cheers,

FT.

~£500

As I said though the bigger issue is my tight bd mindset.

[Bungleaio]

My 2.5 wrx averages less than 20 on standard fuel but I do commute into Leicester city centre every day.

I have managed to get 30mpg once but that involved driving like a saint at sub 65 on the motorway.

I love the car but the fuel was killing me so I had an LPG kit installed in June. I wish I'd done it ages ago. My weekly fuel bill is now around £25 where as it was around £60 before. But I do have to put about £20 of petrol in about once every 6 weeks or so.

I admit LPG isn't as good as petrol sustained heavy acceleration or going past 4k revs will make the car switch over to petrol but it's a smooth change.

LPG has a higher Ron value than petrol which makes it harder to burn so your ignition gear needs to be in good condition.

Modifying the car isnt really a problem either as the LPG kit piggybacks on the main petrol map as far as I understand so going for more power is still possible but I'm happy as it is.

I have got some photos I can put up if anyone is interested.

[G_T]

Bungleaio said:

My 2.5 wrx averages less than 20 on standard fuel but I do commute into Leicester city centre every day.

I have managed to get 30mpg once but that involved driving like a saint at sub 65 on the motorway.

I love the car but the fuel was killing me so I had an LPG kit installed in June. I wish I'd done it ages ago. My weekly fuel bill is now around £25 where as it was around £60 before. But I do have to put about £20 of petrol in about once every 6 weeks or so.

I admit LPG isn't as good as petrol sustained heavy acceleration or going past 4k revs will make the car switch over to petrol but it's a smooth change.

LPG has a higher Ron value than petrol which makes it harder to burn so your ignition gear needs to be in good condition.

Modifying the car isnt really a problem either as the LPG kit piggybacks on the main petrol map as far as I understand so going for more power is still possible but I'm happy as it is.

I have got some photos I can put up if anyone is interested.

How much did the installation cost if you don't mind me asking?

Also pictures would be good if you're offering

[T1CHS]

From my own personal experience of a 2005 WRX 5 door (Standard)

Shell V-Power average over 3 tank fulls 30.14mpg.

Shell Ordinary/Fuel Save average over 3 tank fulls 28.26mpg.

Same route ie. 2 weeks commute to work (Town/A Road/B Road) Spirited driving.

Most miles from tank ie. Reserve to reserve 346 Miles (Motorway run) over to France.

Ps The Car drives much better on V-Power, better mid-range acceleration.

[halo34]

G_T said:

I don't agree that when you buy a WRX you shouldn't worry about fuel. It's a compromise purchase not an all out sports car. I'm mostly after the AWD and estate capability to be honest.

In my experience there's a hell of a difference between 20, 25 and 30 MPG when it comes to living with cars.

It's no so much the annual running costs. But you'll find yourself saying horrible things like "taking the back rounds has just cost me £20", or "we'll take the micra to Perth because it will save £50 on fuel".

I can't let that happen. I won't drive the Micra again.

I wasnt suggesting not to worry about it, merely highlighting its going to make your wallet hurt a bit at times when pressing on. However the fact you are asking about it and indicating you have a close eye on your wallet to me suggest a note of caution.

I do 20k PA and know exactly how much of a difference those mpg make.

LPG is a good option - however I would prefer to fit it to the B Spec legacy with its lovely flat 6 engine.

[Bungleaio]

G_T said:

How much did the installation cost if you don't mind me asking?

Also pictures would be good if you're offering

The install cost me £1600 all in which I didn't think was too bad. It would have been cheaper to do it myself but there are a lot if variables to go wrong so I got autogas solutions to do it for me plus I got a 2 year warranty on it all.

I've worked out it will break-even after about 60 tank fills. I do a few miles for work now and then so I'm predicting it will be about 10 months.

I am on my phone at the moment so I will post pics when I'm home.

[MarJay]

no.

My 2002 WRX never got better than 23mpg. Even when driving like a saint.

[Fume troll]

G_T said:

Fume troll said:

Quick bit of arithmetic: How much will it cost you to do your annual mileage at 30mpg vs 25.

Cheers,

FT.

~£500

As I said though the bigger issue is my tight bd mindset.

Yeah, it's usually less than you think, just seems painful when you have to keep going back to the petrol station.

Cheers,

FT.

[nottyash]

I cant see 30MPG realistic unless you drive cautious at 40MPH everywhere.
In the real world on the long motorway runs I used to get 27MPG nin a 2002 car, which was 2mpg more on the same journey than my older 2000 turbo (2000 model) would manage.

[acf8181]

I occasionally saw 30 when on motorway runs with my old classic turbo, but no way combined....25 was the normal for everyday use, and i tend to get better mpg than most people with my driving style. So...i reckon its unlikely.