8 Valve turbo fuel economy shock!

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

I know they have a reputation for being garbage on fuel, but i carried out a "Top Gear" type fuel related challenge
I had to collect an engine from Hayling Island 300 miles from my house in Grimsby. The tank was almost empty when i filled it to the brim, quick check round inc tyre pressures, coolant and oils and i was ready.
There was just myself in the car, but i had loaded some tools and put some wood in the back to sit the engine on. I guess i could have emptied all the kids junk out of the car etc but didnt have time

My mission was to get down there and get back with the 150 odd KG engine in the back......all without refueling

So. 12 hours of driving behind lorries at a sat nav speed of 54mph (dash indicated 60mph plus an hour stop start on the M25 and 605 miles later, just pulled back into my street when the fuel light came on

Now these engines get some stick for being less fuel efficient than a V8 range rover but, it goes to show that if you drive it carefully it will do decent MPG and you wont get pinched for speeding too Okay so its not much fun staring at the back of a lorry but it serves as a pace vehicle and it reduces drag.
I heard the other day on the radio that accidents have shown a reduction since fuel costs rose above £1.20 per litre as people are starting to drive more frugally though i did not notice this today with all the BMW / Audi / Volvo brigade rep mobiles

Im pleased with the result as i now now it will do reasonable fuel economy on a run and when the mood takes me i can have some turbo fun when the craving takes over. If i drive super steady i can get about 30MPG rounnd town or about 18MPG if my foot gets heavy

[rwb]

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[CountryPug]

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LOL, I have too many twisty country roads to negotiate on the way to work in the mornings, I just can't drive it that frugally, still averaging 48.9mpg so not too bothered

[teamster1975]

Re-assuring to hear that Travis!

[FarmerPug]

that fuel economy is almost as low as my clio was.

[Welly]

......staring at the back of a lorry but it serves as a pace vehicle and it reduces drag.....

There's dedication for you, dedication to getting max mpg's

I bet your car wondered what on earth was going on, or rather, who on earth was driving

[mjb]

I used to average something like 34.5mpg on my daily 100-mile round trip to work and back in my tubby estate. I'd get 45+mpg behind trucks on the motorways, and about 10mpg on the urban sections

The V6 however is MUCH better on fuel

[TRAVIS BICKLE]

There's dedication for you, dedication to getting max mpg's

I bet your car wondered what on earth was going on, or rather, who on earth was driving

it was about as boring as it gets but it saved me money, i think it worked out as 42MPG. cruise control would have helped more though and my ankle was killing. plus my back is still hurting, i think im going to bin the standard leather seats at some point and get something like the Mondeo ST220 front seats in it.

[Bailes1992]

There's dedication for you, dedication to getting max mpg's

I bet your car wondered what on earth was going on, or rather, who on earth was driving

it was about as boring as it gets but it saved me money, i think it worked out as 42MPG. cruise control would have helped more though and my ankle was killing. plus my back is still hurting, i think im going to bin the standard leather seats at some point and get something like the Mondeo ST220 front seats in it.

ST220's go for silly money, as do the recaro's in ST170's. You might be able to get some non leather ones out of a new Focus ST?
The actuall seats are called "Recaro Style". Lovely seats, my Dad had them in both his ST220's. If you want brand new ones with subframes for the 406 though I can't imagine it being cheap!