How to improve MPG?

Mips

Are some cars just rubbish for MPG? I have a Saab 900 which is only doing 20mpg everywhere... well twenty minutes on motorway gets me 21.9 but no higher!

What can I do to improve this.. or am I doomed to pay so much in petrol? It's an auto.

smk77

Dippychick wrote: »

Are some cars just rubbish for MPG? I have a Saab 900 which is only doing 20mpg everywhere... well twenty minutes on motorway gets me 21.9 but no higher!

What can I do to improve this.. or am I doomed to pay so much in petrol? It's an auto.

Yes they are and you've got one!

If you haven't already then have a read of this http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheaper-fuel

If your MPG is still not very good then your options are put up with it or buy a new car. Some big modern cars have very good MPG but obviously this isn't a cheap option.

ariba10

Auto's are in general not as fuel efficient as manual.

The only things that you could do easily and cheaply is make sure you do not have excessive weight in the car. (Stuff you don't need in the boot etc).

Keep your speed down.

Accelerate slowly.

Check your tyre pressures, and perhaps up the tyre pressures by a pound or two.

Meepster

Or buy a bike

Mips

Hmm yes I think i am going to have to switch cars then.. as it's costing me a fortune to run and I am doing 20 miles a day to work and back...

Thanks!

Meepster

I just got a 1.8 TDCi Focus, was only £4k with 63k on the clock. I'm averaging over 50mpg for the 1000 miles or so I've done in the last 2 weeks. And with the cost of diesel being the same (or there abouts depending on where you live) as petrol, I would seriously suggest thinking about it for a long term saving...

smk77

Dippychick wrote: »

Hmm yes I think i am going to have to switch cars then.. as it's costing me a fortune to run and I am doing 20 miles a day to work and back...

Thanks!

If you are going to consider a new car then why not post what you need and I am sure someone will give you some good ideas. How much are you wanting to spend and what size of car? How old is your current car (does it qualify for the scrappage scheme).

The scrappage scheme is good if you are trading in a old big car for a small economical car.

Mips

That is the car I have, however, it has nicer more modern alloys on it and full black leather interior. It only has 73k miles on the clock, is a great car, in very good condition.. however.. it drinks petrol too quick!

It is 1997 I think, on a private plate.. a great looking car and I believe worth around 2k.. but I don't have the money to buy brand new. I can't afford it at all.. I wish I could just swap it

I don't know what to do.. the overall saving from going to a smaller engine will be immense no doubt..

.. I would like a little Golf but they are so expensive and I would ideally like a newer car.. perhaps up to 5 yrs old?!

aqueoushumour01

you can also take into account how much you'd save in fuel by buying another car and factor this into your budget. Say you do 10k miles a year, that's 500 gallons, which is about £2000 I think. Swap it for one that does 40 mpg (offcially 50 mph but allowing for a heavy right foot!) then that's £1k you effectively have for each year to put towards another car.

Viper_7

Accelerations isn't the real killer in MPG costs, it's braking.

Every time you brake all the momentum you have built up is lost.

Look ahead, anticipate and you shouldn't need to use the brakes.
Can save a good 15% with good anticipation.
Don't drive up the backside of the car in front - as they will likely be tapping the brakes constantly too.

Gorgeous_George

The best method is to not use the car. I know it sounds obvious but could you share a lift? Or work from home one day per week?

If you must use it, start the engine and set off without doing your make up in the rear view mirror. Accelerate gently, anticipate the road ahead and brake only if necessary. Keep the car 'serviced' - replace/clean the air filter and make sure the sparkplugs are clean and correctly set.

That's a great car for the British summer BTW.

GG