Why is a new Fiesta more fuel-efficient than an old one?

Lum

Hammyman wrote: »

I've been saying it for ages. As a percentage of income, fuel costs no more than it did decades ago.

The price of fuel has almost doubled since 10 years ago. I remember prices being in the £0.80s in 2001 they're now in the £1.40s.

Are you suggesting the average wage has almost doubled in that time?

vikingaero

Tyres are another factor. More and more tyres have a lower rolling resistance and manufacturers are fitted more Eco branded tyres to mainstream cars.

jase1

Lum wrote: »

The price of fuel has almost doubled since 10 years ago. I remember prices being in the £0.80s in 2001 they're now in the £1.40s.

Are you suggesting the average wage has almost doubled in that time?

I don't think that's a fair comparison to be honest.

Firstly I think the "£1.40s" is over-egging the current situation. Compare like with like -- petrol was around 0.85 then, and 1.30 now (less in some places).

So an increase of around 52%.

If we take that Fiesta as typical of the increase in fuel economy then cars have become 21% more efficient in the meantime.

So around a 25-26% effective increase in fuel costs.

Have wages increased by a quarter in ten years? Debateable. Probably about right.

Flyboy152

pgilc1 wrote: »

Just as an aside, i was reading in this months What Car? that due to the advances in fuel consumption like those above, in real terms, people arent paying any more for fuel than they were ten years ago, as although prices have went up, economy has also went up - that of course is assuming you're talking about a 10 year old car and a new car now.

Are you sure that's exactly what it said?

Lum

I regularly pay over £1.40 for my fuel at the moment, have to detour two motorway junctions on my way home from work to get it for the high £1.30s.

As for the fuel efficiency gains. There seems to be a lot more playing the figures these days. For example the fuel efficiency test mandates specific points to change gear, unless the car has a shift light, in which case that should be used. So for the cost of fitting an LED and some software you can get a much better number with no engine changes at all.

I'm only getting 41mpg out of my "econetic" Mondeo which claims to do 65mpg. 41mpg isn't really much better than my old L reg diesel Passat!