Second Hand car using too much fuel!

Inner_Zone

You buy a Subaru and expect good fuel consumption. This must rate as one of the top five funniest threads of the year.

I went the other way, first Subaru 2L Turbo, then 3L auto (both Legacy estates), now a Vectra 1.9 150 diesel (estate again), not as quick as those but still quick and 40 to 45 average MPG.

TrickyWicky

You had a Vectra, changed to a Subaru performance car and expected the fuel cost not to go up?

Are you actually serious? - A dealer will tell you anything to sell you a car. No offence but you were hardly smart taking his word instead of doing your research. Sounds tp me like you just wanted one because it looked a bit flash and wanted the dealer to tell you the right words to help you buy it. Now you've got it you're hoping for a miracle to stop it drinking so much.

Not much you can do about the fuel cost other than convert it to LPG or get shot of it.

LPG conversion: Expensive. It's gonna take a while to pay for itself too.

Sell it: You won't have the cost but you'll likely loose a few hundred on its resale, extra owner on the V5 etc.

Also Scooby engines are known for putting pistons through their engine cases and causing £Mega repair costs so thats another reason I'd never touch one. I'd consider a mitsubish Evo as a performance car but even those will be thirsty on the gogo juice.

Just to reiterate once more, performance cars will never live up to the fuel economy of 'everyday' family saloons. If you're going to go out and look at another car keep this in mind when falling in love for another flashy performance car. THAT is why not many people drive them

Indout96

This used to be a thread where you came on, asked a question and got an answer (not always the one you wanted)
Now it seems that is somewhere you come to be insulted.

anotherbaldrick

Indout96 wrote: »

This used to be a thread where you came on, asked a question and got an answer (not always the one you wanted)
Now it seems that is somewhere you come to be insulted.

Ask a daft enough question and someone is sure to oblige

worried_jim

Indout96 wrote: »

This used to be a thread where you came on, asked a question and got an answer (not always the one you wanted)
Now it seems that is somewhere you come to be insulted.

Thank God for progress. Idiots always brighten up my day.

Obukit

Indout96 wrote: »

This used to be a thread where you came on, asked a question and got an answer (not always the one you wanted)
Now it seems that is somewhere you come to be insulted.

I agree with this normally but seriously... my wife could tell you that a 2.5 petrol is going to be thirsty. Unfortunately for the OP "good on fuel" is a bit wooly - the Scooby is good on fuel compared to some other performance cars, but not compared to a Vectra.

1. Swap Vectra to Scooby to save on fuel.
2. ?????
3. PROFIT!

cardinalbiggles

Strider590 wrote: »

Is it diesel and are you doing short journey's?

Diesels are terrible if you only every go 4 mile down the road.

Absolutely not true.

GolfBravo

JoeCool wrote: »

Hi there, I was wondering what to do about this problem. We bought a new car a couple of months ago to replace our trusty Vectra after it failed its MOT. The problem is It's getting really bad on fuel, I'm having to fill it up every week and I don't go far!
The dealer said it was good on fuel but I don't think it is, we just wanted an estate car and something a bit newer... What can we do?

I'm afraid there is nothing that you can do about WRX fuel consumption.

WRX is one of those performance cars that are very difficult to drive at low speed, simply because their peak torque figure is at relatively high revs. Torque is what gives you acceleration, horsepower is what gives you top speed performance.

So to get any decent acceleration out of the WRX engine you have to rev it higher, and higher revs equals more fuel used. I've driven the WRX a few times, and I am quite sure that the only way to achieve its claimed acceleration figures actually invalidates its warranty - you have to rev the guts out of the engine (certainly very entertaining, but not something you would like to do daily).

A diesel engine, on the other hand, comes with heaps of torque at low revs and you don't have to rev it up as much - you can easily drive around all day long without going over 3000rpm once.

So unless your daily commute involves a 120mph dash on German Autobahn, you're far better off with a diesel engine* or a petrol engine with relatively high peak torque figure (generally you need higher capacity petrol engine, something like 1.8 to 2 litres, just make sure it produces lots of torque). If you look at a 5yr old Renault Scenic, for example, the 2.0l petrol engine actually gives you better mileage that the 1.6l petrol engine simply because you don't have to rev the larger engine as much.

The general rule is that higher revs = more fuel used and more wear and tear = more noise.

So the only solution to your problem involves selling your WRX, I'm afraid, and then find a car that really suits your needs - both the car body style and engine. Certainly don't listen to what the car salesman says, you really have to do your own research first.

* There is also catch 22 with modern diesel engines: DPF, a fine particulate filter that easily clogs up when driving shorts distances at low speed. But that's another story.

maninthestreet

Shock, horror! A 2.5L performance car has worse fuel consumption than 1.8L family hatchback!
What is the world coming to??

GolfBravo

maninthestreet wrote: »

Shock, horror! A 2.5L performance car has worse fuel consumption than 1.8L family hatchback!
What is the world coming to??

The car salesman did a very good job indeed. It's called a snow job, when they hide or skew the truth from a customer with persuasive language.

"Yeah! this estate car is really great on fuel!" **


** compared to a Chevy Suburban.