Suggestions for fuel-efficient/economic car - VERY HIGH Mileage

bigjl

You would be surprised just how economical modern common rail diesels can be on a run if you keep your speed to 60mph and take advantage of the fact most modern diesels use no fuel when you are coasting in gear.

The fuel computers in some cars over read and some are almost spot on, I have checked the one in the Clio with the old fashioned methods of working it out and it is spot on, my old Mondeo used to show 2/3mog more than it was doing, my Pathfinder is also accurate. The fact that Renault and Nissan are the same Company may be of relevance or it could be coincidence, using an obd adapter and an App has shown that my V50 over reads by 2/3mpg, again Ford and Volvo shared platforms so either it is another coincidence or some systems are better than others.

But if drive into East London from Essex on the A13 in off peak times and deliberately drive for economy, coasting where possible, slowing down for traffic lights an anticipating when they change rather than zooming up to them and braking so having to start from stationary, all the simple techniques to reduce fuel use and the fuel computer will easily show 80mpg on the 20 miles journey.

In my V50 I drive for economy back from Chelmsford as it was off peak and I was messing about with Dash Command (obd App) and when I got home it showed the fuel consumption was 74mpg over 35miles.

Modern turbo diesels are most at home at a steady highish speed cruise, by high I mean normal dual carriageway speeds, and fuel economy used to be checked at a steady 56mph and I have always found sitting near that speed, 60mph on the speedo to be a fairly efficient speed, from memory they used to list 75mph aswell nd an urban figure which I can't recall, though I am sure somebody will remember.

The ability to be very economical on a long run or at a steady cruise is why diesels became popular for high mileage drivers, non turbo diesels are also economical round town even if you beat them to death, but use your turbo oomph and you can easily see your fuel economy drop far below that of a petrol car.

Hence why i think a lot of turbo diesel drivers change up like a archetypal minicab driver!

franklally

I don't claim to know anything about cars but we bought an econetic for the fuel efficiency and are very pleased with it - even after a week of several long journeys the tank rarely needs topping up with more than £25 of fuel. It's meant to do 70 mpg approx.
Also zero road tax or congestion charge (after £10 registration fee p.a) to pay.
It's also a very 'roomy' car - very comfortable.

bigjl

Is that a diesel or one of the new Ecoboost engines?

I was told by the dealer when I had my Fiesta courtesy car recently that the little 1.0, 3 cylinder Ecoboost engine was very economical.

Ultrasonic

bigjl wrote: »

You would be surprised just how economical modern common rail diesels can be on a run if you keep your speed to 60mph and take advantage of the fact most modern diesels use no fuel when you are coasting in gear.

All true - I drive that way myself when I have the time. What I hadn't appreciated was that the 2.0 L diesels could be that efficient, rather than the more economical 1.6 L versions.

For the OP - an Octavia is certainly well worth considering. They are reasonably priced, capable and comfortable cars for driving high mileages in. As I'm sure someone has posted above, there are reasons that taxi drivers often choose them...

flyingscotno1

I've recently switched from a diesel to hybrid. I liked my diesel- excellent for cruising the motorway but perhaps not as good as the early 2000s diesels which were excellent.

I changed to a hybrid because I was doing more town work and sitting in traffic rather than long runs along the motorway. Saying that the hybrid has been excellent- comfortably getting 50-55mpg per tank which is miles off the 70mpg quoted, but you can get that if you granny it! Even on the motorway it will get around 60mpg.

My car one before, an older diesel Skoda was brilliant. It used to get 50-55mpg overall, and felt bombproof. Sold it to my Mum who still has it. If you can find an Octavia or Superb, for cruising along the motorway nothing better IMV. I did own another diesel after it but it wasn't as good- never got near its publish consumption except on a long run and only was getting about 48mpg average. Diesels are also complicated now, nothing went wrong but I always felt you were close to a big bill.

vikingaero

If you want Eco then stick with a standard car/hatchback. Don't go for anything MPVish like a B-Max because the greater frontal area will kill any hopes of decent MPG.

addyboy1982

Something unloved and Japanese or French, you'll bag yourself a bargain!

Try a Laguna 2.0dCi, engine on mine is still sweet after 130000 miles, and you can pick them up at 3 years old for about £6k!

sillygoose

GJ_WRX wrote: »

I've got an Octavia 2.0 diesel and do 40,000-50,000 miles a year. I've had it a year and it averages 58mpg being driven fairly quickly. However I have averaged closer to 70mpg when trying hard.

It's had two services in this time, the car itself tells you when but were at around 18k and 36k. Its also been good on tyres with the fronts only now needing to be replaced.

I would recommend these and will hopefully be changing to a new version in a few years.

This post is IMHO the most sensible on here!!! I too do high work mileage and have been doing so year in year out for 20 years.

I would also add in a previous shape Honda Accord, pretty bullet proof (even I couldn't break it!) the way they used their I-CTDI engine in this was the best they did, it was so smooth and quiet you could sit with it on the red line and not even notice until you glanced at the rev counter -oops! and could easily do 60mpg+ When I gave back mine with 100K on it paint still shined and it drove like a new car. (again its a mincab favorite for a reason)

LittleMissAspie

My boyfriend's car is a 2002 Toyota Yaris turbo diesel and we get 65-70mpg. We track spend and mileage in a spreadsheet every time we buy fuel. Most of our journeys are at 40-60mph with some city driving.