Heavy car £50 and need to do 700 miles can I?

Ultrasonic

scotsman4th wrote: »

Im wondering if gaz is talking about continental trucks on mainland europe. Think speed limits for towing caravans may be higher over there.

You could be right there .

nearlyrich

My company car an Audi A3 2.0 DSG, chosen by the company fir fuel economy, does around 500 miles on a tank full, fill up costs about £75 to £80 I think you have no chance with a Mondeo.

Iceweasel

Speed limits for towing caravan may be higher in Europe.

Ultrasonic wrote: »

You could be right there .

Generally speed limits for caravans / trailers towed by cars on motorways in mainland Europe are lower than in the UK.

In most countries the limit is 50mph / 80kph even on motorways.

Two exceptions I am aware of -
Belgium where the motorway limit is an amazing 74mph / 120kph

Germany where it is 62mph / 100kph - but only if the combination passes the 'Tempo' inspection and displays a 100kph sticker on the rear of the caravan / trailer. Otherwise its 50mph / 80kph everywhere in Deutschland for caravans and trailers.

Full details are on the Caravan Club website and elsewhere.

As usual it's pretty complicated as every country has it's own little bit of 'sovereignty' over the speeds. No EU overall regs.

I tow regularly as far as Greece and it's a nightmare keeping up to date, as some countries even have seasonal speed limits.

mgdavid

!!!!!! wrote: »

Are you sure? Every one I've come across is doing 60MPH where the conditions allow.

yes, we are sure.
HGVs are limited to 56mph.

arcon5

nearlyrich wrote: »

My company car an Audi A3 2.0 DSG, chosen by the company fir fuel economy, does around 500 miles on a tank full, fill up costs about £75 to £80 I think you have no chance with a Mondeo.

That sounds like poor economy to me. 39-42MPG.

A Mondeo will easily beat that!!!

Ultrasonic

arcon5 wrote: »

That sounds like poor economy to me. 39-42MPG.

A Mondeo will easily beat that!!!

Good point. Although the particular Mondeo in question may not beat it by much (44 mpg from Honest John Real MPG):

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/ford/mondeo-iii-2000/st-22-tdci

alastairq

Whether the OP was trolling or not, the topic is an interesting one, if only to see the wide variety of viewpoints on attaining best fuel economy?

Many years ago [before most of you even got a driving licence I suspect?}...there was a motor sporting event called the 'Mobil Economy Run'.....[It later went other other names, dependant on sponsor].......and was a highly-contested event!

The 'controls' exercised by the organisers were incredibly rigid....with things like minimum speeds, timings, etc...so competitors were compelled to perform with their cars in a manner not conducive to 'good economy'....

It takes 'skill' to get any vehicle to be economical 'overall'...in my inexpert view, more skill than it does to simply drive 'fast.'

With practice, the amount of 'effort' involved on the part of the driver becomes more tolerable.

Being an 'economical' driver doesn't go hand-in-glove with driving like Miss Daisy.

Quite the opposite.

Which, it appears [from the OP's comments?] that is the impression held by the majority of 'lay-drivers?'

{IMHO, 'Lay-drivers' are those who have a licence, but use it with the same mind-set they would a travel pass? They take on board hearsay, urban myth, and apply nothing more than sub-liminal skills to their driving. What would one think of the Pilot of one's holiday airplane, who had the same mindset?]

Fuel-efficient driving skills are even taught on courses..especially for those in the transport industry.

SO, it is far from a granny skill.

Ultrasonic

alastairq wrote: »

It takes 'skill' to get any vehicle to be economical 'overall'...in my inexpert view, more skill than it does to simply drive 'fast.'...

Being an 'economical' driver doesn't go hand-in-glove with driving like Miss Daisy.

Quite the opposite.

I totally agree. The various videos through this thead on a TDI forum attest to this, and may well surprise a few people:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=335035

Although I wouldn't personally follow his cold start technique due to concern over engine wear and turbo damage.

DarkFallout

best economy I have been ever able to achieve in the long run was on Polo 1.2 TDI and Punto 1.3 Multijet with slow smooth driving and it was still about 68mpg, hence I do not believe that it is possible to drive 500 miles with 50 pounds on a Mondeo

not to mention I have a Mondeo 2.0 TDDI and average mpg is about about 40, with smooth and slow driving I could probably achieve 44-48mpg

Iceweasel

alastairq wrote: »

Many years ago [before most of you even got a driving licence I suspect?}...there was a motor sporting event called the 'Mobil Economy Run'.....[It later went other other names, dependant on sponsor].......and was a highly-contested event!

I remember the Mobil Economy Run well.

It was an annual event and always featured on the news back in the 60s and eventually stopped in the 70s I think.

I can remember Hilman Imps (remember them? - good little Scottish-built car) getting over 50mpg

Not remarkable in todays fuel efficient aware society - but back then it was almost unbelievable achievement.

Some big names in the MotorSport world took part too.

As an ex-rally driver pensioner I take offence at the OPs reference to 'drive like an old person'.