Fuel Economy Figures and Actuals - Sale of Goods Act

Gloomendoom

2010 wrote: »

Anyone who say they`re getting what the manufacturers say are fooling themselves.

My wife manages to get within a mile or so of the official mpg figures without altering her (brisk) driving style.

According to Honest John, the average real mpg for that model is 93% of the official combined figure. Given that the official tests are done in laboratory conditions, I think that is reasonable for real world driving.

jaybeetoo

They are EU laboratory tests which bears little or no resemblance to the real world. They allow you to compare the relative performance of one car against another.

Don't blame the car manufacturer, they are doing what they are required to by the EU.

2010

Gloomendoom wrote: »

My wife manages to get within a mile or so of the official mpg figures without altering her (brisk) driving style.

Maybe she thinks she does.
Most modern cars have a gauge that tells you your mpg.

Recently on the BBC there was a program about this subject.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036xvt7

Not available on the i player now but they found the manufacturer`s figures unrealistic compared to their own tests.

Cornucopia

The miles per tank doesn't lie.

I've had previous cars where the claimed MPG was more or less equaled by the evidence from miles per tank. My old Citroen C4 1.6 HDi returned up to 850 miles on a tank, on a long journey. This equates to 64 mpg - pretty close to the official 67.3 mpg.

FreddieFrugal

2010 wrote: »

I have a Fiesta,18 months old, with a green pointed arrow indicator on the speedo which comes on to tell you to when to change gear.
This lighted green arrow comes on at just over 40mph to change from 4th to 5th.(2500 rpm)
Ford also state in their manual and on their website (tips for saving fuel) the optimum time to change gear is 2500 rpm.

I've got a different engine - diesel. Mine wouldn't be at 2500 revs til I was at 60 in 4th

Gloomendoom

2010 wrote: »

Maybe she thinks she does.
Most modern cars have a gauge that tells you your mpg.

Recently on the BBC there was a program about this subject.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036xvt7

Not available on the i player now but they found the manufacturer`s figures unrealistic compared to their own tests.

Give her credit for some intelligence. She may be blonde but she isn't dumb. She works out the figures using the odometer and her pump receipts.

Of course, the pump or the odometer could be wrong but how far do you go.
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2010

Cornucopia wrote: »

The miles per tank doesn't lie.

Of course it doesn`t as long as the tank is completely empty when you fill it and take note of exactly the amount you put in and run it to completely empty and note the milage.

You did do this, didn`t you?

Gloomendoom

2010 wrote: »

Of course it doesn`t as long as the tank is completely empty when you fill it and take note of exactly the amount you put in and run it to completely empty and note the milage.

You did do this, didn`t you?

Why would he need to?

GolfBravo

OddballJamie wrote: »

Tape up any panel gaps, remove extra weight such as carpets, stereo, seats, alternator, excess fuel, etc. Then drive only downhill.
Problem solved.

And don't forget to ask the manufacturer for the "alternative" ECU software that they use for these official tests - the engine will not last very long, but the fuel economy will be amazing.

Oh, and you need to drive your car in a manner perfectly matching the fuel test environment, and preferably leave your car on the chassis dynamometer, and just pretend to drive. And remember, low powered vehicles don't even have to reach 56MPH for the Extra Urban Driving Cycle - so on a motorway you should stay in the slow lane and drive at 55mph.

OddballJamie

It's the same story with the tyre ratings, all the tests are conducted in house and rely on the honesty of the manufacturer.