Volkswagen Polo Match 2008 - Big MPG issue giving me a migraine

RichardD1970

If you don't want to or can't do the maths then use http://www.fuelly.com/

bod1467

I have a spreadsheet to record my mileage and fill up (litres) and calculate the MPG, and even my average MPG.

/anally-retentive

PS - I've always used 4.544 as the conversion factor for litres to gallons. Interestingly Google uses 4.54609 litres per Imperial gallon.

Iceweasel

pat95 wrote: »

But the fact that it's only achieved 95 miles after i filled 33 litres, and it's already at half tank, isn't that an issue? Doesn't that tell me something is off?

No it doesn't.

Carrot007

FWIW.

Have an 09 polo (so last before the refresh).
Averaging 42.410 MPG over 50196.3 miles (yes I have a spreadsheet).

That min 35 to max 49.

MPG really depends on the driver. Do you try not to use the brake ever (let the car slow down naturally), and avoid pressing the accelerator as little as possible?

Also if the timing belt has just been changed it does not sound very looked after. it is due at 70K OR 4 years. Maybe they scrimped on servicing too, in which case low MPG's are enevitable.

Aylesbury_Duck

I have an old 2003 Avensis. 1.8 petrol. I do mixed mileage motoring, some urban, some rural, some short and mostly 10-20 mile trips and occasional motorway use. I get 55-60mpg and on longer motorway trips, 60-65mpg and that's with a family of four in the car. It's a great motor. I can't understand how people are getting such low mpg figures in smaller cars. They must be very heavy footed or always in traffic on short journeys.

Iceweasel

So so much depends on the driver - my cousin, his wife and kids once went on a touring holiday with us - exact same cars (old style original Minis) similarly loaded and never out of sight of each other on the road.

We even filled up at the same fuel stations en-route - but he got 7mpg less than me.

He uses brakes much more than me, and accelerates harder.

Aylesbury_Duck

To be fair, I do drive like an old man! In today's traffic, it doesn't cost much time. Others race to the back of the next queue and I'm back with them a short while later!
I do look after the car as well. Regular oil changes and checks on levels, etc. I don't carry excess stuff around in the back, either. It all adds up but even so, it's an astonishingly economical car.

z1a

reeac wrote: »

Really? My old Montego VdP 2.0 did 40 mpg. on motorways back in the late 1980s measured brim to brim over 320 miles.

I remember when I had my Montego in the 80's that was a 2 litre & unbelievably good on petrol.
My current car is a Saab 9-3 2ltr turbo, daily use consists of to and fron work twice a day, only 1.5 miles each way, and trips to Morrisons, 3 miles each way. If only used for that, computer says 16mpg, actual 14mpg. Quite good on long runs though, low 30's.

BeenThroughItAll

z1a wrote: »

I remember when I had my Montego in the 80's that was a 2 litre & unbelievably good on petrol.
My current car is a Saab 9-3 2ltr turbo, daily use consists of to and fron work twice a day, only 1.5 miles each way, and trips to Morrisons, 3 miles each way. If only used for that, computer says 16mpg, actual 14mpg. Quite good on long runs though, low 30's.

Maybe a bicycle would be a good plan, rather than ruining a perfectly good car...

z1a

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Maybe a bicycle would be a good plan, rather than ruining a perfectly good car...

How is it ruining it? That is my mon - Fri. use, Weekends it gets a run out to clear the cobwebs - up to 70 mph of course.
Owned car for 6 years now, only ever had 1 fault, ignition coil block.
Would happily jump in car now and drive to Portugal, which it has done 3 times. Car gets looked after, and regularly serviced by myself.