artscot79
November 2, 2011, 3:29 pm
[quote name='btmaldon' timestamp='1320264942' post='150995']
OK,OK. Calm down
Thought as mine has only done 2900 miles and is still loosening up, it would be an interesting comparison. So is that typical mpg for a Mk 3 as it does appear to be pretty poor?
[/quote]
this is how the official figures determined this is done using no aircon etc and with 1 occupant
Firstly, they are not measured on the road, but in a lab on a rolling road, and not by calculating the actual fuel used, but the exhaust emissions and from that working out the economy.
The car conducts two routes, over a total distance of just 6.8 miles. All of which is on the flat. The urban figure is measured over 2.5 miles, at a maximum speed of 31mph and an average of 12mph. The extra-urban test is 4.3 miles at speeds of up to 75mph, but averaging 39mph. The combined figure is simply a weighted average of the two.
The tests are run without air-con, lighting or audio equipment and, because the tests have to accommodate commercial vehicles, the acceleration components allow 50 seconds to reach 62mph, which is not how most people drive.
All of which I’m sure is very scientific and repeatable, but is it representative? We certainly very rarely get close to the claimed figures in our tests, which may not have the total accuracy of a lab test, but I think are more thorough and realistic of what you, as an owner are likely to achieve.