413 replies to this topic

[1989jeffrey1989]

Facinating, this proves that smaller engine cars are less economical than larger engine cars because they have to work harder to compensate for the power deficit. My 1.6 averages 44 mpg doing 70% motorway, 30% town driving. I normally don't rev more than I need to and because I don't do more than 70 mph on the motorway the engine speed doesn't go above 3000 rpm. I find the 1.6 petrol pulls well from low down so it still feels quite quick around town and has s subtle but noticeable surge of torque after changing up a gear from low revs. And it's quite satisfying to know that when you really want to get going you can drop into second and floor it all the way to the red line

that sounds quite fair to be honest, when i give my mates a lift both 6ft+ and weigh more than 15 stone i notice a harsh performance dip lol. I doubt you would notice that in a 1.6? But when they're not in the car the it feels quite quick but then ive never drove anything over a 1.25 so i cant realy vouch for pulling power, I drive about 90% in the suburbs and 10% on the motorway. Once the engine is warmed up i do give it the beans on the motorway to clean the system out . I also notice the car is nippier after getting off the motorway must be the ECU altering the way the car performs for the motorway, then it goes sluggish (must be eco-mode or something) after driving a few suburb miles. Suppose i better start saving for a 1.6 or the new ST

[scotthunter]

The saying, "It's not what you drive but how you drive" is true. Smaller engine cars are only more economical when driven slower than larger engine cars. If the smaller engine car tries to match the pace of a larger engine car, then the smaller engine car has to work harder and will use more fuel than the larger engine car.

I remember this was demonstrated in an episode of Top Gear once when a BMW returned a better MPG than a Toyota Prius when they were driven at the same speed around the test track.

[123yahyaa]

1.4 petrol zetec, 27mpg Lool

[AndyEconetic]

1.6 TDCi Titanium Econetic 5dr. Averaging 68 - 70 mpg, best yet (on a full tank of fuel) 74 mpg.

On my 'best' run I actually got the console read-out up into the 80's:



... that was after about 300 miles, but was quickly reduced to 74mpg by a period of city driving.

I keep a log of how much fuel I use and the distance travelled every time I top up at the petrol station, so these are 'real' figures and not just console read-outs.

The farthest I've been on a full tank is 597 miles, with 20 miles left on the console.

The car is a 62 plate with ~3000 miles done.

Getting high mpg is all about good techinique, and very restrained driving

[Marcr1]

And taking an hour to do a 20 minute trip

But in all seriousness that's pretty amazing read outs! Great work

[ChillyWilly]

I've a petrol 1.6 S which I've had a couple of weeks. It's 8 months old and has only done 2000 miles.

It's the short journeys which are killing my mpg. I only travel 3 miles to work and can see the readout dropping for the first 1.5miles before it stabilises then edges up. I'm only getting 28mpg on the trip meter.

After a reset I did a run the weekend before last which was a steady 55 miles in some of the scenic bits of Derbyshire followed by returning on the M1 at 80-85mph. This returned 40mpg.

This weekend I did another steady run on just A and B-roads and got 46mpg which I'm happier about. I'll do real figures when I fill up next.

[Nay ZS]

Petrol 1.6 and I've only had the car about a week and its on average mid 30's most of the time. So much for the 45mpg eh Ford

I think 40 - 42 mpg is realistic real world figure although the 1.6 petrol can easily do 45 mpg if kept below 3500rpm.

I've just done a 100 mile roundtrip through the Derbyshire countryside. The indicated MPG was 47.0 on arrival back home. From full the fuel indicator is still just above 3/4! Bar a few steep hills nearly all the journey was in 5th at 50/60 ish.

Day to day I get about 38 - 40mpg nowadays and thats with 3 lots of traffic each way and a good boot of acceleration down two motorway slip roads.

[123yahyaa]

im a sensible driver, giving it a nice rev now and then, just wondering what sort of MPG gain or loss a milltek exhaust will cause.
im getting aroung 37mpg right now with my pipercross hfic installed.
all this on a 1.4 petrol

[Philf1]

1.6 Zetec S 2200 miles from new average 37mpg with a fairly heavy right foot, except when parked on the M62 every morning. I am well chuffed as my previous 1.8 diesel company car only averaged 42mpg, and of course was absolutely no fun at all to drive.

Just found a new ASDA petrol station in centre of Leeds selling unleaded at 128.9, cheapest fuel on my normal routes by a mile. Might have to start pressing the pedal a bit harder!

[b1g_dav3]

I'm committed, when I get the new Fez I'm going to keep an average mpg from start - finish of ownership

[Froggy72]

Ive got a fiesta metal which ive had for a year now, great car and my average over the year is 37.5mpg.

[PPKing]

I've just rest my computer, so I will keep an eye on it and post back in a weeks time or so

[Bladerunner]

Hi, in my opinion I have yet to get anywhere near Fords mpg figures, even with a steady get there sometime drive it fails to impress.
The only car that I have owned that was really impressive was a Skoda Octavia 1.9 pd 130bhp, should have kept it but it wouldn't pull the bigger caravan.
As someone stated fuel is expensive -liquid gold in my view, so we all just keep filling them up regardless.
My Volvo D5 4x4 2.4ltr can cruise at 70 and still return 40 mpg-without van-but only 28mpg with so why does a 1.6 tdci in a featherweight car only get 50mpg at 70 mph? gearing and torque have the answers.
Volvo ticks over at about 1,800rpm in 6th at 70mph, Fiesta in top-5th about 3,000rpm. working almost twice as hard.
You cant win unless Ford provide a 6 speed box I have no chance at matching official figures.
But then I can remember when my Renault 16 ts then tx only did 30s to the gallon-I was only a teenager then lol. so things aren't too bad for mpg-fuel costs are.
Cheers
Martin

[PPKing]

Hi Martin,

I completely agree. After driving a 6 speed Focus, 70mph in a Fiesta just seems to be torture to the engine both rev and noise wise. And with the cost of fuel rising by April, makes it even worse!

[Bladerunner]

Hi Paul, yes the Fiesta does rev too high for todays motoring especially the tdci's as they don't have to rev to progress!
Fuel costs are beyond a joke as it is and as you say more rises to come soon.
We cannot use public transport to get to work as there isn't any at the times we need.
Maybe I should have bought a Focus 6 speed.
Cheers
Martin.