The latest VW or BMW diesels have greatly enhanced performance over their predecessors (sp!).

What I'd like to know is "Is this at the expense of fuel economy?"

On an average motorway run or when you stay off the gas, can you still attain say 50+ mpg?

Vindaloo.

My Father had an A6 2.5 TDI quattro (180bhp) and now has a Merc E270 CDI, both will do around 40-45 mpg on a motorway run at a steady 80-85 mph.

I did manage to get the Audi to dip to around 25 mpg once when I borrowed it for a day, it was good fun too!

I've got a Passat PD130, 7000 miles up. On a recent 400-mile motorway round trip with some town work, cruising at 90-ish where traffic allowed, it averaged 56 MPG for the trip.

I've found that cruising above 95 makes the MPG drop quite sharply into the mid 30s but a steady 85-95 will give 50+MPG. This is 'cos the Passat has a long 6th gear

50mpg easy on a Golf TDi PD150 (237 ft-lbs torque) at a steady 80mph......

I went up the M6 last Saturday morning from J16 to the very top (J42?). Cruised at 85ish as traffic allowed. Was getting circa 55mpg. I did 100 miles before the fuel gauge even moved off full :D

Ibiza TDI Sport (PD130 engine).

Yep,

Same car as ChrisB. Went down to Weston and Bristol yesterday at 95ish most of the way and got 48mpg:)

More than makes up for the fact that the toys struggle to get into the teens!!

An Ibiza Sport is bloody cheap motoring IMHO.

What is the MPG like on a B road thrash?

Like in a "real world" situation Nacro? :p

?

Like on a b road thrash as mentioned.

Same trip last Saturday - I think I was getting around 45mpg on the A701 from Moffat to Edinburgh. Superb A quiet road, about 50 miles and I wasn't hanging around at all.

When I've been chasing Scoobies in Wales on the last two camping trips, I averaged roughly 48mpg for 500 miles on both weekends.

So it would seem that a lot of the reports of the quicker diesel cars suffering from poor economy when thrashed are just myths then.

As you may or may not know from having read other threads I contributed to I had a Passat 130Pdi as a company hack for a while and I found that its economy averaged around 45mpg under most circumstances. On a 120mph run on the autobahn I saw it go as low as 34mpg.

In a B road thrash there's not a huge amount of difference between petrol and diesel; the key to diesel economy is that most of the time you're driving in traffic, cruising on a motorway, or going on A roads at six-tenths, hence not stressing the engines.

I had an Escort 1.6TD some years back and struggled to get below 45mpg on an everage. The same trips, with the same driver, using a 1.6 petrol Escort (which was no faster, other than perhaps in the 0-60 range, and even then not by much) gave an average in the high 20's.

Thrashing them both (not that you'd want to - they were both hopeless to drive) would have resulted in mid-20's for both

Nacro,

I seem to remember that at the Nurburgring I was getting about 24mpg out of my 330d :D I was getting an average of 38.7mpg at all other times. This was for all types of driving, and was taken form the OBC, and not calculated. Cruising on the motorway at 85-90 gave 42mpg.

As with most diesels, the autos suffer more than the manuals. I've heard some stories of the 330d autos struggling to break into the 30's. Just depends on driving styles and conditions.

I can get 50+ mpg out of the other halfs 110 TDI Golf, whereas she gets 45 ish. There's no discernable speed difference there either! Women! ;)

I'm picking up my new 330d soon, so will let you know how the 204bhp and 300+ ft/lbs of torque affects economy. :D:D

Either way, when you're looking at over 35 mpg as an average on any car, you've gotta be happy!

Matt

What do you mean Matt when you say "women", cos you drive like one anyway ;)

F

In the interests of comparison I calculated I got about 13mpg average out a UK model "classic" Impreza on the ring.

In motorway drving about 30mpg.

Nacro,

I reckon that my M5 was doing about 8mpg at the Ring, so that makes a Scoob look positively efficient! LOL :D ;)

Matt

P.S Floyd - GFY! ;)

on the subject of mpg...

In my evo VII, the fule guage stays on full for about 2 nano seconds...and quicky drops to below half. I seem to be on a constant look out for a shell station :(

You can't have it all..the VII is a thirsty beast.

I am really starting to see the attraction of the diesel performance car...may be tempted to get one as an every day blast and keep the evo for Sunday best.

Not sure yet

quote: "I reckon that my M5 was doing about 8mpg at the Ring, so that makes a Scoob look positively efficient!"

But who would be having more fun? I can't imagine what could better a naturally aspirated, powerful petrol engine driving the rear wheels for pure thrills. I've seen some awesome stuff done in M5's round the ring and was luck enough to be piloted around in one by Sabine.

Nacro,

You're right. The M5 is truly one of the best cars in the world. Fullstop. I've had some great cars but the M5 was just in a different league. :D I'm having a diesel break again for a while, but will have to see what the E60 M5 is like at the end of next year. If it's horrendous, then I might be forced to get a late (02 or 52 plate) E39 again! :D

Matt

MattOz - hello mate!

ChinnyBloke may have gotten round to selling his M5 by that time, so maybe you could buy his... afterall, you've seen it already! He keeps saying he's getting rid of it... but can't bring himself to part with it!

Did he mention when we met up, that he thought the clutch was knackered? He had it checked, and they reckoned it was fine... just had to have it replaced! Got it done for free though (as he always manages to do :rolleyes:) and reckons its much better now.

Aha! Senor Duco_Pond - Long time no speak! ;)

Chinnybloke did mention that the clutch might be on the way out as it had slipped whilst trying to keep up with a Fireblade! LOL :D I'm not surprised he got it replaced FOC. He seems to be a jammy git! Ha Ha!

I'm waiting for yet another diesel to arrive, and would be good to have a beer at some point if you're up for one. :) Let me know.

Cheers
Matt