Free bump on your thread Fest..

I have been thinking about moving on my 330d M Sport, for something alot cheaper but it has to be fun (ish), and very economical to be worth it. Oh, and extremely reliable. Its a very difficult equation I know. Commuting 20k miles , mainly motorway.

Dont laugh, I did consider a Saxo VTR for a bit of a laugh (40mpg is possible from it) and considering they are old... they are tinker-worthy and just lukewarm as fun.

 

If you want reliable cheap motoring, then leasing an UP / Aygo / C1 etc is the only way t o go. If you want reasonably cheap and economical for a big mileage then a PD130 Fabia / Ibiza is the way to go.

If you just want cheap and mostly cheerful then take your pick of the Micras - had one been available that's what i'd have gone for.

20k miles a year and motorway - i'd not want to be in anything smaller than a golf.

 

Fiesta ST will do 50 mpg and is an excellent little drive
Contemplating swapping the Forester for one for the LSB

 

I doubt a Fiesta will actually get 50mpg though? Ford claim 47.9 but then BMW claimed 33 mpg for the M3

i know turbo cars are efficient but that just sounds like marketing bollox to me, similar cars in evo are reporting low 30s mpg. it's not based on experience is it mike?

if it is i'm trading the golf gtd

 

There are probably some big old dips in the stock tune engine map at certain speeds and throttle positions to achieve that on the tests imposed.

 

My experience of the new 'mpg' claims is that it's balls - unless you run on oval tyres and 0.0004% throttle pressure whilst tailgating an HGV .... there is no way to achieve the figures they claim.

I can just about get the Jazz to 51mpg on a LONG run and Honda still claim it will do 60+

 

I've got a 2010 Aygo that Toyota claim 60-62mpg, get 50mpg but no more and that is with using the thin 0W20 oil the owners manual recommends, no extra weight in the car and slow steady driving

 

most journeys start with a cold engine

you are probably getting 5mpg out of a cold engine so that will take the average down a bit

most journeys require you to accelerate from time to time

that makes a bit of a difference too

the conditions under which the mpg claims are gathered have long been seen as laughable

 

I can get an 'honest' 61 mpg (by checking the brim-to-brim fill rather than the computer figure) with the Old Dear's ASG equipped, and fully loaded Skoda Citigo on a motorway run. Around the doors, it's nearer 50-51 mpg.

Cold start, stop-start traffic and acceleration murder mpg; the Audi A8 shows 4-8 mpg when started from cold and I accelerate, albeit gently, on a gentle slope and out of the village...

 

FIAT does about 47mpg when you're up and down the gears and having fun and 60+ if you don't go above 55mph and are careful with the throttle. Where small light cars gain ground is the speed you can carry through a corner or a roundabout because you can take a straighter line. Also with it being a tiny block, it gets warm very quickly although I always let it get to temperature before setting off.

Done almost 6.5k miles in the little thing. By the time its tax expires in mid Feb ... it will be almost 8k miles. By then it will have paid for itself, including all the maintenance and the Honda hasn't cost me a penny in wear and tear during that period. Haven't had to faff with an extra service, winter tyres or hardtops and it hasn't been washed since JAE.

Keep it or replace it? Not sure yet. I'm not really a 'two car' sort of person, can't be doing with taxing / insuring / servicing / MOT'ing two things - i'd rather have one car for all and that means compromises - shopping for something based on a compromise is never an easy task. However, as something to go shopping in, take things to the tip in or just generally abuse, you can't beat having something cheap and nasty to abuse for such things.

What i'll most likely end up doing is running it I crash it, someone else crashes into it, until it refuses to run any further or is beyond sensible repair.

Oh and the only thing i've washed on the outside of the FIAT since buying it are the lights, the windows and the registration plates