Now I get it.....
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,493
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From: Surrey
Fuel consumption is bad, but I've noticed it doesn't get much worse if I cane it......
If I just potter to work and back, sitting in traffic (that's the killer) then I get about 210-220/tank (48-50 litre fillup).
If I sit on the motorway about 260/tank (only happened once)
If I cane it and really drive it quite hard then I'm back to 210-220/tank.
No idea what that is mpg-wise but it works out quite expensive !!!
If I just potter to work and back, sitting in traffic (that's the killer) then I get about 210-220/tank (48-50 litre fillup).
If I sit on the motorway about 260/tank (only happened once)
If I cane it and really drive it quite hard then I'm back to 210-220/tank.
No idea what that is mpg-wise but it works out quite expensive !!!
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
It's one of those things; people want turbo 4WD cars and then quietly forget the effect all that mass, heat & friction has on fuel economy.
And as previously stated, the old, light Scooby has the most efficient 4WD layout. Of a bad lot, basically.
It's one of the reasons Aldi stuck with their straight-eight-hung-off-the-front-axle layout for far too long; to save mass & friction. I'd imagine the non-diseasel A5s must be for oil sheikhs only.
The most efficient transmission layout was designed over 100 years ago by Panhard & Levassor, IIRC; that's the one still favoured by the S2000 and a small Bavarian manufacturer. Harder to drive though!
And as previously stated, the old, light Scooby has the most efficient 4WD layout. Of a bad lot, basically.
It's one of the reasons Aldi stuck with their straight-eight-hung-off-the-front-axle layout for far too long; to save mass & friction. I'd imagine the non-diseasel A5s must be for oil sheikhs only.
The most efficient transmission layout was designed over 100 years ago by Panhard & Levassor, IIRC; that's the one still favoured by the S2000 and a small Bavarian manufacturer. Harder to drive though!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,979
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From: North Yorks
Well, my year with the Impreza has come to an end, so I thought I'd give it an end-of-term report.
We're moving north next week and since Kate still has property and family down in Wiltshire, we're likely to be doing the 500 mile round trip quite frequently. Since the Exige had it's tyres swapped for more winter-friendly rubber it's a bit more realistic a proposition for fun drives in the colder months too, so for reasons of fuel economy and long distance comfort, I've traded the Impreza in.
I can honestly say this is the first beater I've bought that has entertained consistently while still being reliable. Fuel consumption is in the low 20s, regardless of driving style it seems and that's been it's only bugbear - other than that it's been rock-solid reliable over the 14000kms it's done since Dec 2007, never missing a beat.
Only significant costs have been 2 services (6 month intervals, but I would have changed the oil anyway, this is a 13 year old engine with a socking great turbo attached) at
We're moving north next week and since Kate still has property and family down in Wiltshire, we're likely to be doing the 500 mile round trip quite frequently. Since the Exige had it's tyres swapped for more winter-friendly rubber it's a bit more realistic a proposition for fun drives in the colder months too, so for reasons of fuel economy and long distance comfort, I've traded the Impreza in.
I can honestly say this is the first beater I've bought that has entertained consistently while still being reliable. Fuel consumption is in the low 20s, regardless of driving style it seems and that's been it's only bugbear - other than that it's been rock-solid reliable over the 14000kms it's done since Dec 2007, never missing a beat.
Only significant costs have been 2 services (6 month intervals, but I would have changed the oil anyway, this is a 13 year old engine with a socking great turbo attached) at
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
What an excellent choice of upgrade!
Always been drawn towards the 'Spec B' estates.
PS - I've got heated seats in the Prelude and it is a FRED I'll willingly live with! Well, Electric Device, which ain't so troublesome anyway.
Always been drawn towards the 'Spec B' estates.
PS - I've got heated seats in the Prelude and it is a FRED I'll willingly live with! Well, Electric Device, which ain't so troublesome anyway.
