Hi Guys,

I was wondering about petrol usage. According to the published figures the extra urban mpg of an S is 35.8. The extra urban figure for our CR-V is 37.2. On this rating it looks like the CRV is a better bet on a long run.

But if I drive down the M6 for 2 hours at a steady speed of 85 (kph of course officer!) will the SUV really use less petrol than the streamlined S2000?

 

Probably. And if you get 35mpg out of the S, please do tell us how.

 

Ade long time no see

Petrol consumption is the resultant factor of many elements other than just aerodynamics. If the cars ran the same engine, drive train, tyres etc etc etc then the figures would favour the S as this would eleminate all the other factors and then cross sectional area and drag co-efficient would be the only differentials.

Any way how are things generally?

 

To get early 30s mpg really isn't that difficult. Accelerated lightly, change up early and do not go into vtec.

To get mid 30s or better you really need to be able to get all the factors right:
Keep around 55mph (best on motorways, it gets rather harder if you're on B roads, esp if in anything other than light traffic)
Accelerate slowly and change up around 3/4000rpm
Anticipate driving (avoid braking and accelerating, i.e. a slight easing off of throttle on motorway whilst others are overtaking can mean the car in front is out of the way by the time you reach them.
Slip stream lorries (not too close mind!)
Hope wind isn't across or against you.
Hope traffic is light
Keep things smooth, try not to lose momentum (see above anticipation)
and so on.

A.vetc a lot and you're looking at low to mid 20s.
B.Anyone can get late 20s mpg, still having a blast of vtec.
C.30mpg easily over a tank if you avoid vtec and drive lightish
D.mid 30s, certainly possible but do need to follow the above and realistically need non windy weather, light traffic on motorways as well etc. Clearly getting these figures relies on a certain bit of luck.
E.40+ is possible (I know as I've done this over a 100 mile journey, 47/48 IIRC) but this was a combination of EVERYTHING coming together and REALLY concentrating, very light traffic, no wind and so on. This was a once in a blue moon thing and I don't think I'd ever replicate this (not that I want to try either ) but it is just about possible. This stage was interesting a test but the drive on the whole was SOOOO boring

Anyone should be able to achieve A, B & C. If you can't then there's either something wrong with the car (unlikely) or your driving really needs looking at. Really be honest with yourself about how you drive if you can't do this when trying to.
D & E are only really what "can" be achieved and lets be honest, most of us (myself included) are rarely going to do this as we love revving to much

 

at a steady 95 the S uses less petrol than our 2 litre scenic petrol.

 

Hi Chris,
good to see you're still around. We're fine living in a lovely place and I'm enjoying a good job.

I'm just trying to persuade Jude that we can afford a new car now - not an S but something a tad more practical and cheaper to run, particularly on longer runs.

I don't believe the numbers. The extra-urban mileage is taken over a 4.3 mile circuit that includes some acceleration and deceleration. I don't think this actually reflects petrol consumption on my fairly regular 85(kph) 150 mile plus journey. So how do I compare cars in these circumstances?

 

I would guess that it might. Will the scenic really do 95?

 

Never managed it myself either, Loobs.

Drac seems to have some ideas though.

 

Sorry im a bit thick how far does a full tank of petrol take you in the s? I'm reall not sure how many gallons it holds so kind of hard to work out exact miles per gallon, is 240 to a tank good or bad? think that about how much i got from my last tank full.

 

my mpg extra urban went up going single exit - probably as it runs more lean but considerably down when heavy on the loud pedal. On a 70mph cruise i can get 300 miles without petrol light.