Petrol Crisis: MPG

[5lab]

the point is that at 70mph that little engine is having to drag a HUGE amount of car around with no assistance (the battery runs out of power). however you've got to remember that in day to day driving the peak power is nearer that of a normal 2l hatch (not a sporty one or owt, but a normal one), which is a lot better than most other things in the states. it does a lot better round town than most other cars, but on average its still beaten by smallish diesel hatches (the lupo tdi does ~70mpg on a run.. madness)

[Konan555]

So being cynical about it.... it's just helping reduce fuel comsumption for journeys people could've cycled

[dangel]

the point is that at 70mph that little engine is having to drag a HUGE amount of car around with no assistance (the battery runs out of power). however you've got to remember that in day to day driving the peak power is nearer that of a normal 2l hatch (not a sporty one or owt, but a normal one), which is a lot better than most other things in the states. it does a lot better round town than most other cars, but on average its still beaten by smallish diesel hatches (the lupo tdi does ~70mpg on a run.. madness)

As I understood it the petrol engine takes over when up to speed and the electric does nothing unless you've got your foot on the floor in which case both act together. The electric is primarily there to get the car moving (when a petrol engine is least efficient) and punt it along in queues of traffic (which is half a commute for most of us). I'd quite agree on pure motorway driving at constant speed there's no benefit, but in 'real world' driving it's ideal to be gathering otherwise lost energy (braking, excess alternator etc) and 'recycling it'. Plus of course you're reducing emissions in built up areas which is a good thing. Smaller diesel hatches usually have three pot engines (lupo) and weigh a heck of a lot less which helps, plus they chuck out soot on the cyclists

[5lab]

but even in the real world, it doesnt compete with a lupo overall.. granted its a bigger car, but its twice as expensive..

btw you sure the lupo is a 3pot? its a 1.4..

[Konan555]

Plus of course you're reducing emissions in built up areas which is a good thing.

And dumping it in open areas.... cheers very much

[smtkr]

Wow! You guys beat the pants off my mileage. I get ~30 with my Ford Focus 2.0L (35 on my trip to Seattle, but that was a fluke).

[TheAnimus]

yeh but in USD per mile, your beeting us

[luap.h]

39 in my 98 Mazda 323 fastback. Used to get around 34, but got some of that Forte fuel treatment of ebay, worked a treat!

[Beck]

~120 mpg on my cg125.

[dangel]

but even in the real world, it doesnt compete with a lupo overall.. granted its a bigger car, but its twice as expensive..

btw you sure the lupo is a 3pot? its a 1.4..

Expense is due to low production as much as anything else - if they were chucking out 80% of all cars as hybrids the tech would be much cheaper. You can thank the californians for pushing people like toyota into investigation the technology. Lots of money is being spent on hybrids right now - toyota have extended it to their lexus 4x4 (which now returns car-like mpg instead of truck-like).

AFAIK the lupo does have a 3 pot tdi engine (at least thats what was in the Arosa i looked at a while back - which, by the way, was a hoot to drive).

[dangel]

And dumping it in open areas.... cheers very much

LOL

Well its not like it's storing up those emissions for latter distribution!

[headbrace]

If I'm lucky, I can get about 25mpg. If I'm a bit more "spirited" in my driving, then I can just about watch the fuel gauge drop as I drive

[nev_payne]

My mini did me well last Sunday - drove up to Taunton and back just to get used to the busy traffic up there. For 23 years old, it certianly got good milage - 50 miles out of half a tank.

[TheAnimus]

well i use public transport, its costing me £10.99 including tax to fly upto stansted (a mates party)

[nev_payne]

oh yeh talk about public transport lately - used to cost £4 last year return form Minehead to Taunton on the bus - its now £6 - absolute bloody rip off if you ask me.

[RoganJosh]

20-23mpg, subaru legacy sports tourer spec b