Swift 1.5 or Leon FR
- Thread starter Spammeh
- Start date
Not driven the suzuki but spent a good month driving the Leon FRs up at Thurleigh Airfield, both variants.
I actually really enjoyed them, especially the diesel torques, although the natural low rev limit was a pain. Interior was functional enough but felt a bit empty and hollow. The quality seemed ok, but although I can't put my finger on it, it was just missing something.
Go have a drive and then drive the other competition in this range rather than just picking the odd car that you think might be best for you.
I actually really enjoyed them, especially the diesel torques, although the natural low rev limit was a pain. Interior was functional enough but felt a bit empty and hollow. The quality seemed ok, but although I can't put my finger on it, it was just missing something.
Go have a drive and then drive the other competition in this range rather than just picking the odd car that you think might be best for you.
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Nothing is going to be much fun on the Motorway, but something can be fun everywhere else and at least comfortable on the Motorway.
The Leon FR has more chance of meeting both of those criteria than the Swift does, IMO.
I've been contemplating* the idea of something Derv but with a decent chassis/suspension for having a bit of fun when the opportunity arises. I haven't really found anything apart from the 330D, but even then, you're unlikely to get truly decent fuel economy from it.
*Literrally just that, contemplation.
The Leon FR has more chance of meeting both of those criteria than the Swift does, IMO.
I've been contemplating* the idea of something Derv but with a decent chassis/suspension for having a bit of fun when the opportunity arises. I haven't really found anything apart from the 330D, but even then, you're unlikely to get truly decent fuel economy from it.
*Literrally just that, contemplation.
Soldato
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The Leon FR will not get 55mpg no matter what the trip computer says. Im getting the same miles out of a tank in a 1.6 petrol A3 as i did in the diesel FR, about 420.
What are the respective tank sizes though?
So you are saying, because you get the same range from a petrol car, with your own driving style and routes, that the car will never do a claimed 55MPG? Pretty bold statement I'd say.
So you are saying, because you get the same range from a petrol car, with your own driving style and routes, that the car will never do a claimed 55MPG? Pretty bold statement I'd say.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Not really, given that he owned the car in question he's probably got experience of it over a range of different drives. I doubt he is saying it wont get 55mpg because he once drove through town and didnt manage that.
55mpg is very optimistic for a 1.9 TDI PD 150 engine, it has to be said.
I think 55MPG on a run, with careful driving is very achievable.
Obviously you're not going to achieve that dodging in and out of the middle lane overtaking at 90MPH, and flooring it from traffic lights. I hear loads of people moan that their diesel isn't economical at all, yet they drive it on boost 90% of the time :/
The Insignia I had recently averaged 22MPG if I tried getting it to move like a petrol. Yet if I drove it like a Diesel, and kept to an off-boost cruise as much as possible, it was creeping up to nearly 50MPG.
Obviously you're not going to achieve that dodging in and out of the middle lane overtaking at 90MPH, and flooring it from traffic lights. I hear loads of people moan that their diesel isn't economical at all, yet they drive it on boost 90% of the time :/
The Insignia I had recently averaged 22MPG if I tried getting it to move like a petrol. Yet if I drove it like a Diesel, and kept to an off-boost cruise as much as possible, it was creeping up to nearly 50MPG.
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But your average over a week isn't going to be 55mpg, is it? Even with a long commute.
If I drive carefully, on a run, I can get 40mpg from my 530i but it doesnt mean I can budget to get 40mpg as an overall average over a week nor advise people its generally capable of 40mpg!
Well that depends entirely on what he does in a week. If most of that 200 miles a week is sat on "flowing" Dual Carriageways/Motorways then I don't see why his weekly average couldn't be over 50MPG in a typical, modern diesel.
That doesnt sound right - I was getting that on my shorter commute on the same roads out of my heavier, older Mondeo. Hell, my dad was getting 45mpg from his tank like Audi A6 with the same engine and a CVT gearbox, doing that many miles down the A303
A while ago, I had all the discs and pads done on it, the fuel economy went up by about 5mpg average - so there may be something needing doing on it. It's not a million miles off, but I'd expect to see closer to 50 on your commute
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He commutes up and down the A38 which, whilst a 'flowing dual carriageway' is also hardly the most flat road in the world. There are numerous gradients. Part of the reason why the M5 stops at Exeter, infact.
[TW]Fox;16372872 said:
I know the A38 and A380 very well indeed and was speaking from experience
Yes you wont see as good a return as you would on a big flat motorway, but I could still get close to 50mpg on a trip to Plymouth from the Mondeo
Well quite probably, but it's also a substantially bigger car.
As I said, I doubt it's a million miles off but does seem a tad low. Inside the realms of something like a slightly binding caliper, blocked air filter, or just needing a good service. The better comparison was my dad's old A6 as above which was used on similar roads
As I said, I doubt it's a million miles off but does seem a tad low. Inside the realms of something like a slightly binding caliper, blocked air filter, or just needing a good service. The better comparison was my dad's old A6 as above which was used on similar roads
Caporegime
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ya but according to wiki the 1.6 is quite heavily modified engine over the 1.5 so even though its only 25bhp more, its a much more fluid - and willing to rev funbox:
" it is powered by a high-revving 1.6 litre, naturally-aspirated DOHC VVT 4-cylinder engine with a 11.1:1 compression ratio, 4-1 exhaust manifold, High lift cams, Forged pistons, and strengthened valve springs. it is powered by a high-revving 1.6 litre, naturally-aspirated DOHC VVT 4-cylinder engine with a 11.1:1 compression ratio, 4-1 exhaust manifold, High lift cams, Forged pistons, and strengthened valve springs."
but the standard 1.5 i would have thought less fun!
my friend had a leon 2.0 tdi 150 from new as a company car and he drove it everywhere like he stole it, and averaged 40-50mpg
" it is powered by a high-revving 1.6 litre, naturally-aspirated DOHC VVT 4-cylinder engine with a 11.1:1 compression ratio, 4-1 exhaust manifold, High lift cams, Forged pistons, and strengthened valve springs. it is powered by a high-revving 1.6 litre, naturally-aspirated DOHC VVT 4-cylinder engine with a 11.1:1 compression ratio, 4-1 exhaust manifold, High lift cams, Forged pistons, and strengthened valve springs."
but the standard 1.5 i would have thought less fun!
my friend had a leon 2.0 tdi 150 from new as a company car and he drove it everywhere like he stole it, and averaged 40-50mpg
[TW]Fox;16372169 said:
I've seen over 55mpg on my trip computer many times (granted it's not necessarily accurate though)
My highest has been 65mpg - though that was driving like a saint in the middle of the night purely to see how much difference it would make. My average to/from uni (35 mile journey; 10 miles B roads, 3 miles town driving, 20 miles DC and another 2 miles town driving) is usually around 48-55 mpg.
On a run from North Yorkshire to London I get close to 60 mpg with the cruise control set at 70-80, with 4 people in the car going down German autobahns I was getting over 50mpg last year too, this included a fair few unlimited stretches and then getting stuck in bad traffic in Stuttgart at the end of the journey.
I get well over 40mpg driving around North London too whenever I'm at the GF's, which when combined with a bit of motorway/DC driving brings it back up to over 50mpg again. The only time it really suffers is if you drive like a tail in stop/start traffic (both in town and on DCs/Motorways)but that's self explanatory really.
(Not meaning to single you out Fox, just giving my input as I own the engine in question - I agree 55mpg is a tad optimistic but 50mpg is easily achievable without trying too hard in my experience)
[TW]Fox;16372872 said:
I do need an excuse to go to London actually so that I can test and see if I get better economy from standard motorway.
For what it's worth, i've done Salisbury and back twice from Exeter this week. Average 42MPG. That's mostly A303.
There are some things "not quite right" about the car though. It's warning me about a service in 800 miles. I've had the car three months (and it was allegedly serviced right as I bought it)?