Time for change, MPG help please

ACE01

ACE01

ACE01

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Joined
8 Nov 2006
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191
Location
North East England
Hi all,

First post in here so forgive me if I've missed something here with similar info (though I've had a browse through and couldn't really find anything relevant).

I currently drive a 2005 Merc C220d, with 133k on the clock (approx 25-30k miles per year), but as a commuter (on top of travel for meetings) I'm finding the 35ish MPG i get out of it to be crippling at present. I realise to get much better mpg and still have a fairly new car I'll have to downsize/downspec to a smaller hatchback, and this is fine, but I can't seem to find the right motor.

The concept (if possible) is to have the fuel saving (currently spending £500 per month @35mpg) pay for the new car, so if i can get something around 70mpg, I could spend £250 a month for example.

I've read that the extra-urban test carried out by manufacturers (most of my driving is A-road and motorway, average speed across a trip is 60+mph) is at an average speed of 39mph (75mph top speed) so this doesn't seem the best indication of MPG for me. I worry some of the smaller diesels will struggle to sit at motorway speeds and still return high mpg.

Does anyone have any practical advice or could point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.
 
You won't reliably average 70mpg in anything, unfortunately - unless you drive like you're on a constant eco rally which is a) dangerous and b) frustrating, long and tiring.

60 you can do - but you'll be paying a hell of a premium for something capable of that.
 
You might find it better to sell your Merc and get something similiar but cheaper. A Mondeo should do 40-50mpg but cruicially you could save thousands swapping from a 2005 C Class to a 2005 Mondeo.

Nothing will do 70mpg though, even if companies say 70mpg it's rubbish. That is on the test which don't really replicate standard driving at all, and I think they work out how much fuel is used by looking at the emmisions anyway.
 
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I simply used 70mpg as a double and half figure, obviously the more you save in fuel, the less I can afford on a car.

Ie 52.5mpg (50% extra mpg) would leave me £167 (a third off my fuel bill).

Thanks for the feedback though, this is exactly why I was keen to get real feedback, rather thanthe 70mpg+ claims I see advertised on brand new cars.


@Peerzy - I've had my car values a number of times for part ex (Glass's) at 5-5.2k. Would a similar car be available for much less than that?
 
daz said:
Golf Bluemotion?
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I averaged 29mpg in the one I had
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I think there is a different problem here.

If you are only getting 35mpg from a 4 cylinder diesel C Class then its likely there is something about your commute that hampers fuel economy. Your car has a combined mpg figure of 41-44mpg depending on transmission.

You wont be getting 70mpg on the same drive unless the reason for your cars poor economy is that its broken, in which case.. fix it?

Im suprised nobody else has spotted this and continues to suggest you'd get 50mpg from a Mondeo..
 
Same old same old though isn't it - claimed and real-world. He's only, what, 15% away from the worst-case claimed figures? Not that much, not enough to suggest it's broken - and easily achieved by simply driving the car in a normal fashion. I wouldn't be suprised if a few changes of driving style could improve that figures somewhat, though :)
 
Oh I agree, but the same logic must be applied to other cars. It's no good driving around in a C220 CDI at nearly 10mpg below the combined figure and then expecting to get 50mpg from a Mondeo if you change to that.
 
[TW]Fox;18389537 said:
I think there is a different problem here.

If you are only getting 35mpg from a 4 cylinder diesel C Class then its likely there is something about your commute that hampers fuel economy. Your car has a combined mpg figure of 41-44mpg depending on transmission.

You wont be getting 70mpg on the same drive unless the reason for your cars poor economy is that its broken, in which case.. fix it?

Im suprised nobody else has spotted this and continues to suggest you'd get 50mpg from a Mondeo..
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Mine's an automatic, and has done 133k, so that may explain the difference. The car had previously done 40ish. It's had full new brakes (discs, pads & callipers) and rear shocks this year and is becoming a bit of a money-sink, another reason I'm looking to change it. It's currently still having brake issues (judders when the breaks are pressed), which again may explain the MPG difference (having brakes looked at again on Weds).

I'm just loathed to invest further cash into a car which ultimately is only going to get more expensive at lower worth.

So I assume the 1.6 & 2l diesels in say the ibiza/polo sized cars are way off their 60-70mpg figures?
 
Would you really want to do 30k a year in an Ibiza? You wouldnt stay in a tent instead of a hotel when travelling, so why do high mileage in a car designed for learners and going shopping in?
 
[TW]Fox;18389700 said:
Would you really want to do 30k a year in an Ibiza? You wouldnt stay in a tent instead of a hotel when travelling, so why do high mileage in a car designed for learners and going shopping in?
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To be honest, I'd prefer something the size of a golf/focus/leon etc if I have to downsize. If I can avoid going that small, then of course I'd like to, but £££ is the driving factor I suppose.

Was quoted £235/month (3yr 0%) on a brand new focus 1.6 Zetec S, but wasn't sure how this would stack up vs quoted figures due to only being a 1.6. It's more than I wanted to pay, but does something like this seem a better option?
 
The blue-efficiency Merc engines should give better MPG. My father does around 20k in his (think its the C220) and gets ~50MPG with mixed driving. Going to be somewhat more than 200 a month though :p

As said, something sounds wrong with the MPG you're getting any way. Might be worth looking at the 320d.
 
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Try changing your driving style, my 2.0tdci mondeo was averaging 39mpg. changed my driving style, leaving for work at same time, same distance same route, and takes about same time, now getting just under 46mpg. I may not be going over 65mph much, or any heavy acceleration but its a bit more relaxing and costs less to get to work!
 
ACE01 said:
Was quoted £235/month (3yr 0%) on a brand new focus 1.6 Zetec S
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No, you were not. If that was the case you'd be getting the car for £8460 when in reality it costs double that to buy!

I suspect it's some sort of lease deal - which of course will have a mileage limit you'll smash and be heavily charged for - or there is a baloon to pay at the end.
 
[TW]Fox;18389790 said:
No, you were not. If that was the case you'd be getting the car for £8460 when in reality it costs double that to buy!

I suspect it's some sort of lease deal - which of course will have a mileage limit you'll smash and be heavily charged for - or there is a baloon to pay at the end.
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I have the paperwork sat in front of me.

£5600 deposit (£5200 trade-in for my merc), 3 years IFC £235. Ford Focus Zetec Sport 1.6.

I could take the same car over 2 years on Ford's Options scheme (PCP) at £184 with a 6057 GFV.
 
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