60mpg, is it possible?

Sone · 4 Nov 2010 at 09:42

Doing some sums looking for jobs, is it possible in the real world to get 60mpg on a mostly motorway journey with some degree of comfort?

What sort of things would get close? Pug 407 1.6HDi? Vag 1.9tdi?

Lashout_UK · 4 Nov 2010 at 09:48

VW Passat BlueMotion (1.6), exceedingly comfortable and easily do up to if not over 60mpg doing that kind of work. Plenty of kit as well and a suprisingly capable engine despite it's economy.

....but are you looking to buy new, or used?

Von Smallhausen · 4 Nov 2010 at 09:49

I often get 60mpg on the trip comp on the Bora 1.9 TDi I have when on a motorway run and in 6th gear but I don't know how accurate the trip is.

eatcustard · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:06

125cc moped, with a basket on front to put a dog in.

Felix · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:09

I got 59mpg avg (according to the trip) out of a VW TDI on a run from Kent to Edinburgh.

merlin · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:10

I can get 57mpg on a cruise no problem - '09 325D (ED/M Sport/Manual).

DRZ · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:30

I got into the late 50s comfortably in my (remapped) MkV Golf TDI.

I'm currently using my parents Audi A2 1.4TDI and that gets into the 70s

Jonnycoupe · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:31

Ive only once got below 60MPG since having my car. Trip to and into London (Wandsworth) then back home in a rush up the M40 at ~95 leptons.

Degree of comfort... not sure about that one

a1ex2001 · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:13

Sone said:
Doing some sums looking for jobs, is it possible in the real world to get 60mpg on a mostly motorway journey with some degree of comfort?

What sort of things would get close? Pug 407 1.6HDi? Vag 1.9tdi?

a lot depends on the time of day you will be running these trips, I can get 60MPG on the trip computer in the mondeo on a long run if the roads are pretty clear and I'm in 6th with cruise on all the time. Hit traffic and the numbers instantly start to fall, so yes in theory you could do it but the actual result will vary!

If the only way the jb becomes financially viable is for you to hit that 60MPG figure every day I would think twice before taking it as clearly the rewards are not that great. Also don't forget to factor in the additional time of a long commute when doing your calculations, I would require a significant pay rise to make my comute any longer and would take a reasonable cut if I could get it down to a 15 minute walk!

ajstan · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:31

My Dad gets 55mpg from his mondeo econetic, thats close enough

MikeHunt79 · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:34

Someone I know claims to get 70mpg from an Audio A2 diesel...

Hxc · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:35

MikeHunt79 said:
Someone I know claims to get 70mpg from an Audio A2 diesel...

Probably true. Clever little car the A2. If it had been launched now with a slightly less bulbous design I reckon it would sell rather well.

Ant84 · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:40

I managed to hit 60mpg in my parents' 2.0 Avensis D4D on a 30 mile motorway run.

It was an exceedingly boring trip, mind.

Jonnycoupe · 4 Nov 2010 at 12:16

MikeHunt79 said:
Someone I know claims to get 70mpg from an Audio A2 diesel...

And thats the 1.4 TDi. The 1.2 Euro only model is even better with its 3L/100km. Like the Lupo 3L people claim 90mpg real world. Just a bit slow.

I imagine the A2 is probably as good as it gets for refinement in that size of car aswell.

Hawk Tuah · 4 Nov 2010 at 12:18

From my experience if you're looking at good motorway economy, you want a car with a 6th gear that can run a low rpm's at motorway speeds.

My Fiesta got high 60s at ~50mph. However at 70 that figure was a lot lower. Nearer 50mpg. Mainly because of the gearing meaning the turbo was spooling at that speed.

My mates Golf 115 tdi gets over 60mpg when driving at 80!

alexthecheese · 4 Nov 2010 at 12:20

Jonnycoupe said:
And thats the 1.4 TDi. The 1.2 Euro only model is even better with its 3L/100km. Like the Lupo 3L people claim 90mpg real world. Just a bit slow.

I imagine the A2 is probably as good as it gets for refinement in that size of car aswell.

My friend got one whilst we were at uni, around 2002. Very modern design for back then. I thought it was a great car, he regularly got about 75mpg from what I can remember. Hard, hard ride, but handled well and the interior was nice.

marcus_667 · 4 Nov 2010 at 12:51

seat ibiza ecomotives can do 70 + mpg

taximike · 4 Nov 2010 at 12:55

It's easy, just depends how fast you want to drive! Don't spend £5000 extra on a car to save £20 a month in fuel though!

Jonnycoupe · 4 Nov 2010 at 13:06

Bug One said:
From my experience if you're looking at good motorway economy, you want a car with a 6th gear that can run a low rpm's at motorway speeds.

My Fiesta got high 60s at ~50mph. However at 70 that figure was a lot lower. Nearer 50mpg. Mainly because of the gearing meaning the turbo was spooling at that speed.

I disagree, the difference in due to the aerodynamics of driving faster. The increase in force at that speed is actually more %wise than your reduction in MPG. The turbo partially spooling may actually improve the engine BSFC such that its more efficient for every bhp you make, its just that you need more of the bhp due to the speed.

Mine hasnt got a 6th gear

although 30mph/1000rpm is a pretty long 5th. Especially as it revs to 6500rpm.

Muffin` · 4 Nov 2010 at 13:15

Johnny - (bare with me i dont know how to get my thought process onto paper) My Mondeo ST with the 2.2 TDCi block seems to get better fuel economy at 70mph then it does at 56mph sat behind a truck. Is that because the engine is so far down the rev rage in 6th that it has to work extra hard for the elevations in the road?