Ford 2.0 MPG question

lordrobs

lordrobs

lordrobs

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Joined
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Ok so keeping ideas for my next motor ticking over in my mind I've been looking at both Focus sized motors and larger Mondeo sized cars as what I get will be dependant on my position at the time.

Anyway I was quite tempted by a 2.0 Focus... until I did a little digging and found that its combined MPG is quoted as a rater pap 32 MPG, Now take the heavier 2.0 Mondeo which I assumed had an almost identical lump and that brings home a more respectable quoted 36 MPG. Whats the deal there?!

Also I've heard quoted that the 0-60 of the 2.0 Focus is deceptively long due to a close ratio box meaning that a shift to 3rd is required. Another car I've been considering is a Mk 4 Astra SRi, of which the 1.8 is quoted as having a deceptively short 0-60 time due to having a close ratio box :confused: How does that work? Surely the same thing can't work both ways?

Sorry for the noob questions :o
 
I never understood the 2 litre engine in the Focus, everywhere you go people whinge about its economy yet I got great economy from the same engine in the slightly heavier (Though only by 50kg IIRC) Mondeo.
 
Are we talking Mk2 or Mk3 Mondeo.

A mk2 Mondeo is lighter than a Focus, hence the better MPG. However, 32mpg isn't so bad for a 2.0l petrol. (EDIT I stand corrected)

Also, the Mondeo 2.0 requires 3rd for 60. Yes it slows the 0-60 time but real life acceleration, 30-70 for example is quite good, just leave it in 3rd.
 
I was looking at Mk3 Mondeo's, sorry should have been clearer.

I too have seen a lot of complaints about MPG. Whilst I sure as hell don't want to be jumping into another 75BHP car I don't think I could cope with an almost 25% increase in fuel. Need to find a bit of a balance I think.

Any ideas on the Astra though? I still can't get my head around it unless the others in the Astra range are geared to go more than 60 in second (which I doubt) and the 1.8 is geared to just hit 60 in second to appeal to the stat junkies? Not that it really matters I'm just interested. :)
 
'Close ratio' simply means the numeric gear ratio between adjacent gears is closer than normal. This is only useful if you have an engine that has a relatively narrow power band, as the closer ratios mean you can keep the engine within this band for best performance.

Being able to hit 60mph in second does not depend on the closeness of the gearbox ratios, it depends only on the overall gearing in 2nd, i.e. final drive gearing plus 2nd gear ratio and also the maximum RPM before you hit the limiter. A close ratio box could therefore be geared to hit only 30mph in 2nd, or maybe 70mph, so you can't really draw any conclusions about a cars 0-60 ability simply from the fact of it being fitted with a close ratio gearbox.
 
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