Suzuki Swift 59 1.3. Good MPG, Average MPG, Bad MPG ?

[gamehungry]

Right been browsing the old forums and came accross this one, so here I am for some advice ! Hope you don't mind.

So Ive owned a Suzuki Swift 1.3 Petrol (59) since September 09. The car was/is new, it's currently got 2569 Miles on the clock.

The probem, a couple of months down the line I started to think I'm spending rather a lot on fuel compared to my last car which was a Fiat Punto 1.2 (01). At the moment I'm spending between £40-50 a month covering anywhere between 200-260 miles.

My main usage of the car is going to/from work, that journey is 1.6 miles each way. The car idles for around 2-3 mins on the journey while I remove the car from the garage, when i'm on the move I go through 3 sets of traffic lights stopping/going at some of them. I take the same route home. This journey is made at 6AM.

Now my car's telling me I'm getting an average of 28MPG over the month. Resetting it this morning and seeing what I get on one journey to/from work I got a result of 23MPG.

In summary I'm wondering if what I'm getting is right or not. Can anyone shed any light on this ?

While I'm here there's something else, the clutch on the car is very sensitive and has a high biting point so it makes it difficult to get the right revs when pulling off so I sometimes over rev it. I have gotton used to it nearly but it just seems strange again compared to my last car. Does this sound normal ?

Sorry for the essay !

Cheers,

gamehunrgy

 

[gamehungry]

The clutch on my Swift Sport is awful. If I need to pull away in a hurry, it's a nightmare. I've managed to smoke it a couple of times now! I'm used to the rather heavy clutch of my Civic Type R, which requires standing on to operate.

My Swift averages ~35MPG, but that includes a 26 mile per day commute which the wife drives. I suspect it's not a great deal worse 'around town'. Yours sounds dreadfully low to me, unless you drive everywhere in 1st gear.

At least the clutch isn't just me then !

I thought it sounded bad, I don't drive everywhere in first gear no but I don't get higher then 3rd for much of the journey to work what with the starting and stopping.

I've driven from Scarborough to Newcastle a coupe of times and can manage that at around £25. So 186 miles around £25. Does that sound bad ?

With regards to my driving style I try to get into the highest gear possible as soon as possible. I usually go into 3rd at around 22-30MPH, 4th at around 30-40MPH and 5th at 40+MPH. I use my brakes rather then my gears to slow the car down, I cruise to junctions etc in what gear I'm in and stop.

Any suggestions to increase MPG ?

Thanks for your input btw !

gamehungry

 

[gamehungry]

Ah more reply thanks guys ! Glad I asked here.

Does Scarborough to Newcastle (Metro Centre) (186 Miles Round Trip) at around £25 sound about right then ?

I'm thinking I should maybe start walking to work.

Thanks again.

gamehungry

 

[gamehungry]

I don't quite understand. You cover between 200 and 260 miles per month, yet the main usage of the car is a 70 mile journey per month?

Sorry, I forgot to mention the regular trips to the supermarket, trips to see family etc along with other small journeys. I always seem to cover around 200+ miles a month though.

I've travelled to york once a month the past coupe of months which is 80+ Miles a round trip. I'll reset the MPG counter next time I go from here (Scarborough) to York to see what i get.

 

[gamehungry]

So if I was to take the car to my local Suzuki dealer what would you suggest I tell them. Just walk in and say my car is doing rubbish MPG, can you look at it ?

Cheers,

gamehungry

 

[gamehungry]

Which dealer you get it from?

I got the car from the Suzuki Dealer in York (Glen Garage). We have a Suzuki dealer here in Scarborough though (GT Garages). I didn't get the car here in Scarborough as I went to 'Look' in York while I was there and came out with a new car.

 

[gamehungry]

I would say the economy is fine. It's a new car, probably not fully loosened up, and you are driving a very short journey with several minutes of idling. Trips to the supermarket etc. are all going to keep that just as bad.

My suggestion would be to reset your trip computer as you set off on the 186 mile journey and then report the mpg back here. If this is low then I personally would advise you to speak to Suzuki, but I suspect it will be OK.

Will do although I won't be making that trip for a while, I will more then likely be heading to York again soon (Family There) so I'll reset and see what I get then. What would you say I should expect on a journey such as that ?

Thanks for the advice btw !

gamehungry

 

[gamehungry]

From a steady journey that was mainly motorway, I would expect around 40, I guess. Your economy will also be quite heavily affected by cruising at much more than 70.

Thanks for that, I'll make sure I record it next time.

Anyone want to give me hits/tips on 'eco safe driving' as they call it these days, driving to save fuel etc ?

Thanks to everyone that's hepled so far, you're a hepful bunch.

I'll update this thread when I've made a long journey.

gamehungry