classic car forum header
Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
Register     Posting Photographs     Privacy     F/book OCC Facebook     OCC on Patreon

MPG
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> General Motoring & Collectables (inc Classic Caravans)
Author Message
pigtin
Guest





PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:34 pm    Post subject: MPG Reply with quote

Back in Feburary I purchased a brand spanking new Kia, Rio CRDi... 'Why did he do that' I hear you asking.
'Simple' I reply. Our small family business had a Sedona to trade in and it had behaved faultlessly for four years and about 80K miles.
The Rio boasted a powerful 1500cc Diesel engine mpg in the high 60s, and good road test reports.
While I am usually of a patriotic nature I am becoming reluctant to pay fuel tax to line the coffers and pockets of successive incompetent governments, grasping oil companies, and people of mid-eastern aspect who's life's ambition is to kill me and mine.
The memsahib loves the car, and I quite like it myself, but fuel consumption in the high 60s? no way. The best I have done is 52 on a long run, I have tried to drive without A/C and in 5th gear as much as possible and the last tank of fuel was "superdiesel" and it was even worse.
Perhaps someone can tell me how they work out the 'extra urban cycle' for fuel consumption? Downhill with the wind behind you in fifth gear perhaps?
There is always the possibility that there is something wrong with the car? but I would like to be sure that I haven't misunderstood the advertizing blurb before complaining.
Don.
Back to top
Job-Rated
Guest





PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Complain anyway.
You never know your luck.
Back to top
Uncle Joe
Guest





PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Purely by coincidence, and drifting slightly off topic, I have just been reading an article about a 1957 Rambler Estate that was fitted with a 3.2 litre six cylinder petrol engine. On an observed trip between Los Angeles and New York, it averaged no less than 32 miles per US gallon....(if I've converted wrong it was 7.4 litres/100 km).

I know this is comparing apples with pears, but surely if this was possible 50 years ago, a modern diesel should be able to cover more than double that.....

UJ
Back to top
Job-Rated
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only real advantage to diesel that I can see is that it runs slightly cooler than a petrol. The difference in mpg is only marginal & one hell of a sacrifice considering the performance loss.
As for the cost, again, it's only marginal. Unless your best friend happens to be a farmer, ofcourse. Wink
Back to top
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thing with diesels is the noise, even with 'luxury' cars they still sound like a tractor, and the smoke they put out when accelerating is pretty embarassing too, far more than any old car I've ever owned Smile

R
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Job-Rated
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I rest my case.
Back to top
Uncle Joe
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am a diesel fan, I will admit. Always have been. So therefore, I am biased...so maybe I'd better not give an opinion....but as I cant keep my mouth shut.....

My latest working vehicle is a diesel. It replaced a petrol engined Volvo estate. Over the last 12 months, running costs have been 25% lower...not exactly marginal. As far as noise, its certainly no noisier than the Volvo, though I will admit to being slightly deaf... Very Happy So maybe I cant hear the tones.

Diesels actually run hotter than petrols, compare the cooling/oil system...its usually so much larger, which gives a misconception that they are cooler.

As a plus, you can make them run on both heating oil and cooking oil...

UJ
Back to top
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

yup there's no denying their better economy than comparable petrol engined versions of the same car, but (as I don't do a huge mileage) I won't be swapping to an oil burner Smile

R
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
pigtin
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My choice of diesel was prompted by several considerations. Our first (ex RAC) Astra never gave any trouble, even at 200k +. Then a diesel Sedona, a PT cruiser to my present Kia, never a problem.
I chose the diesel PT because it had a far better performance than the petrol version and in the case of the Kia, it is actually quieter than the petrol version as well as having a 'zippy' performance.
Those of you who still think of diesels as being noisy and oily need to try some of the new CRD, I think you may be surprised.

Don.
Back to top
gillberry
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have to confess to liking modern diesels as with a common rail set up you get very similar performance to a petrol engine and no waiting for glow plugs to warm up as well as better fuel economy . And no they are not that noisy anymore . My better half's astra estate is a 2l model and is fun to drive with loads of go . Plus I need something economical as arover v8 and 6 cyl are not economical .
Back to top
Scotty
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I needed a replacement differential on my two year old "E" Class Mercedes recently and they gave me in the interim a brand new Golf GT Diesel - jeesus was that thing fast! Cool

It must be the quickest accelerating car I've driven in years, and a diesel to boot - after three days not getting anything less than 40 mpg and torque steer off every set of traffic lights I had to give them it back. Just as well maybe as I was gonna loose my licence.
Back to top
PACresta
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I must back up the diesel brigade here Very Happy I have had petrol burners up to now, i felt like a change and now own a 1300 Meriva diesel. Done around 3000 miles now and i am impressed, the torque is great for overtaking and i am returning between 45 and 55mpg. The only time you notice its a diesel is when starting up, even then its not bad.
Back to top
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

agree on the torque thing, diesels do seem to be blessed with good torque (something I miss on modern revvy petrol units admittedly) although the small turbodiesel I drove recently had a super-narrow powerband to contend with.

R
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
pigtin
Guest





PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have to agree on the narrow powerband, makes the extra gearchanges something of a chore when driving in town but one soon gets used to it.

The memsahib had a bog standard Peugeot 405 diesel that had a power band as good as a petrol engine, a pleasure to drive in town but gutless on the motorway. After having it nearly ten years it still showed no signs of wearing out.
Don.
Back to top
pigtin
Guest





PostPosted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For any conspiricy theorists out there. This may be the answer to the petrol/diesel debate; Water! What a pity we keep getting hosepipe bans.
I really don't know if one should take ANY of the following site seriously, bit too much science that I don't understand.
http://easygrowhouseplants.blogspot.com/2006/12/inventor-of-water-powered-car-murdered.html
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> General Motoring & Collectables (inc Classic Caravans) All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
OCC Merch link
Forum T&C


php BB powered © php BB Grp.