MPG - must do better

[liffy99]

Well, 10 days into ownership of my 2009 6MT and 800 miles later.
I've not ragged it yet but keen to see what the economy was like when trying - but not good news.
For example, today I had a 122 mile (each way) trip from Glastonbury to Bodmin (I know, I should have gone by lay line) - all M5 / dual carriageway cruising apart from the first 10 miles of quiet B roads. On the way down I kept between 60 and 70 - no traffic to speak off and as close to a non-stop journey I think I could ask for. On return I upped the leptons another 10. Going down - 27.1mpg. Coming back 26.6mpg.
Now I didn't buy the S4 for economy, but thought it would do better than this when I'm being boringly careful, even had the Aircon switched off the whole way.
I've always been pretty good at getting good mpgs from cars (old BMW 130, with a 3 litre engine but 160kg lighter, managed a long term average of 32, and on this sort of run would easily have been 35+). I know the S4 is more powerful, heavier and perhaps I'm still getting used to it, but I would have hoped for 30mpg on such an easy run.

[Bacardi Jo]

Thats about right the brochure says 28.2 combined for the manual and 30.1 for the Stronic.

[evojkp]

I can get an 'indicated' 30mpg on a decent run. Usually between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

[liffy99]

But is a 120 mile, 65 mph cruise 'combined' ?
I would have thought that should have been pretty close to the 'extra urban' figure ?
If the route had been a real mix of driving I could understand but I think I only actually came to a stop once and there was no traffic to speak of.
If I'd spent 10 miles in town fair enough . . .

[evojkp]

I never go by manufacturers figures as they more often than not are pants. Always done under 'test' conditions. I did for a while use the fuelly site to log consumption, but gave myself a shake.

[liffy99]

How did you find the MRC tune ?
It's on my list for the not too distant future but undecided whether to go stage 1 or 2.
Insurance already covers me for the first, expect a premium increase for the latter.
I rarely explore the upper reaches of the rev band - it's the mid range shove that I find most useful.

[jaygemson]

They're thirsty beasts aren't they? Mine's an Stronic with an APR stage 1 remap and on my commute I'm seeing 21mpg. The same journey I averaged 24mpg with my E46 M3 and 26mpg with a stage 4 Focus RS.

Do I care? No. The S4 is in another league in terms of build quality and traction, plus a supercharger is not the most efficient means of making power let's be honest.

[evojkp]

Never really noticed much change with mrc fitted. If anything on a run slightly better, but open the taps and bring it on song and it does drink a bit quicker. I'm usually 350'ish between fill up to light coming in. Loads of mixed driving.

[liffy99]

Well, you can get 30+ mpg, but its so boring.
48 miles at 33 !
http://rs595.pbsrc.com/albums/tt33/liff ... 1393102990

[gr4z]

I recently picked up my Mum from Heathrow so couldn't drive 'normally' all the way home on the M25, M1 and A1. My computer spat out 32.6MPG at the end 70-75 most of the way...

[HYFR]

I eeked out 40+MPG from my S4's

[xxx_mojo_xxx]

How?

[Ian_C]

50 mph specs cameras on M1 for mile after mile I bet!