Well I achieved the impossible today on my R - the 200 mile half tank! 198.8 miles done since fill up and the range was showing 205 miles left, with the needle showing just more than half a tank. Have caned it 2 out of 5 days and still averaged 34.7mpg since fill.
Amazing. You get mpg that I can't even dream of.
Same here. "Caning" an R and getting mid 30's MPG just isn't possible, unless my maths is completely off.
I think MH must be caning a different R because there is no way on this earth I can fathom that. I'm actually thrilled because my usual long term 19/20mpg temporarily increased to 25 mpg over the school summer hols. Now schools are back and traffic is back on roads it's heading southwards again rapidly, that and proper caning it round the back roads. 
A longish (20 miles each way) commute, clear roads and a manual box all help with the mpg. My mpg has crept up 2mpg as a new 3 mile stretch of average speed camera 30mph zone has popped up on what was a 70mph road while North Tyneside council do work to eliminate yet another roundabout in favour of traffic light controlled junctions that are far more complicated than the roundabout being replaced.
When I get a stretch to accelerate in I do take advantage, but I do judge the road ahead well and come off the accelerator early and let the car slow down itself towards a roundabout or slow traffic ahead, so some of my driving style is economical (I bet my brakes are hardly worn at all).
If I did an 8 mile commute in city traffic, i'd probably consider myself lucky to hit 25mpg.
I'm a firm believer in a short burst of hard acceleration can be more economical than an extended period of moderate acceleration to get you to the desired speed.
