Consumption

[R32UK]

Newbie here; having owned the GTI bad boy for a month and not having to run it in (ex-demo, with 2,000 miles on the clock), I'm now averaging 40mpg on a 110 mile round-trip to work. My journey is a mixture of A roads, the M1, and around 7 miles of urban driving. Doing mainly 70mph and shifting gears in a way a gran would drive her Micra/Yaris. Also, as tight as I can be, I turn off the heating/air con. I've noticed the car can be extremely fuel-efficient when driven this way. I remember one trip I had 43-44mpg recorded 

Of course, it dips when the boy racer persona takes over! If fuel prices were between 92p and 96p per litre just as it was 3-4 years ago I will be reducing my fuel costs even more. Greedy b-a-stard govt! 

Top man! Though switching off the AC is a little bit too much even for me
I'll trade 1mpg for a cool breeze

  i hardly ever use the AC. Only used it a couple of occasions when the temp goes above 25 over the last few years... much nicer to have the window open, but then that was back in the V6 days. AC does sap alot of power... try flooring it with AC on then try again with it off.. very noticable.

like i said on my journey up to scottish land i got a very easy 40+mpg and 450 miles to a tank. It more down to how you drive

[Ess_Three]

Are people who have just spent mid £20000 and up, really counting the costs of running AC/heated seats/DRLs etc?
If so, they've bought the wrong car.

Everything electrical needs power...and everything that needs power needs the alternator to do more work, putting more load on the engine and forcing the engine to burn more fuel to make it all work...and will cost you to run it.

May I suggest a manual, windy-up window, non-central locking, no airbag, no ESP, no ABS, no stereo, non DRL equipped base spec car fitted with an efficient Diseasal engine may be a better option?

[VWKev]

Are people who have just spent mid £20000 and up, really counting the costs of running AC/heated seats/DRLs etc?
If so, they've bought the wrong car.

Everything electrical needs power...and everything that needs power needs the alternator to do more work, putting more load on the engine and forcing the engine to burn more fuel to make it all work...and will cost you to run it.

May I suggest a manual, windy-up window, non-central locking, no airbag, no ESP, no ABS, no stereo, non DRL equipped base spec car fitted with an efficient Diseasal engine may be a better option?

I havent met one person on here thats ever counted the costs of running the GTI when it comes to fuel consumption. I have however met a lot of people generally discussing it.

[Ess_Three]

I havent met one person on here thats ever counted the costs of running the GTI when it comes to fuel consumption. I have however met a lot of people generally discussing it.

Anyone who knows the exact fuel economy of their car is counting the costs of running it...regardless of how they dress it up.

Fill it with fuel, use the electric toys, heated seats, AC and auto schizzle, drive it howver you want...and fill it up when the gauge drops to the red. Simples.
It costs what it costs...

If a few MPG difference is really that scarey, they they shouldn't have bought new car...and certainly shouldn't look at depreciation, as even averaging 20 MPG is a drop in the ocean compared to how much the value is going to drop over the next few years.

Seriously, it's a GTi...just enjoy it. 

[VWKev]

I havent met one person on here thats ever counted the costs of running the GTI when it comes to fuel consumption. I have however met a lot of people generally discussing it.

Anyone who knows the exact fuel economy of their car is counting the costs of running it...regardless of how they dress it up.

Fill it with fuel, use the electric toys, heated seats, AC and auto schizzle, drive it howver you want...and fill it up when the gauge drops to the red. Simples.
It costs what it costs...

If a few MPG difference is really that scarey, they they shouldn't have bought new car...and certainly shouldn't look at depreciation, as even averaging 20 MPG is a drop in the ocean compared to how much the value is going to drop over the next few years.

Seriously, it's a GTi...just enjoy it. 

Thats your optinion though mate, to me "counting the costs" Is like saying, wow thats only giving me 20 mpg, I cant afford that. Or If this level of consumption keeps up I wont be able to afford to keep the car etc etc. Personally I asked why I was losing 50-60% of the fuel. Discussing why this was happening and how to help it.

I really cant see why some people are bothered about it. Do the people thats disussing it go on the 'tyres' thread for example and tell people to stop moaning about a tyre, just enjoy it. ? No course not, they are discussing whats the best tyre for performance in different situations and driving styles, just like we are discussing fuel consumption.

[Ess_Three]

Thats your optinion though mate, to me "counting the costs" Is like saying, wow thats only giving me 20 mpg, I cant afford that. Or If this level of consumption keeps up I wont be able to afford to keep the car etc etc. Personally I asked why I was losing 50-60% of the fuel. Discussing why this was happening and how to help it.

But it's already been explained that you are unlikely to get the advertised figures, unless you drive like you are taking your Gran top church...in which case, I'd questionm the choise of car!
The engine is still tight...consumption will increase...but then again so will your rev limit...so it's status quo there in my experience.
If fuel consumption is THAT much of a potential issue, VW kindly provided the answer: GTD.

I mean, surely nobody actually expects to buy a GTI to drive like a GTI and still get advertised figures, do they?

I really cant see why some people are bothered about it.

Neither can I.
It goes as far as it goes on the fuel in the tank. Re-fill...drive as you decide and repeat.

Do the people thats disussing it go on the 'tyres' thread for example and tell people to stop moaning about a tyre, just enjoy it. ? No course not, they are discussing whats the best tyre for performance in different situations and driving styles, just like we are discussing fuel consumption.

Generally people want a tyre that grips more, understeers less and invariably wears out more...
There isn't a holy grail.

If someone hates their tyres that much...change them.

If someone finds their GTI too expensive on fuel...change it to one with a D on the end, not an I.

Come on Kev...either stop worrying about it, drive the bloody thing, get it 'run in' (don't know why you are bothering to be honest) and just enjoy it.
Or let me borrow it, so I can.
I can assure you I'd return it in perfect condition, with the average MPG in the early 20s...and give you the opportunuity to ask all the questions you want about replacing tyres...as they'd be needing it! 

[FamilyDub]

May I suggest a manual, windy-up window, non-central locking, no airbag, no ESP, no ABS, no stereo, non DRL equipped base spec car fitted with an efficient Diseasal engine may be a better option?

^^^^^  tongue firmly in cheek, there 

I'll trade 1mpg for a cool breeze

Personal opinion. I find that way up here in Scotland a/c is all but pointless! There's always windows...

I mean, surely nobody actually expects to buy a GTI to drive like a GTI and still get advertised figures, do they?

This was exactly my point earlier in this thread! I was merely indicating my experience and my opinion over my last four years of motoring on how accurate/inaccurate manufacturer MPG figures can be. 

Seriously, it's a GTi...just enjoy it.

^^^^^^^ Couldn't agree more.

[R32UK]

Thats the beauty of the modern day GTI. You can tootle along and get 40mpg.. on put pedal to the metal and drive it like a nut case. Here we are simply discussing the tootle along bit. I do it from time to time...  im sure we all do. However I know mine is going to get driven like a loon from time to time also. 

[VWKev]

I give up, f**k sake.

[Ess_Three]

I give up, f**k sake.

Here Kev, stop poncing about with all this taking it easy on the engine stuff.
Go out and use it properly. Warm it up properly and cool it down well..and then completely ignore any notion of 'running it in' and you'll find it'll make great power, loosen up quickly and give better economy to boot.
You've already done enough miles to tightness check things, scrub the tyres in and bed the brakes in.

I haven't run a new car in anytime in the last 20 years...and won't be starting now...and they've always been tip-top.