MK7 GTD - Real Life MPG

[Skinnee D]

I know its virtually the same car, but I've just driven 313 miles (INCLUDING 55 miles static), and our vRS produced a calculated 39.2MPG..

That's very poor - especially if 55 miles of it was done on a Dyno/rolling road with no air resistance to consider (I think that's what you meant by static?). Is that the first 313 miles or just a 313 miles on a stint?

*update* I suppose that mpg is relative to what you were doing. If I were doing mixed driving including motorway cruising at 80mph, i'd be hoping for about 45mpg on the longer journeys even with my poor mpg.

I was pleased with 40mpg, that was using aircon and using my right foot in both directions, as well as the 55 miles of static use.

I normally don't look at the mpg, but thought I'd check it on this occasion and as I've said I was pleased with the results

Andrew - thanks for all the feedback on your tuning developments - very interesting.  If you do get chance some time, it would be very interesting to see how the Skoda's mpg readout compares to actual.  My mileometer is right on vs GPS; so far indicated mpg has been 2 mpg optimistic on average.

[Andrew@DTUK]

I reset the trip after refilling on Saturday evening, since then I've commuted to and from work,mwhich is 4 miles, and took the kids to school which is another 8 miles.

We've also been road testing the car again today, so I'm probably the worst person to ask about fuel..

[monkeyhanger]

Those short journeys aren’t going to help the mpg – how are you finding DPF regens? Those kill mpg and I seem to be getting more than my fair share (which I think is part of my problem) compared to the Scirocco. I’m not finding the 184PS Diesel engine any quicker to warm up than the 170TDI CR unit, despite VW’s claims that it warms up quicker and therefore helps fuel economy. My water gets up to temp quicker, but the oil takes longer (compared to my Scirocco).

My mpg and general liveliness of the engine were uncharacteristically good this morning. 47.5mpg (indicated) for my commute, maybe down to the abnormally warm weather this morning at 7am (8.5C) or maybe the car has finished its recent regens.  Bad timing for my warranty inspection – they may not find anything wrong with it!

[corgi]

I’m not finding the 184PS Diesel engine any quicker to warm up than the 170TDI CR unit, despite VW’s claims that it warms up quicker and therefore helps fuel economy. My water gets up to temp quicker, but the oil takes longer (compared to my Scirocco).

And it is water temperature that counts. I don't believe that the ECU takes a feed from oil temperature so once the water reaches a certain temperature the ECU can move to normal running from cold start.

In reality it doesn't take much of a rise in oil temperature to reduce its viscosity from cold - that being said I still keep the revs low and am gentle with the throttle until I see the engine oil pressure settle own on my 911, for example. Oil temperature takes much longer than the water temperature to reach normal running temperature; however, it doesn't need to reach that temperature to be providing protection...

[KyleB]

Just a bit of an update on my MPG. Sacked Shell off as their MPG was atrocious. Filled up with Tesco diesel and I've not seen better! Comfortably getting 48-50 and on the past couple of trips to work been getting 54mpg with an average speed (according to the trip) of 58.

Just tricked over to 3000 miles

[2014GTi]

Just a bit of an update on my MPG. Sacked Shell off as their MPG was atrocious. Filled up with Tesco diesel and I've not seen better! Comfortably getting 48-50 and on the past couple of trips to work been getting 54mpg with an average speed (according to the trip) of 58.

Just tricked over to 3000 miles

Fear not... it will get better.... 

[mike_f]

I have put in a query to VW about my car - struggling to get 50mpg on a run despite driving like a nun... I dont think there is a fault but wanted them to admit this..

I have asked if this is normal and they say it is impossible to tell. If I have any concerns to take it to the dealers for examination.

Very poor response, I can understand why they don't want to commit to other MPG figures but surely they should be able to give a range of figures which would be considered normal..

Such an important function of a vehicle isnt just guess work and change but carefully engineered.

[monkeyhanger]

I have put in a query to VW about my car - struggling to get 50mpg on a run despite driving like a nun... I dont think there is a fault but wanted them to admit this..

I have asked if this is normal and they say it is impossible to tell. If I have any concerns to take it to the dealers for examination.

Very poor response, I can understand why they don't want to commit to other MPG figures but surely they should be able to give a range of figures which would be considered normal..

Such an important function of a vehicle isnt just guess work and change but carefully engineered.

Struggling to get 50? Most here aren’t getting that. I’ve had my car in for other warranty issues and it is going back tomorrow. Initially the technician took one look at the long term mpg and said “it’s over 40mpg, nothing obviously wrong” That’s all they looked at. Had a 10 min conversation about how my previous car did much better than this, how it feels down on power and DPF regens are more frequent etc and he said he’d have a dig around for any potential issues beyond what the computer would potentially flag up as possible faults/outstanding recalls etc when my VIN number is inputted. It is back in tomorrow for finishing off (awaiting parts). If he’s come up with anything in the meantime I’ll let you know.

Sometimes, driving like a nun with a DPF equipped car isn’t the thing to do. Do you have a decent run on your normal commute to keep it relatively clear? Do you experience any active regens (car idles at 1000rpm instead of 800, gear change indicator prompts you to change down to a lower gear at a given speed than would be normal, stop start won’t work etc)? If you’re sitting at 70mph on the motorway for 2/3 of your journeys then 50mpg isn’t too bad. What fuel are you using? V-power was crap for my mpg and the VW technician suggested BP isn’t doing much for some people (either he’s just making conversation or he’s had others come in for poor mpg). He also told me that VW work on a review basis for an issue they’re not aware of. If enough people complain officially through the dealerships they will look into the issue and devise a fix if they find fault themselves.

[corgi]

I, obviously, can't comment on the GTD fuel consumption as mine won't arrive for another 3 weeks or so but the experience we have with my g/fs new 120d M-Sport.

I've done a few runs in the 120d now and on the motorway at about 75 it averages 50mpg plus or minus 1 or 2 the official figures are 65.7 (combined) so about 23% worse than the official and it is on about 2500 miles now.

If I can get my GTD to average around 50mpg, I'll be happy... I never put much store in the official figures... to be honest the big driver for me to pick the GTD was its low emissions (109g/km) which makes it quite tax efficient relative to the GTI, the 120d etc.

I did find that my previous 123d improved fuel consumption with mileage... I bought an ex-demonstrator with about 3K miles on it and could barely average 40mpg... by the time I sold it I was averaging close to 45mpg. I suspect that was a combination of the car and me adapting my driving style...

As for the power side. I know you have sign speed test, Monkeyhanger, but is it really appreciably slower than your Scirocco? The significantly improved refinement may make it feel slower but is it really? As you've stated before they are about the same weight so the Golf should be slightly quicker...

[monkeyhanger]

As for the power side. I know you have sign speed test, Monkeyhanger, but is it really appreciably slower than your Scirocco? The significantly improved refinement may make it feel slower but is it really? As you've stated before they are about the same weight so the Golf should be slightly quicker...

It’s not the most scientific test I know, but have done it a fair few times (all in the dry) but what my GTD can achieve falls in the middle of my old 140TDI CR Scirocco and the 170TDI CR Scirocco. Traction (due to the Bridgestones) doesn’t seem to be a factor, I’m doing 20mph in 2nd when I bear left onto the coast road and put my foot down. Sometimes what the dials are doing does surprise you (due to the extra refinement), but in 5th and 6th pull between 60 and 80mph, my GTD seems to have noticeably less clout than my 170TDI Scirocco. That is where the most noticeable difference is for me.