MPG - any help?

[laserblue999]

When I first bought mine I thought it was thirstier than was the norm - but at the end of the day its not R32 bad and you still get great performance. Luckily these threads have reassured me my car is fine. I try not to look at the display any more (how accurate are they anyway) and revell in driving about in something special  and fill up as and when - besides if I wanted MPG that badly I'd drive the wife's RAV 4 diesel!

[nathangallo]

When I first bought mine I thought it was thirstier than was the norm - but at the end of the day its not R32 bad and you still get great performance. Luckily these threads have reassured me my car is fine. I try not to look at the display any more (how accurate are they anyway) and revell in driving about in something special  and fill up as and when - besides if I wanted MPG that badly I'd drive the wife's RAV 4 diesel!

Im the same when i first had my golf I was constantly looking at the MPG and trying to get it as high as possible, but now I just live with it and what ever it is at the end of the day it is, Big difference to me mind as i used to drive a Diesel Msport BMW which used to give me 45+

[Mk5 GTian]

I've never seen higher than 33mpg on mine even on a long journey, at the end of the day exactly what I'd expect from a turbo charged 200bhp hot hatch, sure you can probably do way more but the way id have to drive to achieve it would be an insult to the badge! 

 

Couldn't agree more! I used to get 18 - 20 out of my V64Motion with similar performance, so I'm quids in anyway. But it really is unimportant. We buy these great cars to drive hard, to enjoy the fantastic handling and revel in the amazing steering feel. Any journey spent worrying about fuel economy is a wasted opportunity.

 

[andrewparker]

Come on, it's a sportier than average Golf! When you're using a car as a daily driver it's perfectly acceptable to be concerned about MPG. You're talking about it like its the Holy Grail of sports cars. It's not!

[Oli]

Happy New Year all

People are more concerned these day with the mpg down to the high price of fuel!  If you drove a standard car that used normal unleaded, rather than super, then you have to do a fair few miles to make a diesel pay off due to it being 7p per litre more.  Both cars on my drive both love Super Unleaded, but as both do no more than 6000 for the GTI and 4000 for the 911, mpg isnt really a worry.  However, sitting at 80 leptons, the 911 will do near on 30mpg, which is much the same at the ED30, which is perfect, I think considering one is a 3.8 litre 355bhp flat six and the other is running near on 300bhp!  Driving nearer to 60 I'm sure I'd see nearer to 40 from both.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, who does such a low mileage that mpg doesn't really factor, and I use my Transporter kombi 180BHP for most of my running around, and that's no slouch.

I have found the real secret of good mpg, is smooth acceleration, and braking, and keeping the revs under 2000rpm - boring

[Mk5 GTian]

Come on, it's a sportier than average Golf! When you're using a car as a daily driver it's perfectly acceptable to be concerned about MPG. You're talking about it like its the Holy Grail of sports cars. It's not!

I think it's a cracking drivers car Andrew. I know there is a lot of stuff out there with more power, more cylinders, more performance, but I think "a sportier than average Golf" may well describe the poor efforts that were the MK3 & Mk4, but not the MK5, which is widely accepted as a great drivers tool, whilst being affordable and useable on a daily basis for mere mortals like me.

[andrewparker]

Don't get me wrong, I think it handles exceptionally well, but I don't think you get exceptional performance given the size of engine and the MPG is returns. However, I do feel it's showing its age a little. A motor similar to that in the new 328i would be amazing.

[am1w]

Imagine the low mpg if you had an R32 or a Mk6 R.

[jhtrophy]

Imagine the low mpg if you had an R32 or a Mk6 R.

Golf r has the 4 cylinder motor mate

[dmac1969]

35 mpg is around my average , ive seen 41mpg on a driving miss daisy run. If you think a GTI is bad , try running a Lancer Evolution , doesnt matter how you drive one of those you (well i never) never see more than 20mpg.

[sundance]

I disagree with all the other posters who say if you buy a GTI you should accept the poor fuel economy and if you don't like it "stick it" (i.e. buy a diease-al)

I bought my GTI as a B-road blaster and it truly excels on country lanes and provides me with a tremendous amount of satisfaction.  However, as mine is also used as a daily driver, it is also used on mundane trips up and down the motorway...

If fuel wasn't so extortionately priced we wouldn't see so many threads on here about it.

Re. the comparison with M3/M5 - I think it depends on what price bracket you are talking about.  Generally speaking an E92 M3 owner is likely going to care less about his fuel bill than an E36 M3 owner (who may have a more conservative budget).  Do cash rich owners of brand new M-cars create threads about fuel consumption?  I would expect they don't...

I bought my 5dr MK5 GTI as it was a total all-rounder, perfect for ferrying my 2 year old daughter around in, great fun on country lanes, stinking performance for a small engine and the stunning looks.  I don't regret it one bit as when the car is in its element its like nothing else!  However, on those boring trips up and down the motorway I do confess to keeping a close eye on the MPG (as I see this as a 'waste' of V-Power!) .... I get around 35-38 MPG on a run where I make an effort to drive sensibly for what its worth.

Of course, I don't pay a blind bit of attention to the MPG when I'm blasting around in country lanes...  

So in summary if you want to see less threads about MPG, complain to the government and get them to reduce the ludicrous amount of excise duty on fuel!!!  

[am1w]

Imagine the low mpg if you had an R32 or a Mk6 R.

Golf r has the 4 cylinder motor mate

I know it does. But it's mpg in the Big Smoke is consistently on average about 5mpg less than the GTI.

My neighbour has an R and runs the same gauntlet every day as myself. We compared our cars' drinking habits for a couple of weeks. His average mpg was always approximately 5mpg worse than mine. But his is a more powerful and heavier car and one should expect this. Oh, we both drive normally like grannies as for nearly 7 miles we endure start/stop bumper to bumper traffic.

I've given up checking my car's drinking habits and am now concentrating on my own. Much more satifying. I far prefer visiting a booze shop rather than a fuel one. And I'm not an alcoholic ..... YET!

Happy New Year!

[Mk5 GTian]

Don't get me wrong, I think it handles exceptionally well, but I don't think you get exceptional performance given the size of engine and the MPG is returns. However, I do feel it's showing its age a little. A motor similar to that in the new 328i would be amazing.

The only thing I'd change is an extra 20 per cent more power, agreed, and I'm planning on Stage 1 next month. But I drove a MK6 GTi recently, and I can't say I noticed much difference. If anything, the steering felt a little more numb compared to my MK5, so I don't think it feels past it yet! As for the 328i, It already has followed the VW line, with a four pot single turbo-charged unit, with 240 bhp. Apparently a fantastic car to drive.

[RSam84]

i dont think my RS get MPG above 20 most of the time lol its fun to drive though so i can forgive it haha

[swedishfireball]

I have found the real secret of good mpg, is smooth acceleration, and braking, and keeping the revs under 2000rpm - boring

Agreed. I've found that using engine braking and planning ahead for roundabouts/junctions without slamming on the brakes is the key.