Wonder how this will effect the MPG

[Tripletrouble]

All loaded up for 10 days in France. I'm taking the mountain bikes on bike carriers on the roof (Audi ones).
My last foray over there in a Mondeo Titanium X Sport saw the MPG drop by 25%.
I wonder if the A6 will be so heavily effected, we shall see....

[EssexGonzo]

Yup, physics is physics. Your mpg will plummet. If you only get a 25% drip you'll be doing OK.

Four bikes on my car at motorway speeds saw it drop from c . 42mpg to about 28/28mpg. Obviously fewer motorway miles will have a lesser impact.

BTW....I don't think Audi bike carriers make any difference to the economy outside of the weight of your wallet. [emoji12][emoji3]

[Bash D Bishop]

245 ps Allroad. 3 bikes on a towbar carrier. Car full to bursting. Wasn't hanging about as the average speed will tell you. MPG not too different from normal.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/18/deme3upa.jpg

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[EssexGonzo]

245 ps Allroad. 3 bikes on a towbar carrier. Car full to bursting. Wasn't hanging about as the average speed will tell you. MPG not too different from normal.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/18/deme3upa.jpg

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I think the OP mentioned a roof carrier.

[Bash D Bishop]

Yup, saw that, hence why I was clear about using a towbar carrier.

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[passman]

Just started holiday in France in my A7 and in auto mode averaged just over 45mpg that's with 5 people and a full boot. Just as an experiment I then went into economical mode and averaged just over 40mpg, back to auto mode.


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[Tripletrouble]

So, the results are in. On my way there I averaged 40 mpg, that's exactly a 25% drop.
On the way back I averaged 35 mpg but was cruising on CC at 80mph all the way back (400 miles each way) so a bit more that 25%!

[razor77]

So, the results are in. On my way there I averaged 40 mpg, that's exactly a 25% drop.
On the way back I averaged 35 mpg

Travel south its always downhill, so obviously uphill on the way back.

[Passatier3]

I guess this where the bigger engines come into their own, fully loaded etc., having less effect on fuel consumption?

Hey TT, aren't you getting bored with France! :D

[razor77]

I guess this where the bigger engines come into their own, fully loaded etc., having less effect on fuel consumption?

My BiTdi gets between 28-37MPG everywhere. Fully loaded (but no roof rack or tow), there is a negligible difference, certainly not 25%, if anything 4%. When I read people get 45mpg I think they must have a tail wind downhill and be a consistent 60-70mph, or my engine is just hungry.

I should also caveat that, a typical month puts only500 miles of driving on the A6, at least half it's outings are no more than 7 miles before a return trip. As a consequence approaching a quarter of the cars driven miles are with a cold engine. The effect can be evidenced when an outbound trip on a cold engine returning about 25mpg then the return trip will be closer to 35mpg. A typical journey encounters b roads, about 12 stop junctions, slow bends with a mix of 30mph and national speed limits.

And while you may rightly assume I can have a heavy right foot, in a previous 140hp 2.0tdi 407 I would average 47mpg with the same miles, driving style and speeds, on a good day 65mpg. I am sure the sublime acceleration of the BiTdi plays a part.