New Passat MPG ?

[ajs1968]

I took delivery of my new Passat 2.0TDI Estate as a company car two weeks ago, it has so far covered 700 miles.

Previously I had a Nissan Primera 2.2DI for a temporary period and regularly averaged 43 MPG. I had hoped that the Passat would give me much better MPG after reading reviews etc.

But in the two weeks so far I have only averaged a disapointing 41.1MPG.

Yesterday following a 120 mile trip on a mixture of Dual Carrigeway and Motorway at around 80 MPH I averaged 39.6MPG on the trip, much worse than the 2.2 Primera would have done on the same trip.

Can anyone tell me if this is just down to the fact that the engine is still very new and if I can expect it to get better after a few more tankfulls ? Or is there something wrong ?

Maybe I need to adjust my driving style, although it wasn't a problem in the Primera.

Don't get me wrong the Passat is a 100% improvement over the Primera in all other factors, I am not disapointed with the Passat, just the MPG so far.

[adamss24]

If you running with winter grade diesel, expect a reduction in MPG. Also, due to engine not run in propperlly it may effect the fuel economy as they have a thicker oil from the factory to minimise friction between the moving parts. Watch the fuel consumption over few tanks of diesel and who knows, maybe will get better.

[Roy]

Mine was the same, it took about 6 tanks or so before it got up to it's current ave which is 48mpg.

It also used oil at a rate of 1ltr/1000mls early on but now (18k) it only uses 1ltr in 5000mls.


Roy
2.0 TDi B6 SE MT Saloon.

[ajs1968]

Thanks for the replies, they are reassuring.

I also spoke to someone in my company that has had his Passat for about 6 months now and he said the economy wasn't so good to start with. But now he is also averaging 48MPG.

I am due to make a couple of reasonable length trips over the next week that will bump my mileage up by 1500 miles or so. A few more tankfulls. Maybe then I will see some difference. I would be quite happy with 48MPG, at least I have a chance of then breaking even on the 10p per mile I claim back from the company for business miles. I am going to end up out of pocket if I don't average more than 41MPG.

I haven't actually checked the oil levels yet, didn't think I would need to yet, but if it can use 1ltr per 1000 miles I will definately check it, just in case.

[Roy]

hehe....

You'll have a bit of a shock when you go to buy your first 1ltr of SLX3 oil to top up with... ;-)

Roy

[ajs1968]

Ah, I take it that it's not so cheap then ?

Funny, the guy in the showroom asked if I wanted to buy 5 litres when I picked the car up, I thought why would I need that already so I declined, but it's starting to become clearer !

[davidlandy]

slx3

£12.99 per litre!!!!

ouch!

my golf 170 diesel has used 1 litrre in 12000 miles

the mpg is hovering around 42mpg but goes up to 47-48 on a decent motorway run

[ajs1968]

Having now covered 2300 miles the MPG if anything on a motorway run seems to be getting worse !

On a trip back from the North East yesterday down the M1 at around 85mph I averaged a very poor 38.8MPG over a 260 mile trip. (I did have the cruise on for a good portion of the trip which may have had an impact)

The MPG seems to drop as soon as you start going over 80MPH, averaging about 44 at 70 to 80 and then as I say down to 38/39 at 85.

I hope this improves as it now costs me everytime I go on a long run as my company only allows me to claim back 10p per mile.

The only good news is that my company will allow me to claim back oil purchased for the car, although they may change their minds when they find out it £12.99 a litre !

[adamss24]

Take my advice and do not go much over 70 miles an hour if you want to break the 50 Mpg threshold.

[davidlandy]

you may have to add a few miles to each journey to compensate

the 10p per mile for diesels below 2000cc is an inland revenue thing so that your seen to be breaking even and not benefitting.