How economical is your Golf?

**Hughesynights** · 12-05-2011,08:30 AM

Originally Posted by Keithuk

Thats a bit drastic what if you get a puncture?

I have a can of inflate and seal stuff.
If the journey is important (like going to the airport) I will put the spare back.

The full on Bluemotion Golf comes without a spare, to reduce weight.
A few years back I had a Honda Accord Tourer, which also had no spare. My wife got a puncture once in it, but phoned a mobile tyre fitter to come and fix.

I might just put the spare back anyway, it was just an experiment to see if the mpg improved much.

percymon, I think you are right about the tyres / wheels. The Bluemotion has 15" alloy wheels.
The faster wear rate is probably offset by driving like a granny!

**vc-10** · 12-05-2011,11:11 AM

At a constant speed, weight shouldn't make any difference. As there is no change in velocity, there is no change in the kinetic energy of the car, so you don't need to put any more energy in. Cruising down the motorway at 70 you're overcoming aerodynamic drag, and friction in the drivetrain, with the road and in the wheel bearings. There might, if anything be a tiny, not even noticeable, improvement when cruising fully loaded, as the car sits lower to the ground, which improves aerodynamics.

I worked out that mum's 1.9TDI Golf 5 was getting 55mpg on the motorway in France, at 80-85, being driven hard out of the péages, and fairly heavily loaded. But that car's done 75k miles, so is well run in!

**Alabama978** · 15-05-2011,11:28 PM

The biggest saving on weight is to only half fill the fuel tank, a good compromise between weight and the hassle factor of filling up more often. Diesel weighs about 2lbs/Litre.

**Keithuk** · 15-05-2011,11:39 PM

Originally Posted by Alabama978

Diesel weighs about 2lbs/Litre.

Yes so its like driving with a passenger so what?

**Alabama978** · 15-05-2011,11:53 PM

Merely pointing out that the MPG could be improved by carrying less fuel.

You don't always need to carry a passenger either

**HHGTTG** · 16-05-2011,09:14 AM

Some of these points, although strictly true to some extent, are bordering on the ridiculous now. If you can't afford the petrol/diesel sell the car or reduce your annual mileage!

**Hughesynights** · 16-05-2011,09:42 AM

Originally Posted by HHGTTG

Some of these points, although strictly true to some extent, are bordering on the ridiculous now. If you can't afford the petrol/diesel sell the car or reduce your annual mileage!

I've moved house for family reasons, but due to the fragile economy am sticking with my old job.
Result is over 2000 miles per month just commuting. If I can't find a job closer to home that pays the same, my best option is to try and be as efficient as possible on my commute.
The difference between 60 mpg and 70 mpg for me is about £390 / year at current prices. Maybe not a lot, but it buys my Friday night beers.

I also had to trade down to a Golf to get this economy (when my colleagues are driving Passat, CR-V, Accord, 3 series). What I lose in status needs to be made up for by extremely good mpg!

**Keithuk** · 16-05-2011,01:02 PM

But you don't have any problems with economy do you? I don't really its just you get 30% more.

**SammoVWT** · 16-05-2011,01:42 PM

All this complaining over decent economy figures :P If I want to I can make my town driving hit 25mpg. I dont think when you are hitting over 40 that you should be complaining much :P Alter your driving style if its a huge problem, thats what makes the most difference.

**HHGTTG** · 16-05-2011,03:11 PM

I weigh about 12.5 stone. Perhaps if i could get back to my fighting weight and by that I mean my weight when I was working and hence more active, I could also get better mpg! Imagine the appalling mpg our friends across the pond must get, if we assume that so many of them are obese at least according to what we read and see on our TVs.