Series 3 fuel economy

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
series 3 diesel on standard diffs no overdrive regular 29mpg as my daily driver. very noisey and slow. Tried rangy diffs this ruined driveability and only managed 30/31 at best on a long run.
 
I had a a Disco 300 tdi (26mpg) and a Range Rover P38 2.5dse (25mpg) before, both as all day, every day cars. Not too practical as I do 20,000 miles a year. I have Mondeo Diesel (42mpg) now and the S3 for the weekend. The best of both worlds!
 
I had a a Disco 300 tdi (26mpg) and a Range Rover P38 2.5dse (25mpg) before, both as all day, every day cars. Not too practical as I do 20,000 miles a year. I have Mondeo Diesel (42mpg) now and the S3 for the weekend. The best of both worlds!

i could get closer to the best of both worlds. suzuki alto 58mpg, as my daily driver and a series 3 for fun. only thing is that i hate the suzuki so much it aint moved for over a week. in spite of a very sick engine i am still in love with the landy and use that every day.
 
I just use my 2.25 petrol S3 for pottering at the weekend so I don't really mind the 12-15 mpg. I'm interested in the fuel economy a diesel with overdrive would get.

Does anyone have one as a full time daily drive? I'd be interested to know. Thanks... :confused:
I’ve got a 2.25 petrol SWB on parabolics with freewheeling hubs (which seem to like throwing oil) and a Fairey overdrive (which seems to like making everything else throw oil once it’s thrown it’s own). On a recent run from Cardiff to Norfolk via Stratford in London I was getting about 20-23 when tucked behind lorries at 56-60 on the GPS. Suspect will be a lot better if I slow down but had time constraints. Biggest thing I can recommend for petrol ones is using Waze to find places with decent premium unleaded as the price over standard varies wildly! I find Tesco is normally about 5p extra vs standard
 
I’ve got a 2.25 petrol SWB on parabolics with freewheeling hubs (which seem to like throwing oil) and a Fairey overdrive (which seems to like making everything else throw oil once it’s thrown it’s own). On a recent run from Cardiff to Norfolk via Stratford in London I was getting about 20-23 when tucked behind lorries at 56-60 on the GPS. Suspect will be a lot better if I slow down but had time constraints. Biggest thing I can recommend for petrol ones is using Waze to find places with decent premium unleaded as the price over standard varies wildly! I find Tesco is normally about 5p extra vs standard
Impressive thread resurrection. 12 years old, and matured like a fine whisky! :D
 
Impressive thread resurrection. 12 years old, and matured like a fine whisky! :D
The threads on here have been much use to a newbie owner, so more than happy to contribute, especially if it helps someone sort of justify the cost of running one as a daily (mine has been for about a month but I have a sensible car too!).

Will see what it is this weekend as might take it back down to Cardiff Saturday eve — might take the Northampton/Birmingham route instead for comparison as won’t be overtaken by so many lorries if I go a bit more gently!

Regret to say I didn’t calculate it on the Norfolk to Cardiff run before I got the overdrive installed, but can confirm that I was overtaken on the A14 by a lorry hauling mining equipment 😂

Getting a 1989 with a retrofitted 300TDI refurbed 50k miles ago this weekend. Will provide updates once I’ve done some decent mileage in it!
 
The threads on here have been much use to a newbie owner, so more than happy to contribute, especially if it helps someone sort of justify the cost of running one as a daily (mine has been for about a month but I have a sensible car too!).

Will see what it is this weekend as might take it back down to Cardiff Saturday eve — might take the Northampton/Birmingham route instead for comparison as won’t be overtaken by so many lorries if I go a bit more gently!

Regret to say I didn’t calculate it on the Norfolk to Cardiff run before I got the overdrive installed, but can confirm that I was overtaken on the A14 by a lorry hauling mining equipment 😂

Getting a 1989 with a retrofitted 300TDI refurbed 50k miles ago this weekend. Will provide updates once I’ve done some decent mileage in it!
I don't think your fuel mileage is excessive for a petrol Series. I would expect 20-25 on a run, 55-60 is an acceptable cruising speed with Overdrive.

Lorries are fast now, even some of the ones limited to 56 mph can go much faster than that.

I wouldn't worry about it, speed and fuel economy aren't what Series are all about. A diesel will rarely get as much as 30 mpg, and aren't such a nice drive. Diesel is also more expensive than petrol now.

If you want fast economical motoring, don't get a Land Rover.
 
I don't think your fuel mileage is excessive for a petrol Series. I would expect 20-25 on a run, 55-60 is an acceptable cruising speed with Overdrive.

Lorries are fast now, even some of the ones limited to 56 mph can go much faster than that.

I wouldn't worry about it, speed and fuel economy aren't what Series are all about. A diesel will rarely get as much as 30 mpg, and aren't such a nice drive. Diesel is also more expensive than petrol now.

If you want fast economical motoring, don't get a Land Rover.
Yes, I think the main thing is probably sorting out my overdrive — I’ll admit noise cancelling headphones were a major benefit as on the run down without OD I didn’t have them and was practically dead by the time we got there. Although did feel a bit gutted when my dad following me in a 2.0 Diesel Tiguan announced he’d been getting over 70MPG 😂

Thankfully I have a 1.4 ‘60 plate fiesta petrol for sensible duties as I do a tonne of annual miles, although that may be nearing the end of its life… and I’ll admit with my heavy foot I generally get 32-37MPG! Hoping in the long run I could stomach the 110’s economy as a daily.

Alternatively, my not so sensible brain considers grabbing a S3 (maybe a LWB), shoving a 200TDI in it with five speed and roamerdrive, soundproofing everything, maybe putting RR diffs in it. I’d be really interested to know if anyone has a similar set-up, as I’ve heard that due to the normal rear drive use people can get up to 40MPG!
 
Back
Top