I had from new a Renault 5 diesel van, the published figure suggested I should get around 50mpg unloaded. I actually rarely got more than 35mpg, it was so gutless it was always peddle to the metal. Loaded it would go down to 30mpg, not really much better than my P38, bloody noisy and uncomfortable to boot
lol
If I could justify the outlay (finance because I'm a peasant), I'd get a L322. But it'd have to be specific trim. For starters it'd have to either be or have a facelift conversion. I hate the gormless look of the older L322. It is what put me off even going down the road when I got the P38.we'll convert these P38 boys some day
A perfect example right there... the only way you get 95bhp out of a 1.3 is to squeeze 2 litres worth of air into it.. only prob is, when you're off boost it has no power at all, requiring the foot to be put down quite a long way before it reacts. With a 2 litre engine, that torque would always be there, hence a lighter right foot... and same, if not better, fuel consumption in real-life driving...
BTW, showing your age there, Keith!
Got up to 55mpg on the M6 London to Manchester on weekends. Zippy little car around town too, could tune it by hand and ear. I miss simple carbs and dizzys! Once the clutch cable broke. I had start it in gear and then drive by listening to the engine and timing my gear changes. Not perfectly smooth but got me the 150 miles home. Good times! you just can not look over the traffic in that road dominating way only lorry drivers are used to... just an old P38 parked in tall grass about 5km of my GF's home. It's a wildlife reserve, but has a lot of unpaved roads, some only for loggers (but i happen to have the gate key, lucky me )
