:focus:
Sorry I misread your post, when it reads about 50 the sat nav says 47.
borristherat
New Member
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.
tom.brandford
Member
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 standardI 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...
Turboman
Mab An Gov
Impressive thread resurrection. 12 years old, and matured like a fine whisky!
tom.brandford
Member
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!).Impressive thread resurrection. 12 years old, and matured like a fine whisky!
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!
Turboman
Mab An Gov
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.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!
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.
tom.brandford
Member
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!
