Advertised fuel consumption vs Real fuel consumption

[ConnaF]

I bought a demo polo Vivo Maxx 2 weeks ago with 7400km on the clock. The car is using 10l/100km (10km/l) while the salesman stated the car should use 7.6l/100km (13km/l) and the brochures state the car should use 6,6l/100km. They didn't mention if the fuel consumption specs is town driving or long distance driving, however I only drove the car in town.

The reason why I bought the polo was to have smaller family car that I can use for school/work transportation and tow my MX bike on weekends with a light trailer. We have a bigger SUV at home so the polo is really to save money, but the freaken SUV is lighter on fuel!!!

They are now test driving the car and if the fuel consumption is not according to specs then they will have it fixed.

I fear that I could have bought a bigger car and have better fuel consumption and is 10km/l normal for these small cars or will it be unreasonable of me to insist in having them take the piece of s...t back?

 

[akescpt]

Too much. Those are supposed to be sippers.

 

[ConnaF]

What is reasonable?

Too much. Those are supposed to be sippers.

What is reasonable fuel consumption for this car??

 

[Kosmik]

Ouch, I get a bit less than that on my 2.0l Avensis and its a 2008 model car.

 

[Stevi]

How are your driving habits? Do you change gears at 6000rpm and speed up to red lights or drive fairly well?
Reason I am asking is one guy at work has the same car and model as me and he complains about fuel consumption. I understood why when I saw him driving home yesterday

 

[Rocket-Boy]

My 1.6 polo does around 9l/100ks its not a very fuel efficient car.

 

[Fazda]

So much depends on driving style and driving conditions - if you only drive in the city, your consumption will definitely be higher than quoted.

If you hammer the car between robots, your consumption will be higher.

If you leave the car in gear at robots and ride the clutch your consumption will be higher.

If you sit and idle a cold engine in the garage, in the morning, your consumption will be higher.

If they have load shedding and you are stuck in a traffic jam, your consumption will be higher.

If you drive under 10 km per trip your consumption will be higher.

Should I carry on?

The Vivo's in general will give you excellent fuel consumption if driven correctly. I personally got 5.9 l/100 corrected, when I drove from Durban to Cape Town, which was better than consumption claimed by VW.

Take your car for a nice long run, watch the way you drive in town, and things should improve.

If not, check your driving style or get someone who knows what they are talking about, to check how you drive, if it is still not in single figures, ask VW to do a diagnostic check.

 

[T3ro]

My 1.6 Polo does around 7l/100km - 7.5/100km on mixed driving bit of highway bit of stop-go traffic

 

[Fazda]

My 1.6 Polo does around 7l/100km - 7.5/100km on mixed driving bit of highway bit of stop-go traffic

That's spot on.

 

[KingMikel]

My 1.6 Polo does around 7l/100km - 7.5/100km on mixed driving bit of highway bit of stop-go traffic

What does Ter Pai's 1.8 Caddy Club Carb get?

 

[T3ro]

What does Ter Pai's 1.8 Caddy Club Carb get?

Lol probably like 18l/100km

 

[ConnaF]

So much depends on driving style and driving conditions - if you only drive in the city, your consumption will definitely be higher than quoted.

If you hammer the car between robots, your consumption will be higher.

If you leave the car in gear at robots and ride the clutch your consumption will be higher.

If you sit and idle a cold engine in the garage, in the morning, your consumption will be higher.

If they have load shedding and you are stuck in a traffic jam, your consumption will be higher.

If you drive under 10 km per trip your consumption will be higher.

Should I carry on?

The Vivo's in general will give you excellent fuel consumption if driven correctly. I personally got 5.9 l/100 corrected, when I drove from Durban to Cape Town, which was better than consumption claimed by VW.

Take your car for a nice long run, watch the way you drive in town, and things should improve.

If not, check your driving style or get someone who knows what they are talking about, to check how you drive, if it is still not in single figures, ask VW to do a diagnostic check.

Most of the items you referred to are right up my alley:
1) I stay only 7kms to work and the longest trip I have done with the car is about 30km.
2) I start and drive no need let the car idle when I start it.
3) Peak traffic in bloemfontein from where I stay to work is like normal mid-day Gauteng traffic.

VW is testing the car today and I hope they find there is something wrong otherwise I'm going to have to sell it again and get something that's either a 2 litre or turbo so I can stop complaining about poor fuel consumption and enjoy the power that comes with the price or get a smaller car with a little less power but much better fuel consumption like a Hyundai i10 or something.

The biggest concern for me is that I previously owned a fiesta ST (2007) with the 2l engine and it gave me 10km/l when I drove it hard (jonk en jukkerig). Now what's with this 2014 1.6 VW that gives me the same fuel consumption when I drive it like 80% of the guys on the road?

 

[akescpt]

Most of the items you referred to are right up my alley:
1) I stay only 7kms to work and the longest trip I have done with the car is about 30km.
2) I start and drive no need let the car idle when I start it.
3) Peak traffic in bloemfontein from where I stay to work is like normal mid-day Gauteng traffic.

VW is testing the car today and I hope they find there is something wrong otherwise I'm going to have to sell it again and get something that's either a 2 litre or turbo so I can stop complaining about poor fuel consumption and enjoy the power that comes with the price or get a smaller car with a little less power but much better fuel consumption like a Hyundai i10 or something.

The biggest concern for me is that I previously owned a fiesta ST (2007) with the 2l engine and it gave me 10km/l when I drove it hard (jonk en jukkerig). Now what's with this 2014 1.6 VW that gives me the same fuel consumption when I drive it like 80% of the guys on the road?

are you sure u just not making peace with the fact that you now a ou toppie that drives a 1.4? :erm:

 

[ConnaF]

hahhahaha!! Really hope you are wrong!

Before I bought the polo I had colt 2.8 td clubcab for 6 years and before that I had a 13i bantam, so driving fast and accelerating hard is not my style. I want to save on fuel costs and that's why I bought the smaller car. I also want to save on maintenance costs and that's why I didn't by a turbo diesel (even though they give better fuel consumption), but I needed a car that can pull a light trailer with a light MX bike on it and that's why I bought a 1.6i

I really thought this through and did a lot of research before I bought this car, but I guess my right foot might be heavier that I anticipated. At least I will know after the car came back from VW and they tested it with a diagnostic check if it's required...

 

[07_10]

VW is testing the car today and I hope they find there is something wrong otherwise I'm going to have to sell it again and get something that's either a 2 litre or turbo so I can stop complaining about poor fuel consumption and enjoy the power that comes with the price or get a smaller car with a little less power but much better fuel consumption like a Hyundai i10 or something.

If you are going by the Hyundai i10's claimed fuel figures, you are going to be bitterly disappointed. Remember, with that little 1.2 engine, you are going to mash your foot down just to keep up to pace. Expect around 7l/100km.

If you want better fuel consumption, its a no brainier. Get a turbodiesel (i120 1.4 CRDi, Corolla 1.4 D-4D, VW 1.2 and 1.6TDI). I can vouch for the Corolla diesel giving 5l/100km in city driving.

 

[ConnaF]

Oh well, maybe the R60,000 difference in price tag between diesel and petrol will eventually end up costing the same if one compares the thristy petrol vs the not so thirsty diesel.

I just expected it to have better fuel consumption and not be as thirsty on petrol as my 2007 Fiesta ST with much more power...

 

[ConnaF]

The dealers just phoned me back. They drove 81km and refilled with 4,5 liters....

Guess I'll have to go for so granny driving skill classes and a bumper sticker.

 

[akescpt]

The dealers just phoned me back. They drove 81km and refilled with 4,5 liters....

Guess I'll have to go for so granny driving skill classes and a bumper sticker.

did they simulate your conditions or did they take a cruise down the highway in free flowing traffic mid morning?

 

[ConnaF]

No they probably did it under ideal conditions. However now I know that it's not a mechanical / electrical fault but the right foot that's "a tad" heavy.

I'll test it this weekend when I'm driving from Bloemfontein to Jhb. If I'm still not happy, then I'll trade it with a 1.6tdi... but it's no use driving a car and hating the ride.

 

[Fazda]

No they probably did it under ideal conditions. However now I know that it's not a mechanical / electrical fault but the right foot that's "a tad" heavy.

I'll test it this weekend when I'm driving from Bloemfontein to Jhb. If I'm still not happy, then I'll trade it with a 1.6tdi... but it's no use driving a car and hating the ride.

You obviously have too much money!

You have to realise that you don't have to "drive like a granny" to achieve decent consumption.

As I said before, get someone who has some mechanical sympathy to crit your driving style and be open to suggestions as to how to improve it.

Silly to go and spend the extra cash on a diesel, simply because you couldn't be bothered to learn how to drive correctly.