[TheGazMan]

Hi there, I'm new to these forums!

I bought myself a second hand MG ZR 105 02 Reg over the weekend. What an awesome motor! I'm very impressed with the handling and drive of the car, feels like a road legal go kart!

But I have to say I've been a little disappointed with fuel consumption so far. Since filling it up after an initial blast I've been driving it quite gingerly around town but have found that the fuel consumption seems very high. I've done only 80 miles and already the dial has passed the 3 quarter mark and I'm guessing its going to be on half way by the time I get to 125 miles covered or so. This is crap compared to my old saxo furio 1.4 which you could easily get 170-180 miles out of half a tank and that was when being driven hard as well.

Can anyone with a similar car enlighten me on their fuel consumption rates? Anyone got any tips or any ideas on how mine can be improved?

Just I cover a lot of distance during the motor racing season crossing the country and I need good fuel consumption to keep my costs down but so for a 1.4 16v this isn't anywhere near good enough. I'm thinking I've hardly touched a motorway yet so surely my fuel consumption will be even worse once i do.

 

[CJZR105+]

Hi there and welcome to the Forums!

I have to say, i'm the proud owner of an 03 spec 105+, and have to report my fuel consumption is very good.
The figures you quote, 80 miles and it's just past the 3/4 mark, is probably about right if you do mainly town driving, which by the sounds of things is the case.
I use mine mainly on the motorways, and i always get 350-400 miles to a tank of fuel, and that isn't hanging around either.
I'm not one for driving at wreckless speeds, but i don't have a pipe and slippers either!

Try some motorway miles, and i'm sure you shall see an improvement. It does also depend on ambient temp outside too.

Town driving always takes it out of car fuel wise. Make sure your full, and do a long distance run! You should put your right foot down, and enjoy the car!!!

Also, low fuel consumption could indicate the car is due for a service. The air filter, spark plugs and oil may need changing.
These can make a noticeable difference!!! Has it been serviced recently?

 

[flintsigs]

at the current rate of consumption youd be doing 320 miles a tank for urban driving id say thats pretty good. also you have 105 bhp compared to a saxo furios 73 bhp.

 

[TheGazMan]

Cheers for the reply boys!

Wel I've only had it since Saturday and for the main so far it has been mainly urban travelling.

As I say during the summer I follow motorsport and so every weekend is spent on a motorway and I was just getting a little concerned that I wouldn't be making it past the next petrol station without having to stop and fill up! I'm pleased to here that from your experience fuel economy is much better out there and I'm pleased to here I'll still be able to open her up

It had a service 2000 miles ago but from what I can gather from its history it wasn't doing more than a mile or 2 a day under the previous owner.

I realised it would consume more petrol than my saxo but I didn't realise quite how much!

All I need now is a service and a cheap pair of blue side skirts and I'll be laughing!

 

[Northerner]

Cheers for the reply boys!

Wel I've only had it since Saturday and for the main so far it has been mainly urban travelling.

As I say during the summer I follow motorsport and so every weekend is spent on a motorway and I was just getting a little concerned that I wouldn't be making it past the next petrol station without having to stop and fill up! I'm pleased to here that from your experience fuel economy is much better out there and I'm pleased to here I'll still be able to open her up

It had a service 2000 miles ago but from what I can gather from its history it wasn't doing more than a mile or 2 a day under the previous owner.

I realised it would consume more petrol than my saxo but I didn't realise quite how much!

All I need now is a service and a cheap pair of blue side skirts and I'll be laughing!

It all fairness you can't compare the 2 1.4 engines there is more than 30 more horses in the ZR, realsitically that is that not pushing VTR pace and as such that is a 1.6 I bet it is more than favourable compared to that.

 

[Sooper Cooper]

I do circa 30k a year in mine, my last one I had (May '03 105+) did 37 mpg ish - the gauge went to about 330 mile max on a tank.

My current one (Sept '04 105+) does about the same (37 mpg) but somehow the gauge is more accurate and can manage 330 - 350 on a tank between fill-ups (putting a bit more fuel in than my old one each time I fill up the tank).

Thats for mixed driving, but very rarely sat in queues/heavy traffic or urban driving, it does a bit more mpg when motorway driving.

 

[TheGazMan]

Well have to say I'm mightily unimpressed. Its now on the half way mark and its done just 127 miles...that appalling! I was expecting 150 out of half a tank and 300ish from a full one.

Now again it has all mostly been urban driving, although I did take her for a little blast round the country roads last night and it absolutely swallowed petrol doing that quick say 12 mile blast!

Going to Newcastle on Wednesday so that will be its first major run and its sure going to be interesting.

Got it booked in for service on Tuesday as well and gunna tell um about the fuel problem as this is ridiculous. You can almost see the fuel gage moving as your driving!

 

[flintsigs]

just a quick note the fuel guage on me r200 and now me zr 160 isn't exactly accurate as its a new car you have to learn that is goes down quicker at some points, it sounds strange but im sure its just the poor guage. wait till the car is below the red line then fill it up. see how much u put in and youll see how close it is to empty. doing this a couple of times will show u ure correct mpg. you cant judge a cars petrol consumption by directly comparing the miles to the guage it isn't even 20 % accurate

 

[CJZR105+]

TheGazMan - I did a check on mine at the weekend. Filled it up to the brim, and have since done about 130 miles. The needle has just left the 3/4 full mark.
Thats 90% motorway driving at about 70mph, and also some high rev, quick gearchanges on motorway sliproads.
Don't do it often, just open her up every now and then.
You can't really judge the mpg if you have only done town driving, or a blast or 2 over a short distance through the country lanes!
Fill it up and give it a good test on the motoway! I reckon you should see 180 miles at least by the time your needle reaches halfway!

If not, then maybe get it looked at!!! Up until then garage will just laugh at you!

 

[Englander]

I think the ZR has exceptional MPG for the Horses it contains under the bonnet, Is there any other 1.4 standerd cars that have 3 figure horsepower? Just curious.

I always keep mine full up, when ever it starts to go below half tank.

 

[no1knows]

Lol perhaps not, but I think he just wants what MGR advertise 40mpg mixed driving, It's same with my car , but I've gotten used to gettin 32mpg its prob 50/50 town to national speed limits, but my car is a lot older than the zr. ( the same 1.4 103BHP engine though )

 

[SFulcher]

I am yet to find a car with an accurate fuel gauge.

My 414 used to do about 70 miles after the fuel light came on.

The ZR fuel tank holds 50 litres. Fuel around here is 84p per litre, so to fill it completely costs about £42. My suggestion would be to fill the car right up to the top as soon as the gauge reaches the red part at the empty area. See how many litres you get in it, and this will tell you how much fuel you have left in the tank.

If it really only does 250 miles on a full tank then there is something wrong with it, and I would get it checked out by MG Rover.

 

[ZRKAtie]

I get around 250-300 miles to a full tank, mine is an 04 reg 105, registered in April 04.
Mine is pretty much all town driving too. Today we've driven from Nottingham-Donington-Chelmsford and we've used around half a tank, about 160 miles, maybe more.

 

[S4RK1]

Mine is an 02 105 and its good on fuel, but the gauge is not the most accurate thing in the world dont worry about the gauge, just give it a whole tank and see how it does.

 

[Jon_P]

Its now on the half way mark and its done just 127 miles...that appalling! I was expecting 150 out of half a tank and 300ish from a full one.

I get that kinda fuel "economy" out of my 160. Perhaps u got lucky and someone put the wrong engine in

You can almost see the fuel gage moving as your driving!

Don't worry, you'll soon get over the worry of how much its drinking (I was worrying about how much it was going to cost me extra for at least the first month)... your wallet will get lighter, the credit card bill gets bigger, but then the rightfoot will get heavier and the smile on your face gets broader

 

[flintsigs]

very little difference between the 105 and the 160 when u keep it below 4k open it up and she'll start drinking. even then though when ure on a motorway should get the same fuel economy as a 105 due to the engine not having to work as hard at high speeds

 

[DJKenz]

Hi all,

I have been the proud owner of my 51 reg 105+ and can honestly say I've never had a better car in my life. I've had MUCH older cars before hand like mk2 golf GTI, C-Class Merc, etc and this knocks spots of them all. As fr fuel consumption (the subject I'm supposed to be talking about) I do around 540 miles a week (crazy!) and can do this on £70. Therefore, the tank, which takes around £45ish will do 350 miles. This is pretty much all motorway miles, but I don't hang about, around 90mph average speed.

Even after all this though, I am considering a 1.8 VVC 160bhp. Anybody got/had one and care to share detailson fuel consumption?

 

[great_kahn]

Hi all,

I have been the proud owner of my 51 reg 105+ and can honestly say I've never had a better car in my life. I've had MUCH older cars before hand like mk2 golf GTI, C-Class Merc, etc and this knocks spots of them all. As fr fuel consumption (the subject I'm supposed to be talking about) I do around 540 miles a week (crazy!) and can do this on £70. Therefore, the tank, which takes around £45ish will do 350 miles. This is pretty much all motorway miles, but I don't hang about, around 90mph average speed.

Even after all this though, I am considering a 1.8 VVC 160bhp. Anybody got/had one and care to share detailson fuel consumption?

by 90 im almost certain you mean 70... rofl.

 

[ROVER-25X]

Easy, just don't drive it hard, its a ROVER not a SAXO LOL !!!



I have had 411 out of a full tank but that was driving like a Saint, on average its arround 340 which ain't half bad !!!

 

[kuro]

I get about 50 mpg on the motorway but it drops to 38 - 40 around town which I reckon is still pretty good.

If you want fuel economy get a smartcar, I used to get about 50 mpg around town in mine.