We all should learn to be thrifty with petrol from now on and for a good while I fear, shouldn't we?
As you say @
alanaslan we know that automatics aren't the best compared to manuals.
And it's obvious as well that V6 are frightfully expensive compared to diesel.
That's why V6 auto have deterred so many of us... but me and a few other old eccentrics!
And to add eccentricity to eccentricity I've chosen E85 since 2017 and a remap in 2021...
That's why my 1999 75 is day & night compared with a stock one.
Yesterday I tried to drive quietly in my rather short round trip mainly cruising (often with the cruise control on) at nearly 50 mph (80 km/h) along country roads, limited speed obliging.
As expected with an auto the engine went barely over 2k revs and very often under.
Despite the fact that's it's no good not to use the VIS motors from time to time which are only activated over 3.5/4k revs. Nothing better than a good kick down to keep them in good health...
Anyway as expected my mpg was improved despite the fact that fuelled with ethanol (E85) the faster you drive the better is your mpg, the overconsumption being lesser compared to E5/E10 (it's a matter of fact, not a theory).
to Puylaroque (25 km uphill) gives 23.15 mpg (12.2 l/100km)
from Puylaroque (25 km downhill) 25.22 mpg (11.2 l/100km)
giving an average of
24.14 mpg (11.7 l/100km) compared to my usual
22.6 mpg (12.5 l/100km) since 4 years.
And don't forget that were I fuelled up the engine with E5, instead of 24.14 mpg it would give around
30.17 mpg (9,36 l/100km). Would you think of that about a 75 V6, wouldn't you?
And I should add that the difference isn't only based on my - I dare say -
wise driving style (humour indeed!) but - don't miss the point - the recent remap which gives a far better efficiency in the low revs and hence a better driving result for a tad less petrol. Useless to say that now I do not need to put on the sport mode any more! No longer any lack of power especially going uphill. A dream come true...
