Dm Has A Dig At Green Cars Not Meeting Claimed Mpg Figures (Prius Incl

[johalareewi]

Haven't bought a newspaper for years. I just use the internet.

It was quite amusing a few years back when the BBC news website developed its split personality.

[Jan&tone]

The evidence of the way many motorist drive would suggest that they are not overly concerned about fuel economy - heavy accelerating and braking, high speeds on motorways and duel carriage ways, lack of anticipation, etc.

For example, if most motorist genuinely wanted to save fuel, everyone would drive at no more than 50 mph on the motorways, I see little chance of that happening.

Timberwolf - you have hit the nail on the head...

If one insists on exceeding the speed limits, roaring away from traffic lights etc, trying to overtake all the other nutters then it's pretty obvious you will never ever come close to the government figures (note the government figures - not the manufacturers)

I despair when I look at the 63-69 average mpg's on my gen3 when I'm doing an indicated 70mph on the M25 and other gen 3's scoot past me at 80+... not only illegal but stupid - they obviously have money to waste on petrol (or giving the tax on it to the government\)

In case you guys have wondered why I've been so quiet on here it's simply that I got fed up with being flamed when I mention sticking to the law... I have no problem with people breaking the speed limits - it's their licence not mine, but then please don't moan when you cannot achieve more than 50-55mpg in your Prius.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I despair when I look at the 63-69 average mpg's on my gen3 when I'm doing an indicated 70mph on the M25 and other gen 3's scoot past me at 80+... not only illegal but stupid - they obviously have money to waste on petrol (or giving the tax on it to the government\)

It wasn't a black 59 plate gen3 was it? :)

[Jan&tone]

I despair when I look at the 63-69 average mpg's on my gen3 when I'm doing an indicated 70mph on the M25 and other gen 3's scoot past me at 80+... not only illegal but stupid - they obviously have money to waste on petrol (or giving the tax on it to the government\)

It wasn't a black 59 plate gen3 was it? :)

Lol, no, there have been several over the months

[Dave R.]

The evidence of the way many motorist drive would suggest that they are not overly concerned about fuel economy - heavy accelerating and braking, high speeds on motorways and duel carriage ways, lack of anticipation, etc.

For example, if most motorist genuinely wanted to save fuel, everyone would drive at no more than 50 mph on the motorways, I see little chance of that happening.

Timberwolf - you have hit the nail on the head...

If one insists on exceeding the speed limits, roaring away from traffic lights etc, trying to overtake all the other nutters then it's pretty obvious you will never ever come close to the government figures (note the government figures - not the manufacturers)

I despair when I look at the 63-69 average mpg's on my gen3 when I'm doing an indicated 70mph on the M25 and other gen 3's scoot past me at 80+... not only illegal but stupid - they obviously have money to waste on petrol (or giving the tax on it to the government\)

In case you guys have wondered why I've been so quiet on here it's simply that I got fed up with being flamed when I mention sticking to the law... I have no problem with people breaking the speed limits - it's their licence not mine, but then please don't moan when you cannot achieve more than 50-55mpg in your Prius.

I'm with you guys on this one... having tried my 55 mile daily commute at 55 mph (cruse control most of the way round the lanes, so pretty much constant speed with no braking and only gentle acceleration) and had the odd mad dash home (hard acceleration, 60-70 mph wherever possible) I've proved that driving like a maniac only saves about 2 minutes on a 75 minute journey - whereas driving much more steadily takes my fuel consumption from 50mpg up to 55-60 mpg - 10-15% saving. So, is a 2 minute time saving worth £5?

[johalareewi]

As more and more cars get into band A, at some point the VED emission limits will either be abolished or reduced. Can't have the government losing revenue.

Spooky...

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/travel/2012/05/fuel-duty-could-rocket-to-reduce-treasury-shortfall?utm_source=forum&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=box

[Grumpy Cabbie]

The evidence of the way many motorist drive would suggest that they are not overly concerned about fuel economy - heavy accelerating and braking, high speeds on motorways and duel carriage ways, lack of anticipation, etc.

For example, if most motorist genuinely wanted to save fuel, everyone would drive at no more than 50 mph on the motorways, I see little chance of that happening.

Timberwolf - you have hit the nail on the head...

If one insists on exceeding the speed limits, roaring away from traffic lights etc, trying to overtake all the other nutters then it's pretty obvious you will never ever come close to the government figures (note the government figures - not the manufacturers)

I despair when I look at the 63-69 average mpg's on my gen3 when I'm doing an indicated 70mph on the M25 and other gen 3's scoot past me at 80+... not only illegal but stupid - they obviously have money to waste on petrol (or giving the tax on it to the government\)

In case you guys have wondered why I've been so quiet on here it's simply that I got fed up with being flamed when I mention sticking to the law... I have no problem with people breaking the speed limits - it's their licence not mine, but then please don't moan when you cannot achieve more than 50-55mpg in your Prius.

I'm with you guys on this one... having tried my 55 mile daily commute at 55 mph (cruse control most of the way round the lanes, so pretty much constant speed with no braking and only gentle acceleration) and had the odd mad dash home (hard acceleration, 60-70 mph wherever possible) I've proved that driving like a maniac only saves about 2 minutes on a 75 minute journey - whereas driving much more steadily takes my fuel consumption from 50mpg up to 55-60 mpg - 10-15% saving. So, is a 2 minute time saving worth £5?

A lot of the cars whizzing past will be company vehicles where they don't pay for fuel. I worked in a fleet department once upon a time and some of the sloppy wastes were dreadful. You'd get people filling their company vehicle at the most expensive service station on the motorways, you'd get others whose average mpg's from the fuel card statement would always be 25% less than all the other similar vehicles. I guess it's upto their fleet to sort them out, but for the private peeps out there who have to pay their own fuel costs, well driving slightley slower does make a significant difference. You can still whizz along at 80 mph if you wish - just get there steadier.

[Madasafish]

The evidence of the way many motorist drive would suggest that they are not overly concerned about fuel economy - heavy accelerating and braking, high speeds on motorways and duel carriage ways, lack of anticipation, etc.

For example, if most motorist genuinely wanted to save fuel, everyone would drive at no more than 50 mph on the motorways, I see little chance of that happening.

Timberwolf - you have hit the nail on the head...

If one insists on exceeding the speed limits, roaring away from traffic lights etc, trying to overtake all the other nutters then it's pretty obvious you will never ever come close to the government figures (note the government figures - not the manufacturers)

I despair when I look at the 63-69 average mpg's on my gen3 when I'm doing an indicated 70mph on the M25 and other gen 3's scoot past me at 80+... not only illegal but stupid - they obviously have money to waste on petrol (or giving the tax on it to the government\)

In case you guys have wondered why I've been so quiet on here it's simply that I got fed up with being flamed when I mention sticking to the law... I have no problem with people breaking the speed limits - it's their licence not mine, but then please don't moan when you cannot achieve more than 50-55mpg in your Prius.

I'm with you guys on this one... having tried my 55 mile daily commute at 55 mph (cruse control most of the way round the lanes, so pretty much constant speed with no braking and only gentle acceleration) and had the odd mad dash home (hard acceleration, 60-70 mph wherever possible) I've proved that driving like a maniac only saves about 2 minutes on a 75 minute journey - whereas driving much more steadily takes my fuel consumption from 50mpg up to 55-60 mpg - 10-15% saving. So, is a 2 minute time saving worth £5?

A lot of the cars whizzing past will be company vehicles where they don't pay for fuel. I worked in a fleet department once upon a time and some of the sloppy wastes were dreadful. You'd get people filling their company vehicle at the most expensive service station on the motorways, you'd get others whose average mpg's from the fuel card statement would always be 25% less than all the other similar vehicles. I guess it's upto their fleet to sort them out, but for the private peeps out there who have to pay their own fuel costs, well driving slightley slower does make a significant difference. You can still whizz along at 80 mph if you wish - just get there steadier.

I ran a fleet of c 40 company cars. We checked all the above you mention.. those with much worse fuel consumption were told to get the garage which serviced them to check the car. If OK, they were then told how much worse they were.. And asked to improve it.

One guy never did: it turned out he was syphoning out fuel for his partner's car.. Theft is gross misconduct: bye!

A well managed fleet will stop those issues when they happen.. (see also speeding and accidents..)