First Time Towing & General Mpg

[tubaman]

Avencis 1.8 VVti 2002 with new short engine 9 months ago:-

Just came back from a weeks holiday in the Cotswolds, UK & towed my Pennine Pathfinder (which is basically a caravan base/canvas top unit weighing in at 1000Kg) for the first time. I have found the trip computer on my model to be very accurate (usually 0.5-1.0 mpg less than actual) having monitored it from fill up to fill up over a period of 12 months. I returned 32.5 mpg on the trip computer whilst towing which is probably around 33mpg which I think is pretty decent considering my car was fully laden with 2 X adults & 2 X teenagers and towing with a largish car & smallish (1.8) engine. The unit I was towing, whilst being circa 1000Kg folds quite flat & is nowhere near as high as a caravan - hence, it suffers less drag/wind resistance & little or no `snaking` in crosswinds. Speeds were constantly 55-60MPH motorway driving.

I also did a very accurate check of my mileage today this time without towing but still with my wife & 2 X teenagers. I did 170 miles at a constantish 55-60mpg on the motorway - car trip computer reported 45.5mpg - actual was 46 mpg. Pretty good in my book