Fuel Consumption

[crickleymal]

I would be taking the Mercedes back to the dealer...
Guessing the Benz is a C320 CDi or similar?
220bhp against 69bhp?
7sec against 15.8sec 0 - 60?
Think it is your wife with the handbrake on.
Try putting the keys in the ignition...

Oh I don't know. In the early 90s I had a Lada Riva 1300 estate. There was one BMW driver who was unable to keep up with me on a twisty road.

[Noel Brig]

I would be taking the Mercedes back to the dealer...
Guessing the Benz is a C320 CDi or similar?
220bhp against 69bhp?
7sec against 15.8sec 0 - 60?
Think it is your wife with the handbrake on.
Try putting the keys in the ignition...

It's a C250 and it is 201bhp. I doubt if I was driving it anyone in a Berlingo could keep up with me - but then again; Wouldn't it be interesting, a tight winding race track with no long straights - me in the wifes car, Schumacher in the 1.9 Berlingo - I wonder how good these racing drivers actually are.

[Noel Brig]

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Getting back on topic, here are my long term fuel consumption figures for a mk1 1.9d Berlingo

First of when doing any mpg figures we need accurate data, and the odometers on many vehicles are not that accurate. So before quoting any figures you should calibrate your own odometer. My berlingo at half tire wear showed 4.4% above true, so all my mpg figures below have been reduced by 4.2% to give a true reading ie 39.2mpg becomes 37.55mpg

Driving Style
Huge difference in how the vehicle is driven for its first 7 years it was generally driven in the manner white vans are driven and achieved a disappointing overall 37.55mpg. I got into hypermiling a few years back and over the vehicles last 3 years (20k) I achieved 51.8mpg

Ambient temperature -
Quite a difference between winter and summer, in very cold conditions it could fall to 33mpg and often in July August it could achieve 44. These figures vary between 45 and 61 while hypermiling!

Speed-
Due to its brick like aerodynamics high speed really does drink the juice on this van. Wellie it for all its worth on a motorway and you will get less than 30. Tickle it along between 40 and 50 on country roads on a warm summers day implementing hypermiling techniques and you can get 65

[j90xxx]

These racing drivers are good. Very good.
As a member of the MSA and a part-time race mechanic, I speak with some experience of bhp, power to weight ratios, aerodynamics, suspension set-up, etc.
A standard 1.9d Berlingo has none of the above.
Perhaps in 'Upside Down World', where you obviously live, a Berlingo is a prestige, sporty, executive saloon, manufactured by a company with a legendary motorsport pedigree?
Oh, and your correction from 220 to 201bhp makes all the difference! Not. 69bhp is still 69bhp.

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Ah.
Hypermilers.
They never get a bad press...
Hypermiling taken to extemes is illegal and dangerous. Taken to its basics is just common sense. Well maintained vehicle, don't carry excess weight, correct psi, windows closed, air-con off.
No revelations there...

[Noel Brig]

Ah.
Hypermilers.
They never get a bad press...
Hypermiling taken to extemes is illegal and dangerous. Taken to its basics is just common sense. Well maintained vehicle, don't carry excess weight, correct psi, windows closed, air-con off.
No revelations there...

Yes I should be a little more specific, hypermilling is a bit vague and covers everything from what you suggest to the extremist nutter who removes wing mirrors and wiper blades, tapes up the door seams, 90psi in the tyres and free wheels down hill with the engine off - some scary people out there.

My version is; Much much lower speeds, rarely above 50, and predicting the road and traffic ahead to such an extent that I seldom need to use the brakes. Amazing differences on economy, and surprisingly journey times are not that much more. I have probably never been a safer driver.

[divingscubaboy]

@ Noel: Are you only doing 50 because the handbrakes dragging or because you're stuck behind your wifes merc?

Sent from 2 bean tins and a piece of string!