Hi!

Im going to buy a Fabia (sometime) and need som mpg figures.

What do you get on the 1.4 TDI in:

Town:

Mixed:

Highway (75mph):

Country (50mph):

Thanks

Well we are disappointed with ours as it only does 46MPG. That is a 15 mile each way journey to work and back. Mixture of single and dual carriageway "A" road and hardly any town driving. It has only done just over 800 miles but there are others on here who have done much better from new so maybe we will have to have it checked out at the dealers.

It depends where you live , if your area is flat it should do well , i live on top of a mountain with lots of twisty country roads. mine varied between 44 and 58 mpg averaging around 50 mpg .My previous fiesta 1.8 diesel always did 58 mpg no matter how you drove it

But i bet that 1.8 Fiesta was an indirect injection slug compared to the Fabia. The 1.4 TDI can be very revvy and encourages a more spirited driving style.

But i bet that 1.8 Fiesta was an indirect injection slug compared to the Fabia. The 1.4 TDI can be very revvy and encourages a more spirited driving style.

Agrree , Yep it was a slug , the fabia is much more fun to drive

For me am getting nearly 51mpg, and thats a mixture of roads. And the car has done 16k on the clock. But i do take it to 3krpm

800 miles is very few miles for one of these new little derv engines. They are very tight from new!

There are also so many variables involved that can affect fuel economy.

The main one will be the way you drive. Make sure you're not labouring the engine but at the same time don't change too late.

Also something that can make a big difference is avoiding slowing down too much for lights etc... try and cruise (in gear) towards a red light and time it so that you can keep on rolling through when they change.

Keep it in the back of your mind while you are driving and you will find yourself trying not to touch the throttle as much as possible. My partner is apauling at doing this and needlessly accelerates towards speed limit changes, traffic lights, standing traffic etc just to have to slow down again.

Phil

I hear what you're saying Phil, but the fact is we have been driving diesels for many years, all from brand new, over the same route with the same drivers and driving styles. Now maybe the VAG engines are much tighter than the Renault, BMW, Citroen and Honda diesels, but why should that be? I thought that modern engineering techniques were all much the same when building engines.

I hear what you're saying Phil, but the fact is we have been driving diesels for many years, all from brand new, over the same route with the same drivers and driving styles. Now maybe the VAG engines are much tighter than the Renault, BMW, Citroen and Honda diesels, but why should that be? I thought that modern engineering techniques were all much the same when building engines.

2 words "PUMPE DUSE" ..... (Ive not changed it i swear)

Edited 10 November, 200916 yr by TorqueXIsXCheap

2 words "DUSE PUMP"

Aye! Although it is the other way round and it is "pumpe"

This is a 3cyl too which I'm guessing all the other ones you had weren't.

It is a very different engine to the others you have had I reckon and all engines are different. It's all about find the "sweet spot" on them

Ahhh! I see. Thanks guys for the explanation.

Maybe PD should stand for "Pretty Disappointed" in our case. Only kidding, we do like the car very much and I'm sure it will improve after a few thousand miles.

Ahhh! I see. Thanks guys for the explanation.

Maybe PD should stand for "Pretty Disappointed" in our case. Only kidding, we do like the car very much and I'm sure it will improve after a few thousand miles.

Case in point, with the cars first thousand miles it was 33mpg so more miles does help mate

This isn't the most accurate way to work things out but my estimate is I've achieved something like 50mpg over the life of the car so far.

Figures are:

Miles: 41500

Fuel: £3846

(Guess) Average price per litre = £1.05

That's from a whole cross section of driving though most trips will have been over 10 miles.

Andy, one other point to mention...winter fuel! I have just noticed you live in the Highlands. Oil companies switch to winter diesel much sooner where you live due to the earlier drop in ambient temperature. You've been getting it almost certainly for the last few weeks in readiness for the frost. Winter diesel reduces you fuel consumption slightly as it contains more kerosene and one or two other additives to make the fuel flow better at low temps. The Cetane rating also has to alter slightly with winter diesel (but still within standard range). It all affects you fuel consumption.

Previously, as a tech, I went on many factory courses. Believe me when I say not all engines are designed and engineered to the same standards. In spite of a long history, the 3cyl 1.4TDI PD engine is still one of the best in terms of design and engineering...even by todays standards. Even now it is nearly as clean as the latest new standards required by the EC laws coming in next year. However, although bullet proof, it is slightly noisey compared to the latest engines. Hence it won't be available for much longer.

Edited 10 November, 200916 yr by Estate Man
Carnt spiel

It does feel a very solid engine and you are probably right about the winter diesel, that combined with the engine being tight and the different characteristics of the 3 pot is more than likely the reason for the poor MPG. Come next summer I'm sure it will have improved.

Andy,

I have a Fabia3 estate, it has only covered 800 miles and I'm averaging 55mpg according to the trip computer. I'm convinced this is due to having cruise control, which I use on motorways and dual carriageways, on the 2 long trips (120 miles) I've made the first returned over 58 and the second over 60.

Good luck

I had a Fabia3 1.4TDI hatch - and was extremely disappointed with the fuel economy, especially extra-urban, I struggled to get over 45mpg. I have a colleague with identical car (colour, spec, sequential registration!) and she has the same problem.

Mr Scruffy...it's almost certainly the sequential registration causing the problem! It could be the colour of the car is wrong reflecting radiation at the wrong wavelength too. :rotz: Seriously, I think you will find it improves substantially.

Mr Quagmire, sorry if I bumped your post slightly earlier. In answer to your questions...I get:

@ 50mph (usually in 4th gear almost no 5th gear use) around 55-60mpg depending on driving conditions and how many people I'm carrying. Also...it depends on how long the run is. This would be mainly on country 'A' and 'B' roads. I've found over use of 5th gear below 55mph seems to worsen fuel consumption. Letting the engine spin a little higher up the scale in 4th gear allows the engine to work less hard and produce a better fuel consumption figure. Has anyone else found this?

@75mph (my normal dual carriageway/motorway speed, 5th gear) I get a very respectable 58-61mpg, again depending on weather, temperature etc, driving conditions, length of journey, load etc. I've found the longer the journey the better the fuel consumption. Example: On a 20 mile trip on motorway type roads at 70-75mph I achieve 58-59mpg. However, if the journey continues and I cover 60-70miles non stop, the fuel figure rises to over 61mpg but this improves significantly if I bring the speed down to 65mph (around 71-72mpg). Yes...honestly! It doesn't matter if I use the trip or brim method. It works out almost identically.

Driven almost exclusively around town & urban areas during the week the car gives just over 50mpg all the time in winter but 53mpg in the summer. With slightly more mixed motoring with a bias towards urban driving it's around 55mpg. We do use the aircon but not all the time and usually only when on a journey of some distance or it's raining and the windows need clearing.

At the end of the day of course...it's the driving technique and road conditions etc that are the most influential factors on fuel consumption, along with a good service of the car. I tend to drive my car with the aim of achieving reasonable economy...I reach cruising speed and ease off the throttle slightly whilst still allowing the cruise to be maintained. I rarely barrel along in other words in my car. Now my motorcycle...that's different...throttle wide open I'm afraid!! Just love that noise it makes! :eek::rotz:

Hope that's helpful.

Edited 18 November, 200916 yr by Estate Man

Thanks guys!!!

I made a preliminary deal on a 1.4 TDI Elegance (pretty loaded) tonight, I'll seal tomorrow hopefully!

I had a Fabia3 1.4TDI hatch - and was extremely disappointed with the fuel economy, especially extra-urban, I struggled to get over 45mpg. I have a colleague with identical car (colour, spec, sequential registration!) and she has the same problem.

That does sound low. My new 1.6 16v Fabia 2 at only 800miles was doing 40mpg on the motorway with 4 up and the boot full of Christmas presents.

Around town on my own I'm doing between 32 and 35mpg but it is petrol. Hope it does more once I've done a few thousand more miles. Tried the diesels, even the vRS but didn't like them.

David

Edited 14 January, 201016 yr by davidbrownuk

Well, they do say diesels are better for long distance journeys. I'm a bit surprised though you can't go more than 40mph on the motorway, even with four up and some presies in the boot. Did you realise when you bought it that it was a very slow car?

Well, they do say diesels are better for long distance journeys. I'm a bit surprised though you can't go more than 40mph on the motorway, even with four up and some presies in the boot. Did you realise when you bought it that it was a very slow car?

Just read my post again obviously MPG not MPH for all of them

David

Edited 14 January, 201016 yr by davidbrownuk

It seems that MPG is down to road conditions and your right foot.

I average 50 in the winter and 58 in the summer, Im no snail but no boy racer.

Took delivery today, nice car .

Did 55mpg on my drive home (60km) from the dealer with 70% motorway, 20% town, 10% extra urban. Not bad.

Took delivery today, nice car .

Did 55mpg on my drive home (60km) from the dealer with 70% motorway, 20% town, 10% extra urban. Not bad.

The economy should get better with a few thousand miles under its belt. Happy motoring.