You know, I had a pretty busy Saturday. Lots of stuff to do, journeys to make etc etc, just like most people I guess. But these days the journeys in the car are something I actually look forward to since we got our Skoda (Fab 2 1.4TDI PD 80 Estate), and we've had it two years now. Yeah, I know that sounds corny, but it's true, and that's coming from a hardened biker. Had to go see a friend who lives some 36 miles away in the back of beyond yesterday lunch time. Instead of taking the bike (no...not the pedal one!) for the fun element and the lovely noise my V-twin engine makes and always my first mode of transport when we still had Fords and Fiats in the family, I once again decided to take the car. She's just been serviced (20k 2yr one) and as ever is running like a champ. I edged my way out of Colchester where I live in my bunker with Mrs Estate woman, and hit the A12. It was stop start getting to the A12, but once on it I eased her up to an indicated 75-80mph thinking I shouldn't take too long to get to my destination or I'll run out of time to do the other stuff I have to take care of if I dither. My journey on the A12 lasts about 8 miles I guess then I turn onto a 'B' road for the remaining part, and bulk of my journey. At once, of course I hit the traffic, slow moving and bunched up. No choice but to buckle down and listen to the radio and enjoy the drive at 40-45mph. No chance of overtaking as it was traffic as far as the eye could see ahead of me. This means 4th gear at that speed in my motor to get the best fuel consumption. It's working too hard in fifth I've discovered and it then does less mpg at that low speed.

The journey was uneventful, if slow but I still arrived in good time at my friends. I looked at the trip computer and got a shock. It showed 73mpg bang on! I had reset the fuel trip computer before leaving, and I know how accurate the trip is because when I first got the car I was rather more sad than usual and kept checking the computer figures against my own brim to brim method, and there was nothing in it. At the time Mrs Estate woman suggested I get therapy for this condition, but I felt comfortable being sad! Anyway, I was feeling pretty good now as this is the most I've been able to get out of my car, and it did it easily without me even trying. So, when I started the return journey I kept to the same route, it was clear of traffic this time so I upped the speed a bit where possible (keeping to 50-55mph) used 5th gear at 50+mph. For the end part of my journey on the A12 I held her at a steady indicated 75-80mph (tut tut) for around 8 miles. I didn't drive particularly with economy in mind but by the time I had arrived home I had covered 74 miles, and the trip computer showed 74.4mpg!! How brilliant is that! Now I Know you Greenliners will chime in and tell me about the fantastic figures you are getting (Raisbeck the supremo!), and that's brilliant too, but then they should be as they are optimised for good mpg. But my point here is that this mpg figure took me by complete surprise since I normally don't spend much time on 'B' roads, therefore I hadn't ever really checked what the car would do mpg wise under those type of conditions. The fact I was forced to keep my speed down and use fourth gear almost exclusively for much of the journey there and fourth and fifth on the way back proved a real eye opener.

So maybe now, instead of barrelling down the motorways and dual carriageways, if I'm ok for time I might just start using the 'A' and 'B' roads a bit more and getting around 12mpg more than I normally do. That's one heck of a saving over a year. Anyone else found this very big difference in fuel economy on the different roads?

Safe and economical motoring everyone.

PS. just a little update. Mrs Estate woman informs me we had the aircon going full blast for at least 13 miles of the total mileage covered.

Edited 22 August, 201015 yr by Estate Man

It can be quite surprising how good it can be taking A/B roads if you just keep the car flowing along.

I just did a round trip of about 70 miles, 15 miles on motorway (70mph on cruise) then 20 on A road at a steady 60, dropping to 50 when stuck behind lorries. I ended up with 49.2 mpg from the TSI, not far off the combined claim of 53.

Compare this with a drive on a Brisky meet in the Lakes. Driving rather energetically, we hit a section of a good few miles where I just left it in 3rd and we were just flowing along without having to use much brake. The average started to rise immediately and I finished the run with an average of 42mpg. Yeah, yeah, but we weren't driving for economy that time

It shows that the best gear is not always the highest one.

It can be quite surprising how good it can be taking A/B roads if you just keep the car flowing along.

I just did a round trip of about 70 miles, 15 miles on motorway (70mph on cruise) then 20 on A road at a steady 60, dropping to 50 when stuck behind lorries. I ended up with 49.2 mpg from the TSI, not far off the combined claim of 53.

Compare this with a drive on a Brisky meet in the Lakes. Driving rather energetically, we hit a section of a good few miles where I just left it in 3rd and we were just flowing along without having to use much brake. The average started to rise immediately and I finished the run with an average of 42mpg. Yeah, yeah, but we weren't driving for economy that time

It shows that the best gear is not always the highest one.

Mike, your 105bhp TSI is doing pretty well it seems on fuel for a petrol. Make sure you keep us all posted as to the mpg's you are getting when she has done even more miles and loosened up a bit more.

That's really good for both the tdi and tsi.

I get no where near the 47mpg combined even when I try. I got 43 mpg on mixed roads once but that was driving very gently and coasting everywhere I could. By gently I mean very very slow acceleration and slowing down traffic and using higheset gear chanigng up early - very painstakingly slow) Does coasting use more fuel than slowing down in gear. JC on top gear said that if slowing down in gear it doesn't use any fuel on modern engines?

I normally change gear between 2000-3000 revs and always drivin in the higest gear possible.

Edited 22 August, 201015 yr by fabia55

Hi Fabia, it sounds as if you are not doing too badly with your mpg. Clearly you are refining your technique and getting to know your new car. In my view, it could be argued that coasting will allow you to go a bit further on your fuel, but probably not much further. Remember, after releasing the gas, engine compression will slow you more and bring you to a stop more quickly than if you were coasting. Mind you, be cautious of coasting, not always a good idea from the control point of view. On modern cars the fuel supply to the engine is completely cut off on decel after you touch the footbrake. Even when you release the gas pedal fuel is almost completely cut off on the Fabias but I don't know if that's the case on the TSI's. I'm a bit out of touch with the specs since giving up working in the trade. But, it's normally the same for petrol and diesel engines. One point Fabia, you may just improve your fuel consumption if you avoid taking 4th and 5th gear too early at a very slow speed. Perhaps stay in third and fourth a bit longer and let the speed build a tad more before using them. It may be that you are labouring the engine just a little (keeping the engine revs too low for any given roadspeed) causing it to use too much fuel. It's a bit like driving up hill all the time if the revs are too low, the gear a bit too high, and the engine has to work a little too much. I found this with my Fabia diesel. Actually keeping the engine spinning a bit faster in the lower gears produced a better fuel consumption. Let us know how you continue to progress. It's only by telling it how it is that we and the visiting public will know what we all rave about! Good luck and safe driving.

I normaly do 30 mph in 4th gear and once up to 40 mph i change up to 5th, should i stay in the gear longer and change later.

I normaly do 30 mph in 4th gear and once up to 40 mph i change up to 5th, should i stay in the gear longer and change later.

I think you are fine at 30mph in 4th on flat road in urban areas. But I would definitely take her up a bit higher in 4th before changing up to 5th. Although your car can take 5th at 40mph it won't run very efficiently at that speed in that gear and will probably use more fuel rather than less. Try her at 50mph before you take 5th. If you are not able to be at, at least 50mph but over 40mph, stay in 4th gear. I suspect you will find, as I did, the fuel economy improves quite a bit. On 'B' roads I've found I can get another 12+ mpg if I stay in 4th gear at 45mph, rather than taking 5th at that same speed, which my car defo doesn't like it seems, although it drives ok at that speed in that gear. I don't use 5th under 50mph now. See how you get on and come back with your results over time.

Edited 22 August, 201015 yr by Estate Man

Does coasting use more fuel than slowing down in gear. JC on top gear said that if slowing down in gear it doesn't use any fuel on modern engines?

Coasting will use more fuel as the engine is ticking over and using fuel. As said above, leaving it in gear cuts off the fuel when you slow down. Don't be afraid of accelerating faster to get up to speed, you can then keep it flowing along in the appropriate gear.

Edited 22 August, 201015 yr by Mike Wrightson

Well the first wee run I gave my Fabia on saturday night returned 62MPG which I thought was fantastic mostly due carriageway and a-roads, I know that the car can do more and will be going on another trip at the weekend with the car, I've only had the car a few days but I'm dead inpressed with the fuel consumption already.

You will soon find the best way to drive your new motor 1983. These 3 cylinder engines are beauts (petrol and diesel). To start with, there is a tendency for new drivers to this type of engine to use more revs than necessary (not suggesting that you are, just mentioning in case it helps). This is due to the 3cylinder configuration making the engine sound as though it is revving too low at any given road speed. There's obviously fewer 'combustion bangs' for any given engine speed compared to a four cylinder engine. Clearly, you don't want to plonk it around at tickover, but you know what I mean. Of course, if revving a bit more than you need to, this tends to consume more fuel...but you'll become a champ behind the wheel in the fuel economy stakes! 62mpg sounds very good though for dual carriageway work. Recently, on a trip to the NEC in Birmingham I returned 62.6mpg with 3 of us in the car. Mostly keeping to 70mph or just over and flooring it occasionally through the gears.

It's quite amazing that it's cheaper for me to use my car to go places than it is for me to use my motorcycle. My 1000cc V twin bike under the same conditions going to Birmingham has returned just 51mpg. Around town I get 38mpg from the bike. My car does a consistent 52-54mpg in the summer and around 48mpg in winter in the towns. In defence of my bike, when I go intercontinental, and especially on the Autobahns, I cruise at 3 figure speeds and the fuel consumption doesn't change that much, still giving over 40mpg!

Edited 23 August, 201015 yr by Estate Man

Im regularly getting an average of 48mpg from my 1.2 12v now. I can asily get 50mpg+ by not going on motorways and keeping the revs below 3000rpm. Go above that and economy drops. I have a 13 mile commute and early morning with nothing on the roads, Ive managed 62mpg on one occasion and plenty of high 50s.

My ears were burning so thought I ought to chip in.

The Greenline isnt so different to a standard TDI. Other than skinny wheels a few aerodynamic tweaks and a longer gearbox its much the same car.

The Greenline is just a little better mpg wise on faster motorway journeys. My best mpg is achieved on slower A roads. Off of motorways and dual carriageway I rarely ever get out of fourth gear (4th is geared much the same as a standard TDI in 5th). You TDI drivers out there can check for me, in fourth the rev needle matches the speed needle on mine ! Most of the time I am in 4th at about 55-60 around 2100 rpm. As Estate Man said holding lower revs has proven to be counter productive mpg wise, same for me also. It has proven countless times that staying around 2000 rpm is on mine the most efficient place to be regardless of gear used.

I can get 80 mpg on A roads with longer journeys and about 76 on motorways.

You cant underestimate the affect of drag, getting all technica,l drag increases as the square of speed. Twice as fast takes 4 times the power

Of course it never really makes the book figures.........bet the new one doesnt come close either. Maybe driving it downhill in rareified mountain air.

First service next week, still running in I guess at only 9000ish miles.

Lets not forget, all you standard TDI drivers dont have the dreaded DPF filter mine has. Time will tell if this is an achilles heel. TBH I would be equally happy seeing a nice puff or two of diesel smoke out the back.........

BTW there is another Greenline driver on here who has almost unbelievable mpg.........he must lasoo lorries going uphill and freewheel the rest. 96mpg I am told. How !?

Hi raisbeck, hoped you come along! How's the motor going? Are you finding the power output has improved and the engine is a bit quieter? Mine got much better after 10k. But it seems to keep on getting better and better, more powerful and like Mrs Estate woman...even lovelier!! to drive. I can hardly believe it...me a biker and I'm raving about a car!

You've proven the Greenline is a brilliant motor, and it's seems DPF isn't so much a dirty word these days. The initial flurry of people being upset with them when they first hit the streets seems to have subsided. I think this is probably due to everyone knowing better how to drive their cars without sooting the filter up. One thing though...if you had the standard TDI like mine, you still wouldn't see any soot or smoke come out of the exhaust either! It's brilliant. I followed Mrs Estate woman who was driving our car on a fairly long drive cross country not too long ago. She was hitting the 60's, 70's and briefly the 80mph mark and giving it plenty of wellie (she's a spirited lass!). This also included several periods of stop start in traffic. I didn't see one puff of anything come out of the motor and she was hitting 3,500rpm quite a few times she assures me. I would add she doesn't normally take the revs up quite so high on a regular basis, but I was following on one of my big big motorcycles. At 80 it's just ticking over, well...just like the car eh!

You are certainly getting good mpg too, I'm envious! It's interesting to hear your conclusions concerning the lower gear thing. We're in agreement. It definitely makes a big difference to mine. I'm still experimenting, I learn something new about the car nearly everyday.

So keep posting...it's valuable information for everyone. Drive safe mate!

PS. Just noticed you are a biker also. Must be we are attracted to good machinery!

Edited 23 August, 201015 yr by Estate Man

I know the greenline has lowered suspension than standard version so in theory fitting some lowering springs to a standard fabia may reduce fuel consumpton (as well as, in theory, give better handling)

my wife got a 1.4 tdi last week with 14000 miles on the clock .... so far, a rough guestimate of fuel economy is about 55mpg with mostly a and b road use .... she is very pleased

Hi raisbeck, hoped you come along! How's the motor going? Are you finding the power output has improved and the engine is a bit quieter? Mine got much better after 10k. But it seems to keep on getting better and better, more powerful and like Mrs Estate woman...even lovelier!! to drive. I can hardly believe it...me a biker and I'm raving about a car!

You've proven the Greenline is a brilliant motor, and it's seems DPF isn't so much a dirty word these days. The initial flurry of people being upset with them when they first hit the streets seems to have subsided. I think this is probably due to everyone knowing better how to drive their cars without sooting the filter up. One thing though...if you had the standard TDI like mine, you still wouldn't see any soot or smoke come out of the exhaust either! It's brilliant. I followed Mrs Estate woman who was driving our car on a fairly long drive cross country not too long ago. She was hitting the 60's, 70's and briefly the 80mph mark and giving it plenty of wellie (she's a spirited lass!). This also included several periods of stop start in traffic. I didn't see one puff of anything come out of the motor and she was hitting 3,500rpm quite a few times she assures me. I would add she doesn't normally take the revs up quite so high on a regular basis, but I was following on one of my big big motorcycles. At 80 it's just ticking over, well...just like the car eh!

You are certainly getting good mpg too, I'm envious! It's interesting to hear your conclusions concerning the lower gear thing. We're in agreement. It definitely makes a big difference to mine. I'm still experimenting, I learn something new about the car nearly everyday.

So keep posting...it's valuable information for everyone. Drive safe mate!

PS. Just noticed you are a biker also. Must be we are attracted to good machinery!

Given the choice I would take the motobike every day. A biker at heart with a weakened constitution to inclement weather. I take the bike to work in the summer as much as possible bur for the most part I take the car when rain or cold weather is even hinted at.

My Greenline is close to first service. its definitely a lot smoother and more efficient than when I first had it. MPG has improved by about 5-7 mpg.

Its always a bit more of a challenge to drive mine in town and on slower roads. Very difficult to get a decent gear thats not reving high or too low. As it runs in this is getting much easier, I am probably also getting better at driving it. My good lady has a fabia 1.4mpi petrol. I make a bit of a mess driving that one, I keep in too lower a gear and appear to have been Greenline institutionalised .

I dont think I am imagining it, its definitely a much smoother, quieter and easier to drive car than when it was new.

Surprising how wet weather makes a difference. Drove home same route as always at the same speeds which usually gives me about 75 ish mpg. Today driving in monsoon conditions it was down to 64 mpg. Even just a wet road without standing water brings the mpg down.

If someone was looking at a standard TDI or a Greenline I would say go for the standard TDI unless you are doing loads of miles. I got the Greenline as it was almost the last one available before the new common rails and under the reduced vat deal. Had there been a standard TDI of similar spec I would have bought that one. That said I am not dissapointed, its saving me a bundle in fuel not to mention I can go a whole week without having to fill up.

Someone mentioned the Greenline is lowered, yes it is, by a massive 1 inch. I suppose it all adds up. The longer 5th gear is best treated as an old fashioned 'overdrive'. Only really any good when your up to speed on a fast road, otherwise I rarely use it.

I wouldnt mind trying the route I drive in a standard TDI. I bet it wouldnt be far off the Greenline.

One definite thing that reduces mpg is keep your tyre pressures up. My old Fabia 1.2 petrol gained a couple of mpg just through inflating the tyres a bit higher than the book stated. People frown at this sort of thing but come on, my Greenline has 38 p.s.i in the front and 37 rear (book figures). Always kept my old 1.2 at 35 p.si on the front and 33 rear. Handling was better, mpg was better and the only down side was more road noise. Factory pressure settings are there for ultimate ride comfort. My Greenline doesnt have special super dooper tyres, they are just thinner and inflated higher to reduce the rolling resistance.

Try it, bet you will be surprised.........

Please assume that I have now written a massive disclaimer against this sort of non approved practices

I will shut up now

Edited 25 August, 201015 yr by raisbeck

I will shut up now

My wife says I should do that too! Great report by the way...and know what you mean about the bike. Take mine out all the time in any weather if I can. I use it as if it were a car as I have full luggage, heated grips, and half decent fairing etc. The irony now is that it's cheaper to use my car than my motorcycle, but not quite as much fun.

Having driven the 1.4TDi for over 130K miles I reckon for a typical 25 mile journey on A roads you'll get around 58-63 mpg. My new 1.9TDi fabia on the same sort of journey gets me around 60-65mpg as it seems to cruise better. However if the journey has some town driving thrown in then the 1.4tdi then becomes the more economical of the two engines. The 1.9TDi economy drops off noticeably if your crawling round the city streets.

Both are great engines. You just need to keep the revs up around 2000rpm to get the optimum economy I reckon. This sometimes means dropping down a gear, which seems like the wrong thing to do, but it does seem to improve mpg in the long run.

I quite agree. Also, the 1.4TDI fuel consumption drops off a fair bit compared to the 1.9TDI if cruising over 80mph (tut, tut!), but it does it so easily officer!! (it really does). The point being the 1.4 is a good all rounder but if you want to go at very high speed all the time go for the 1.9. The engine on the 1.4 works harder at speed.

106 mile round trip for work and back. 80 percent fast dual carriageway and the rest quickish A roads with 2 small town sections

If i keep at about 65 mph (on the fast bits not the towns officer) I always get about 78-80 mpg

70 mph on the same route I get 76-77 mpg

80 mph (indicated officer, its actually 70 honest) falls off to 70-72 mpg.

If you work this out based on fuel filled to miles travelled with the trusty abacus and pencil its less than the car says. To be honest I think the computer overreads the economy by about 4 mpg. The overall average on mine is about 73 mpg and this seems accurate.

Definitely agree with the holding it around 2000 rpm area. If i make the car labour a bit below that I drop economy. I also have a range I avoid like the plague, its at 1600 to about 1750, car hates it. Vibrates and drones in your ears. That said as the miles go on this effect is getting much less. When it was new it was awful in that area.

It does a regen for the DPF about every 150 miles. Mpg improves by a couple of mpg after it does this(clearing its throat). Its obvious when it does this regen but explaining how the car changes during this 10-15 minute period is tricky. Its just 'different'.

Fantastic Raisbeck! your mpg is brilliant, as I said before. What I should have said before about..."if you want to go fast all the time get a 1.9", should have been..."or get a Greenline"! Your fuel consumption doesn't suffer quite as much as my standard 1.4TDI at speed. Certainly the 1.4's have more than enough power I believe for high speed stuff, and actually doesn't feel very different to my old bosses 1.9TDI Fabia Estate. I think it's good you Greenline guys are documenting your mpg so accurately for everyone to see.

Fantastic Raisbeck! your mpg is brilliant, as I said before. What I should have said before about..."if you want to go fast all the time get a 1.9", should have been..."or get a Greenline"! Your fuel consumption doesn't suffer quite as much as my standard 1.4TDI at speed. Certainly the 1.4's have more than enough power I believe for high speed stuff, and actually doesn't feel very different to my old bosses 1.9TDI Fabia Estate. I think it's good you Greenline guys are documenting your mpg so accurately for everyone to see.

Be interesting to see what the new Greenline can manage. The new one has the stop start system which I know I would hate (my friends bmw does it) they claim 4mpg because of that system. Its supposedly got a combined of 84mpg.....which would give an extra urban near to 90.

Be good to see if anyone else has calculated their mpg 'manually' I dont trust the onboard computer.

The computer seems pretty accurate on mine and I struggled to debunk it with pencil and paper tests.

Glad to hear the great fuel consumption stories.........wish mine was one of them, this mutta just drinks it...Done the first long run steady 70ish on the A1 in fifth gear etc, little bit off the dual carriageway and very little town driving....The Computer gives just over 40 and my figures are about the same ......Now got 1200 miles on the clock, and if it hasnt dramatically improved by about 3000 miles think I might have to move this thirsty beast along .Certainly thought it would be much better than this...very disappointed

Glad to hear the great fuel consumption stories.........wish mine was one of them, this mutta just drinks it...Done the first long run steady 70ish on the A1 in fifth gear etc, little bit off the dual carriageway and very little town driving....The Computer gives just over 40 and my figures are about the same ......Now got 1200 miles on the clock, and if it hasnt dramatically improved by about 3000 miles think I might have to move this thirsty beast along .Certainly thought it would be much better than this...very disappointed

Have you had your dealer check it over :wonder: sure I've read on either this or the Yeti forum regard a 1.2TSI with higher than expected fuel consumption. Turned out to be one of the symptoms of a faulty sensor, possibly crank or cam (apologies but I cannot remember more than that).

Regards,

TP