Hello Mike, I'm so sorry to hear that things don't seem to have improved in the way you wanted them to. Frankly the response you've had from Skoda UK seems pretty poor and I have to say rather uncharacteristic of them. Just a couple of things I would mention as a reminder really...don't forget if your car has now done only 3,000miles it is only now just finishing it's learning curve as to how you drive it. The ecu learns on ALL new cars now and the way it's treated in the first 1000miles is particularly important as to how the ecu continues to learn in the remaining couple of thousand miles up to 3k. Only from now on will you start to get that all important good economy starting to shine through. It will still take time and won't happen overnight but it will keep getting better and better as most owners are finding out. Secondly, I fear you would be very disappointed with the new Toyota Yaris diesel. My 1.6cr Fabia driving ex-colleague's wife has recently bought this model (1.4D-d4) and it can only just manage 55mpg after 4,000 miles for a combined run. Toyota claim over 67mpg on the combined run. The car has been checked and it is fine. They have been told it takes time to reach optimum power and fuel consumption. As an ex-technician my ex-colleague is aware of this and is confident it will do the figures claimed by the manufacturer, in much the same way his Fabia 1.6cr now achieves it's claimed figures (after 6,000miles). Personally, I would continue to use your car and feel quite confident it will be the car you want it to be with regard to fuel consumption. But you sound pretty peaved now, and all I'm saying is don't jump out of the frying pan into the fire. Cars have changed quite a bit now, you can forget about cars of old and the way they performed. There's no going back...euro V is everywhere now. Keep posting mate.

Hello Estateman,

You're quite right of course. Regardless of what I'd like to do, the reality is I simply have to hang on and wait unless I fancy loosing a lot of money. The Skoda call centre were absolutely hopeless for both calls and emails. The dealership has done what it can, but they're a little in the middle. Skoda have checked it. What more can they do!! I must admit at the moment, I'd take 55mpg (combined run) on my run as this is still reasonably ahead of the Fabia. Euro V is obviously a disaster area for various reasons.

Funny thing is, my car seems to be doing much better mpg around town. On shortish journeys (1-2miles), I can get somewhere around 50mpg. This is obvious once warmed up. It seems odd that cruising along at 70mph in 5th seems to be so much worse!! Also, the Skoda dealershop mentioned about the ecu learning how the person drives. This seems completely stupid to me. I can understand the ecu learning about the other components in the car and their exact place in the tolerances etc. But, how can the ecu tune to the driver? Are they saying only one person can drive a car now? What about if my wife uses it a few times? Can I expect rubbish performance as it assumes it's me and is wrongly tuned? I can't understand how tuning to the driver makes any sense at all. Cars from hire companies must be almost having a nervous breakdown!!

I have to say i've also noticed occasional vast differences in economy on my commute. I accept that on a wet day i consistently see a 1-2mpg drop , but one in ten journeys, conducted in largely the same manner (28 miles, 26 of it very lightly trafficked dual carirageway, cruise control set to the same speed) does seem to throw an oddball (lower) figure.

After 18k miles my apparent economy has improved, but in fairness i think this is down to my more leisurely driving style over the last 5-6k miles than any loosening or improvment in the engine. I've concluded that slowign up 5mph improves my overall mpg by about 3-4mpg, so on a roads i tend to keep to 55mph on the cruise and on my commute 67mph. Reasonably long journeys, and this restraint can get me almost 800miles from a tankful. Over on the vwaudiforum there is another Golf owner with the same car as myself and they consistently get 58-60mpg, but they admit to driving outside of the rush hour and being in no rush at all. When i queried my economy with my local vw dealer, they showed me their service managers car, which was used for virtually the same commute as me - if i believed internet forums that bigger engined 2.0 140bhp car should be doing 58mpg even when driven at 80mph, yet their car driven with reasonable restraint showed the long term average of 48.6mpg

It seems most mosdern cars are similarly affected by poor real world mpg - every car forum has a vast range of fuel figures for the same car, but different owners and driving styles. A quick look on www.fuelly.com shows the same degree of variation whether it be a Toyota Yaris or a Merc S class CDI.

If the OP is that adamant a new Yaris will meet the manufacturers claims then i suggest they get an extended test drive in one, and see what that reveals.

And for what its worht Skoda's customer service seems to have gone the way of the vw parent company.

Hello,

I'm not sure the Yaris would give the manufacturers claims, it's just that my previous did, so I have some history there. Maybe all cars are now the same and they all fail miserably. I don't know. However, it seems changes made to improve fuel economy and emissions etc. are doing the exact reverse. No matter how much you clean up the exhaust, it's always got to be better to travel further on the same amount and whilst companies are promising better mpgs these days, they seem to actually achieve less than before. It's all very well saying we have to wait 5,000 miles or more, but that's at least 6 months of motoring!!

Sounds like you are doing ok Alan. Most people with the CR1.6 are quite happy with the fuel consumption, but some are not too pleased at present. There isn't a clear explanation as to why there are variances at the moment but it could be a combination of things. It will be sorted no doubt.

The sweet spot for your engine, if new, will not be very apparent for some while yet. When you have covered 2-3k you will start to realise where the engine is happiest. You are right not to worry about fuel consumption just yet. It's far more important to concentrate on bedding in the engine first, in the way you describe. The running in process is not a very fuel effecient way of driving either, so you are doing very well indeed to get 53mpg on a tight engine. keep us all informed if you can please. Glad you like you car.

Dempsek, you've hit the nail right on the head. The driving style is THE major thing to get a grip of to get good mpg. And everyone thinks they are a normal driver with 10, 20, 30 40 years of driving experience. Yet everyone drives with sometime vastly differing techniques. Some dangerously fast, some slow, etc etc. So how could the EC tests be changed to give a realistic figure. In short, they can't, not to suit everyone. That's why a universal standard was adopted years ago that all the manufacturers have to use as a yardstick. It's just that though, a yardstick, a general guide. Some can achieve the figures, yet some never will even if they drove the same car as someone else who did make the figures on the same journey. We are all of differing abilities and all have different perceptions of what normal driving is, what economical driving is etc etc. Without trying too much I can easily achieve the figures that Skoda quote in my handbook. My wife struggles to do that in our car in some instances inspite of being a very good advanced driver with over 30years experience. My observation on this is that, ironically, she doesn't drive fast enough. Yes...whilst she doesn't actually labour the engine at anytime, she drives just a bit too slowly at times to keep the engine in it's 'sweet spot' and thus using more fuel in our case. For example, she will cruise in 5th at 60mph instead of at 65mph where the engine is much happier and actually does more miles per gallon.But I'm not complaining, she feels happy at 60mph and why not! Just saying that's all...

Hello Estateman,

An interesting thing to note.........Since my software has been updated, when cruising (i.e. not accelerating), the gear change indicator wants you in 5th at 40mph!! As soon as you hit 40mph with either no acceleration, or very little, it indicates 5th required!! Exactly the same for 4th at 30 as well!! If you're correct (and I've no reason to believe you're not), Skoda don't seem to understand how to get the best out of the car. Personally, I tend to go into 4th at about 40 and 5th somewhere around 60ish.

Hello Estateman,

You're quite right of course. Regardless of what I'd like to do, the reality is I simply have to hang on and wait unless I fancy loosing a lot of money. The Skoda call centre were absolutely hopeless for both calls and emails. The dealership has done what it can, but they're a little in the middle. Skoda have checked it. What more can they do!! I must admit at the moment, I'd take 55mpg (combined run) on my run as this is still reasonably ahead of the Fabia. Euro V is obviously a disaster area for various reasons.

Funny thing is, my car seems to be doing much better mpg around town. On shortish journeys (1-2miles), I can get somewhere around 50mpg. This is obvious once warmed up. It seems odd that cruising along at 70mph in 5th seems to be so much worse!! Also, the Skoda dealershop mentioned about the ecu learning how the person drives. This seems completely stupid to me. I can understand the ecu learning about the other components in the car and their exact place in the tolerances etc. But, how can the ecu tune to the driver? Are they saying only one person can drive a car now? What about if my wife uses it a few times? Can I expect rubbish performance as it assumes it's me and is wrongly tuned? I can't understand how tuning to the driver makes any sense at all. Cars from hire companies must be almost having a nervous breakdown!!

Hello again Mike. I know where you are coming from. Chopping it in so soon costs mega money so hanging on is best no doubt. Oh, one thing to just mention (a reminder really) is that you will be running on winter diesel now, just like we all are. You may know this already. This will easily knock 3-5mpg off your total figure for each gallon of fuel used. Petrol engines also have winter petrol and this too can knock there figures but slightly less so than with diesel. So my guess (and this may not be any consolation at the moment) is that your car is able to do much better economy now than you think. On summer diesel you would be running nearer to 60mpg I would guess. With regard to your ECU learning, this is something all cars do now, petrol or diesel. It happens for several reasons but the main idea is that the car tunes itself in to your style of driving and adapts the engine efficiency to your driving style. It is adaptive so if you wife drives in a very different style it will learn her style. It does take a good few miles to do so however. Even if you alter your driving style it will learn that style afte several days but it needs to be substantially different as I understand it and the tuning in is only slight after the first 3,000 miles have passed. The ECU can be reset if desired and the whole learning process can be gone through again if required.

So although your ECU will have stopped learning you have been hit by 'winter diesel' so you can not see any real benefit at present. However, your engine will continue to loosen and improve for both power and economy. And while you may not be able to see it just yet, I'm quite confident that you will be back on the board in 2-3 months saying you are hitting really good fuel figures with relative ease. I say that because just about everyone I know has been worried about fuel consumption when they first got their CR1.6. They went through much the same process as you...having the car checked, found nothing wrong, sort assurance from Skoda etc etc and then found everything that Skoda told them was correct and their fuel consumption was fine...but only after 5,000 to 6,000 miles! Even then it has gone on improving for two of my ex-colleagues who now get incredibly good figures but both of them have 15k plus on the clock now and their engines are just getting better and better. So please Mike do keep posting. It's helpful. Errr...sorry to witter on a bit!

Errr...sorry to witter on a bit!

Without wanting to appear rude, could you please cut down on the soothsaying...

You definitely are starting to sound like a broken gramophone record... an SUK marketing man...errmm...someone with too much spare time on his hands

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by xman

Can someone explain how the ECU learns how someone drives? I'm going to guess that it prioritises giving the driver what you want - ie an extra squirt of fuel if you're prone to labouring the engine perhaps? Seems to be a lot to ask of a new owner - on top of correct running in being crucial for achieving the design efficiency, we now have to "train" the ECU to manage the engine efficiently, indirectly without a clue how to do it?

Looks like the manufacturers are happy to heap responsibility on the driver, when we clearly think if this car is so clever, why can't it do a better job than my old stupid one of simply delivering more miles per gallon?

Can someone explain how the ECU learns how someone drives? I'm going to guess that it prioritises giving the driver what you want - ie an extra squirt of fuel if you're prone to labouring the engine perhaps? Seems to be a lot to ask of a new owner - on top of correct running in being crucial for achieving the design efficiency, we now have to "train" the ECU to manage the engine efficiently, indirectly without a clue how to do it?

Looks like the manufacturers are happy to heap responsibility on the driver, when we clearly think if this car is so clever, why can't it do a better job than my old stupid one of simply delivering more miles per gallon?

It's quite the reverse actually Alan. Just drive the car normally for the situation and the ecu will just learn. No need for you to actually concern yourself with trying to teach it. It takes account of the running in process all on it's own. We all want better cars, this is just one of the ways we get better everything.

Hello Xman...yes my posts are a bit long on this thread, but no different to many of the others. I try to tell it like it is. This is my area of expertise, the area I have 30years of training and experience within. It certainly doesn't make me an expert, but I do know a thing or two. I've seen and had to deal with just about every car and engine problem you can imagine and some you can't. Frequently it's the owner at fault and not the car. Sorry if you don't like what I'm saying (or the way I'm saying it)...but I hope it is of some use to some people. Please don't read it if you are a bit tired of hearing about fuel consumption concerns. And no, I've never worked for Skoda Uk or any of their dealerships. Yes I have quite a bit of time on my hands at the moment.

Soothsaying....??? it's a bit like me asking you not to moan. Have a good un!

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by Estate Man

Both the kids are off school due to snow and I decided to do a bit of work on mpg. I know from driving my Citroen I got 75% of listed mpg and I decided to look at http://www.spritmonitor.de a (I think) Dutch fuel website to work out MPG against book.

Car Fuel Euro book ave lts/100 Calc MPG Users % of Book MPG

Toyota Prius Petrol 74 5.1 55 137 75%

Honda Insight Petrol 5 64 5.55 51 18 80%

Skoda Greenline II Diesel 5 83.1 4.61 61 70 74%

Skoda Greenline Diesel 68 4.66 61 30 89%

Golf Bluemotion Diesel 5 67 5.9 48 7 72%

Seat Ibiza ecomotve II Diesel 5 80.7 5.07 56 9 69%

Seat Ibiza ecomotve Diesel 74 4.66 61 21 82%

Toyota Yaris Diesel 5 67 4.73 60 14 89%

Mini Diesel 5 74.3 5.3 53 4 72%

Sorry for the format, haven't worked out how to add a table.

It clearly looks like Euro 5 is having a big impact on real world mpg with exception of the Yaris - even the Hybrids with their Electric engines have a big variance in mpg.

Back to my previous comment the testing standard needs looking at the get a better reflection of Euro 5 and the real world.

I've just bought a Skoda Fabia 1.6 CR TDI 90bhp and am getting appalling fuel consumption. I've read various entries on here about the mpg improving, but generally the people are starting within 50's mpg (normally middle to high) and going into the 60's and even, according to one post, the 70's. My story is slightly different. I am currently getting around 48mpg and with the cold weather, this appears to be decreasing slightly towards 45-46mpg. My car has about 1400 miles on the clock and the mpg has been consistent from the start at 48mpg. I understand that during running in, the car should gradually get a better mpg, but I'm starting from a much lower beginning than others on here and something like a 35% increase would be required to get to anything like a reasonable figure.

I should add at this point that I drive almost exclusively on dual-carriageways with some roundabouts and a small section of single-carriageway. In general, I'm looking for something around the combined figure.

Compared to my old car (a Toyota Yaris 1.4 D4D), the fuel economy is appalling. The Yaris had slightly worse economy figures (combined 64mpg) and always achieved between 60-65mpg on this journey, from brand new. This is a Euro III engine from a 10 year old (at least) design. Therefore, I was looking forward to getting something around the combined figure for the Fabia. If the Fabia achieved anywhere between 60 and 65mpg, I would have accepted it. However, the 48mpg is just so low. My wife also has a Ford Galaxy 2.0 TD 140bhp (new shape Mark III), a Euro IV engine and can achieve 50mpg with ease over the journey and that's a much bigger engine and much heavier car.

I'm currently in dispute with Skoda as the figure is ludicrously low and nobody can offer me anything near a credible reason why. Additionally, unless it improves, I'll be spending another £750 a year on diesel over my old Yaris. At the moment, the purchase looks like a mistake of epic proportions. If the car had started in the 50's (preferably middle to high), I would continue and see how it pans out, buoyed by the entries on here explaining how it goes up. However, as it hasn't even left the 40's at the moment, the rise required is enourmous.

Your comments and advice would be most welcome.

P.S.

In every other respect I think the car is great, but I simply can't afford to have something drinking this much diesel, especially with prices rising all the time.

Dear Mike,

We bought a Skoda Fabia 105BHP in August. Our previous vehicles were a Skoda Octavia 4x4 2.0 and a Toyota Yaris1.4 diesel.We now have just the one vehicle which we thought should be just as economical as the Toyota was. It is proving to be no less economical than the Octavia and not a patch on the Toyota. My wife regularly got 70mpg out of the Yaris and I always got between 45 and 50mpg out of the4x4 Octavia. According to the trip computer we are typically getting between 42 and 48mpg - very rarely creeping to 50mpg. We have covered 5500 miles since the last week in August. We live in a rural area and do almost no town driving - on that basis I would expect the combined figure as a minimum.

We have complained to the dealership, but got nowhere. I am now considering taking this to Skoda UK.

Have you taken your complaint yet to Skoda?

Regards,

John

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by John Hyde

Without wanting to appear rude, could you please cut down on the soothsaying...

You definitely are starting to sound like a broken gramophone record... an SUK marketing man...errmm...someone with too much spare time on his hands

Without wishing to appear rude either I think that you are out of order here Xman.

I think that Estate Man's comments are helpful, useful and knowledgeable and I, for one, am grateful for the efforts he makes to help posters on this site.

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by Eastbournian

7,500 miles since 2 September, fuel consumption is no better than it was, still around 54mpg, still only 3 mpg better than my 2.0TDi Passat. I have had the car back to the dealers, they say nothing wrong. I have written to SEAT, after 2 weeks they replied ... due to driving styles etc ... Take the car to the dealer to be checked... Advised them I had already been to the dealers, I also advised them (again) that with my driving style I could achieve combined figures, also suggested they re read my letter. Two weeks later an email suggesting I should take the car to Arnold Clark. I replied stating the car was purchased from SG Petch. Still no reply probably because it was only last week I responded.

It seems like they have a standard 2 weeks before they reply! I also am not happy with the number of DPF regens the car has done. When it does a regen It is not very nice to drive! I've not had this problem with other cars, my opinion is the DPF is a waste of space!!

Dear Mike,

We bought a Skoda Fabia 105BHP in August. Our previous vehicles were a Skoda Octavia 4x4 2.0 and a Toyota Yaris1.4 diesel.We now have just the one vehicle which we thought should be just as economical as the Toyota was. It is proving to be no less economical than the Octavia and not a patch on the Toyota. My wife regularly got 70mpg out of the Yaris and I always got between 45 and 50mpg out of the4x4 Octavia. According to the trip computer we are typically getting between 42 and 48mpg - very rarely creeping to 50mpg. We have covered 5500 miles since the last week in August. We live in a rural area and do almost no town driving - on that basis I would expect the combined figure as a minimum.

We have complained to the dealership, but got nowhere. I am now considering taking this to Skoda UK.

Have you taken your complaint yet to Skoda?

Regards,

John

Hello John,

Ohhhhhh yes. I tried various routes through their call centre, but this is pointless. In the end, I threatened to simply dump the car back with them and demand my money back. That got some attention. However, Skoda are simply saying its OK. Unfortunately, fuel economy is one of those things you can't prove one way or the other and isn't an absolute. I think the idea a car tunes to the driver is preposterous, but they constantly say this. If the driver changes, what happens then!! If the style is sufficiently different, apparently it relearns..... Seems quite stupid to me.

I think you should give Skoda some grief just to let them know people aren't happy. If their cars (and maybe other makes) aren't going to make their fuel economy figures for many thousands of miles, they need to state so and be honest. They seem to believe they can sell something under a false pretence (mpg) and then simply deal with complaints by saying wait a bit. Wish I could do that in my business :-)

Goodness me Mike. This thread has become a monster..............

7,500 miles since 2 September, fuel consumption is no better than it was, still around 54mpg, still only 3 mpg better than my 2.0TDi Passat. I have had the car back to the dealers, they say nothing wrong. I have written to SEAT, after 2 weeks they replied ... due to driving styles etc ... Take the car to the dealer to be checked... Advised them I had already been to the dealers, I also advised them (again) that with my driving style I could achieve combined figures, also suggested they re read my letter. Two weeks later an email suggesting I should take the car to Arnold Clark. I replied stating the car was purchased from SG Petch. Still no reply probably because it was only last week I responded.

It seems like they have a standard 2 weeks before they reply! I also am not happy with the number of DPF regens the car has done. When it does a regen It is not very nice to drive! I've not had this problem with other cars, my opinion is the DPF is a waste of space!!

Hello TSIDSG?,

Skoda really seem to have poor customer service at the moment. Problem is, they sell an awful lot of diesels and I imagine a large number of people are complaining, so they're probably snowed under. The regen process us fine on my car if you're driving at speed. However, if it starts whilst I'm on the dual carriageway and carries on when I get onto local roads, the turnover becomes really rough. Seems like the engine is under strain and just about to stall, but it never has. Without doubt, the DPF is the most useless piece of technology invented for some time. I don't care if it cleans up the exhaust or not; it's just not sensible and unless you're doing regular long runs, it requires special runs to clean it which is preposterous......

Both the kids are off school due to snow and I decided to do a bit of work on mpg. I know from driving my Citroen I got 75% of listed mpg and I decided to look at http://www.spritmonitor.de a (I think) Dutch fuel website to work out MPG against book.

Car Fuel Euro book ave lts/100 Calc MPG Users % of Book MPG

Toyota Prius Petrol 74 5.1 55 137 75%

Honda Insight Petrol 5 64 5.55 51 18 80%

Skoda Greenline II Diesel 5 83.1 4.61 61 70 74%

Skoda Greenline Diesel 68 4.66 61 30 89%

Golf Bluemotion Diesel 5 67 5.9 48 7 72%

Seat Ibiza ecomotve II Diesel 5 80.7 5.07 56 9 69%

Seat Ibiza ecomotve Diesel 74 4.66 61 21 82%

Toyota Yaris Diesel 5 67 4.73 60 14 89%

Mini Diesel 5 74.3 5.3 53 4 72%

Sorry for the format, haven't worked out how to add a table.

It clearly looks like Euro 5 is having a big impact on real world mpg with exception of the Yaris - even the Hybrids with their Electric engines have a big variance in mpg.

Back to my previous comment the testing standard needs looking at the get a better reflection of Euro 5 and the real world.

Hello Dempsek,

A really interesting post. Shows a couple of interesting points. As you say, the Yaris is really interesting, although the website has figures for both the earlier Euro III and the later Euro V models. Interestingly, the mpg remains almost unchanged. However, for other cars, the later Euro V cars are far worse than the earlier Euro III and IV cars. The above table shows it brilliantly. Look at the Seat and Skoda eco/greenline models in generation 1 and 2. To me, the above table shows the latest TDI cars simply can't match the fuel economy of the earlier PD cars.

Goodness me Mike. This thread has become a monster..............

It has indeed. Guess Skoda should be taking some notice as it probably demonstrates the issues being experienced.

It has indeed. Guess Skoda should be taking some notice as it probably demonstrates the issues being experienced.

Unfortunately, my mpg has now started declining exactly as various posters have said, presumably due to the cold and different, winter diesel. So, my fuel consumption has now officially moved from appalling to totally unacceptable. I think I may be going back to the dealership, but may have to take other routes as well. Previous experience tells me Skoda customer service simply don't get back and seem totally useless, so I'm thinking of approaching the managing director/chief executive (whichever is appropriate) of Skoda UK, or even of the whole company. Loads of people are reporting this issue across the whole VW group range. I'm far from the only one and from other peoples tales, you either get a good one, or a bad one which doesn't seem to pick up. Whilst I wasn't surprised to see mine perform worse, I did expect the whole loosening/running in process to maybe counteract that and leave me flat. But no. I've been given the usual flannel about wait until 5000 miles. I don't regard that as acceptable.

Interesting point though is the computer readings which I will post, probably tomorrow. Whilst I appreciate the computer is not completely accurate, I would expect readings to be reasonably consistent from one day to another, albeit over or under reading a bit as appropriate. Since I've started recording the computer readings from my journeys going to and from work, it has become obvious that two apparently identical journeys can produce completely different results. Either the computer is actually a random number generator, or the engine seems to perform differently from day to day under the same circumstances. Also got a really strong smell of burning rubber during a regen (I assume it was that as the tickover remained at 1000rpm despite being stationary) again. Not the first time and the dealership can't find an issue. I really find the regen process quite unpleasant. Either there's a really strong smell of rubber, or there's a more 'normal' smell of burning (sort of woodish), but it gets into the cabin. I have the fan going bringing in air from outside, but I would expect this to come from the front of the car and not get the smell of the regen process. I have a feeling there may be a leak somewhere on the exhaust path (maybe manifold or similar), but 'nothing can be found, everythings OK'!!

I really am getting so irritated by this heap, I'm seriously considering getting rid of it and taking the financial hit now rather than over the coming years. I can get a small petrol that will do better and I'm sure there must be diesels around that will provide much better service. My Ford Galaxy has a 2.0TD engine and outperforms the Fabia on mpg, so I would have thought a Fiesta would do rather well. Anyone have any experience of them?

Mike

I used to own a 2006 Fiesta 1.6TDCi, it was a very economical car. I regularly used to exceed the quoted combined figure. The last three tank fulls (before it was written off by a truck changing lanes!!) was 70, 71 & 70 MPG Ohh how I wish my SEAT would get somewhere near the quoted figure never mind exceed it!

I too am extremely pi55ed off at the number of DPF regens my car has done. When a active regen is underway the car is NOT nice to drive. It is back to the dealers on Thursday but I do not hold out any hope for a resolution.

My car has now done 8000 miles and fuel consumption is still no better at less than 54MPG, that is only 3 MPG meter than I got from a 2.0 TDi Passat!!

SEAT UK Customer service is non existent, I send a letter in October, a couple of weeks later I get an email response. I reply immediately then have to wait another 2 weeks before an email response. Last week i sent another letter, this time addressed to the head of Customer Services, I have still to receive a reply. I have told them I'm on the verge of rejecting the car as unsuitable for the purpose I bought it for!!

Wish I bought another Fiesta!!!

Mike

I used to own a 2006 Fiesta 1.6TDCi, it was a very economical car. I regularly used to exceed the quoted combined figure. The last three tank fulls (before it was written off by a truck changing lanes!!) was 70, 71 & 70 MPG Ohh how I wish my SEAT would get somewhere near the quoted figure never mind exceed it!

I too am extremely pi55ed off at the number of DPF regens my car has done. When a active regen is underway the car is NOT nice to drive. It is back to the dealers on Thursday but I do not hold out any hope for a resolution.

My car has now done 8000 miles and fuel consumption is still no better at less than 54MPG, that is only 3 MPG meter than I got from a 2.0 TDi Passat!!

SEAT UK Customer service is non existent, I send a letter in October, a couple of weeks later I get an email response. I reply immediately then have to wait another 2 weeks before an email response. Last week i sent another letter, this time addressed to the head of Customer Services, I have still to receive a reply. I have told them I'm on the verge of rejecting the car as unsuitable for the purpose I bought it for!!

Wish I bought another Fiesta!!!

Hello,

I'm rather coming to the conclusion that the VW group are all talk, whereas other deliver. My Toyota Yaris was great, your Ford Fiesta is great, my Ford Galaxy is great etc.etc. All Skoda have ever done is say it will get better after x miles. I've dealt with companies like this before (national and multi-nationals) and in my experience it's pointless going to anyone but the chief executive/managing director/chairman. Everyone else just makes excuses and has very little remit to do anything. Regens on my Skoda aren't noticed at speed, but if you slowdown, the engine tickover becomes all lumpy and it appears about to stall all the time. I know it's the law, but DPFs are stupid, stupid things. Let alone having to do special journeys to clear them!!

I'm not sure what to do now as I'm pretty sure Skoda won't do anything. Do I carry on and pay gradually through the months and years, or chop it in now for something decent? Not really sure. From what I can make out, the Ford diesels appear pretty solid. My Galaxy returns 50mpg+ on a long run and that's giving it a good boot now and then. One thing I've noticed on the Fabia is that it is significantly worse on mpg at speed. Around town, the figures aren't at all bad, but once you start cruising at 70mph, it simply can't do it. I'm wondering if this has something to do with only having 5 gears. Whilst they are longer than normal, I don't think 5th is high enough. I've been trying to find out the ratios, but can't. The Fabia sits at 70 in 5th at about 2000rpm. The Galaxy would be doing 80 at least at 2000rpm, it's gearing is definately higher.

For me, it looks like Skoda/SEAT/VW have tuned their cars to do well in the fuel economy tests, not do well under normal conditions. If you look at the extra-urban test, very little time is spent at anywhere near 70mph, so to my mind, it isn't really extra-urban!!

Good luck with the dealership and if you want my advice, forget the head of customer services and go straight to the top man. I've had some fun with customer service directors etc. before now, but never got a resolution before the chief exec etc. MInd you, making the other directors and managers look like idiots can be satisfying. Personally, I would start sending them bills for your time and costs etc. That's what I've done for other things in the past. Had one chairman try to palm me off with half my costs. Wrote back asking for the other half and then charging them for the additional letters. He paid in full and a grovelling apology!!

Mike

If you look at the extra-urban test, very little time is spent at anywhere near 70mph, so to my mind, it isn't really extra-urban!!

Perhaps you have unrealistic expectations? The extra-urban test is more akin to single carriageway A- and B-roads than it is to motorways and dual-carriageways.

I've been considering fuel consumption recently on our Mk1 Octavia with a PD130 engine - traveling at a fairly constant 55 mph in 6th gear on a motorway or dual-carriageway seems to get close to the best fuel consumption (~ 60 mpg) which I attribute to three main factors. First that the engine speed is below the point where the turbo is having any significant effect, second, losses due to drag or wind resistance are significantly reduced compared with traveling at the speed limit and, third, by careful planning there is little need to brake or accelerate.

This was particularly surprising as I'd noticed the fuel consumption had risen since the onset of the cold inclement weather, but I imagine this was as much to do with the style of my normal driving. I would think keeping the speed down, keeping engine revs low and relatively constant, avoiding accelerating and braking will improve consumption on most cars. It's not the most enjoyable way of driving, though, but if that's your goal ...

Conversely when driving spiritedly on minor A- and B-roads the consumption appears to be in the mid 40s mpg, which I think is quite reasonable when compared to a reasonably powerful petrol engined car, (which I'd expect to give mid 20s or so). The long term average appears to be perhaps 5% below the official 'combined' figure. Since a fair proportion of my driving is more 'dynamic' than what is probably used in the official testing, I'm satisfied with what I get.

However, given the problems with diesel engines meeting Euro IV and Euro V requirements, I'd think very carefully to be certain that my usage pattern was appropriate before buying. And from a pleasure of driving point of view I haven't yet found a CR-engined car that I've liked.

This topic has been a very interesting read with plenty of input.

I can only dream of some of the figures quoted here, even when driving like a granny im struggling to hit 35mpg(actual calculations, not the trip computer) on my PD105 at the moment and have been wrestling fuel economy for a while

This topic has been a very interesting read with plenty of input.

I can only dream of some of the figures quoted here, even when driving like a granny im struggling to hit 35mpg(actual calculations, not the trip computer) on my PD105 at the moment and have been wrestling fuel economy for a while

I had the same altea as you reference sport 1.9tdi 105pd,lovely around corners cracking but on the open road terrible on the glutius maximus,mpg terrible my old octavia 1.9tdi was far superior to the altea in every way,bought a superb instead of it and I regularly get 54mpg,although the superb is superb its just to big for us as there is just me and the missus ,so we are going for the new fabia elegance with the 1.6cr tdi 105bhp with all the toys

Perhaps you have unrealistic expectations? The extra-urban test is more akin to single carriageway A- and B-roads than it is to motorways and dual-carriageways.

I've been considering fuel consumption recently on our Mk1 Octavia with a PD130 engine - traveling at a fairly constant 55 mph in 6th gear on a motorway or dual-carriageway seems to get close to the best fuel consumption (~ 60 mpg) which I attribute to three main factors. First that the engine speed is below the point where the turbo is having any significant effect, second, losses due to drag or wind resistance are significantly reduced compared with traveling at the speed limit and, third, by careful planning there is little need to brake or accelerate.

This was particularly surprising as I'd noticed the fuel consumption had risen since the onset of the cold inclement weather, but I imagine this was as much to do with the style of my normal driving. I would think keeping the speed down, keeping engine revs low and relatively constant, avoiding accelerating and braking will improve consumption on most cars. It's not the most enjoyable way of driving, though, but if that's your goal ...

Conversely when driving spiritedly on minor A- and B-roads the consumption appears to be in the mid 40s mpg, which I think is quite reasonable when compared to a reasonably powerful petrol engined car, (which I'd expect to give mid 20s or so). The long term average appears to be perhaps 5% below the official 'combined' figure. Since a fair proportion of my driving is more 'dynamic' than what is probably used in the official testing, I'm satisfied with what I get.

However, given the problems with diesel engines meeting Euro IV and Euro V requirements, I'd think very carefully to be certain that my usage pattern was appropriate before buying. And from a pleasure of driving point of view I haven't yet found a CR-engined car that I've liked.

You may be right. Maybe we're being unrealistic, but it's the manufacturers that are touting round all these sky high figures and then complaining when people don't get it and complain. The Euro V regulations are obviously a disaster, as are DPFs. It would appear Euro V cars cannot return anything like the mpg of Euro III and maybe IV cars. The most annoying thing about this all, is that other manufacturers are able to get much higher mpgs than the VW group. Don't know why, don't care really. That's their problem. I'm sure these VW group cars would be much better off with a sixth gear to lower rpm at higher speeds. The diesel engines have more than enough torque to counteract wind resistance.

This topic has been a very interesting read with plenty of input.

I can only dream of some of the figures quoted here, even when driving like a granny im struggling to hit 35mpg(actual calculations, not the trip computer) on my PD105 at the moment and have been wrestling fuel economy for a while

Now, you really are concerning me!! Are you talking 35mpg on a PD105 Fabia? What sort of trips are you doing? I would expect better than that with the car idling on my drive!! That's preposterous. How many miles has it done?

Personally, I suspect there's a fault with my car. Sometimes when driving, it appears pretty loose and easy running and sometimes it appears really tight and suffering some drag. Not sure why. Don't think it has anything to do with DPF regens. Basically, if I'm doing 70mph and take my foot off the accelerator, sometimes it drops really slowly and sometimes it's much more rapid. Doesn't seem connected to wind speed or any other factor I can find. Interestingly, the higher mpgs are normally associated with the more loose feeling. I'm beginning to wonder if the brakes aren't dragging a little sometimes. However, the car isn't pulling, so it would have to be either both rears, or both fronts. Think a call to the dealership might be worthwhile and get them to check. Not sure what they'll be looking for mind. I assume excess heat and blueing of the metal would be the sign? Anyone know?