As you may know my car is a daily, but it is also modified, 1.8T, remapped, various bits and bobs and an o2m 6spd from an S3. Oh and LPG. Every time something breaks it gets an upgraded replacement. But as well as improving performance it has usually lead to an improvement in economy.

Because of the mileage I have to do in my job I am looking seriously at further economy improvements that can be made. Being a 4x4 it was originally running 288 discs and I am now going back to these as it means I can run 15's for the winter. The 15's of choice for this are the Audi A3 pepperpots which are a forged alloy that weigh on average 10lbs less than the equivalent 16's or 17's (I picked up a set of five for £51 yesterday and already have winters to go on in 195/65/15). The total weight saving is over 42lb but more important is the rotational mass reduction on the front end. A similar swap on SWMBO's A2 yielded staggering improvement in economy.

I am interested if anyone has any other mods for economy that they have done or considered?

On the aero side of things I have refitted the missing plastics from the underside, mine was missing the front corner plastics and the sides that hold the lower front shield but I don't yet have the largest piece that goes under he engine block itself. I have the retrofit aero wipers front and back.

I know on the A2 there are wheel arch spoilers and covers for some bits of the exhaust available from Audi (like were fitted to the 1.2 3L A2)

I am interested if anyone has any other mods for economy that they have done or considered?

buy a cheap diesel and keep the 4x4 for the weekend

No way. Far too much fun rocking down the m5 at "insert weighty speed here" and getting 60+ mpg. Just trying to push it toward an easily achievable 100mpg+ at a steady 60. Best at the moment is avg of 80-85 at 60 over a long run.

No way. Far too much fun rocking down the m5 at "insert weighty speed here" and getting 60+ mpg. Just trying to push it toward an easily achievable 100mpg+ at a steady 60. Best at the moment is avg of 80-85 at 60 over a long run.

take drugs....oh wait...i think you are already!!!

tape up grills (ensure engine has extra cooling) keep windows closed, take out all the interior, disconnect haldex fuse, run 2wd, that will save a few mpg

I've always liked the idea of a big electro-magnet mounted on the front of the car

Driving in the vortex behind a lorry can save you $

Cruise control

lobotomy

I have improved the airflow on the smic by changing the front vent (cut away the plastic and used a mesh to stop stones) also did the wheel arch mod. This mod needs to stay as it makes a difference when hooning it and i will one day get around to fitting the other side as well I suppose I could make some sort of clip on covers for when I want max economy but I am looking at what can I do relatively cheaply to improve things. I am considering masking the rad vent with some of the black plastic. And I am still looking to get the last of the under trays from a tdi. Would love to be able to get rally style underbody protection for aero benefit as well as protection but it ain't cheap!

When I get the exhaust down pipe done I might get the fake cat as well. Can all be heat wrapped and maybe aluminium covers like the A2

dont forget if you do blank the rad grill, you will take away vital cooling air from the engine, so you need to compensate with better cooling, ie a decent bolt on bigger fan

I've always liked the idea of a big electro-magnet mounted on the front of the car

Proper James bond style economy mod hat one

Driving in the vortex behind a lorry can save you $

Driving at a safe distance behind can also save, I prefer box and sprinters at 85 though

Cruise control

It's on the list for easy driving without having to fight my lead foot

lobotomy

Felt like i already had one today sat at 25 on the one stretch of the m5 where they are doing the central barriers

dont forget if you do blank the rad grill, you will take away vital cooling air from the engine, so you need to compensate with better cooling, ie a decent bolt on bigger fan

The rad is able to deal with quite a bit covered over as some people put a front mount in he way and lots of hyper milers block the vents a lot

take drugs....oh wait...i think you are already!!!

tape up grills (ensure engine has extra cooling) keep windows closed, take out all the interior, disconnect haldex fuse, run 2wd, that will save a few mpg

If I can save enough I might be able to buy some?

I tend to run with windows closed when at speed as its not a pretty site when a stone or bumble bee makes contact with an eyeball, seen some bad ones with the bikers over the years. Interior has to stay as it still needs to be usable, although the rear seat backs weigh a ton! NO NO NO. Haldex is a must, and one day hope to get hold of a bluey, missed a couple cheap on eBay now.

Would love to be able to get rally style underbody protection for aero benefit as well as protection but it ain't cheap!

track style underbody aero kit, britcar style

KERS unit

If I had won the lottery maybe. I would also then have a 2.0 big turbo Quattro A2

How about WRC stubby wing mirrors ?

They are a bit thin on the ground. I think that someone did research that showed mirrors on arms away from the main flow around the body work better though. But they would be an improvement over the standard ones. Might also look at using A2 mirrors as they are a bit smaller and a more aerodynamic shape. Also more of them available than the Wrc ones

Another car on the list for a lottery win that though 300bhp 600Nm sequential box, pure awesomeness

Go on a Diet, get your self down to 3 stone. That will improve MPG

Remove all seats apart from drivers

Wonder if you could use a digital boost controller to have a mode whereby you can cut boost (stop turbo reach full boost)

Might compensate for lead foot

Anyone ever tried combining water meth and lpg ?

I have considered some sort of switch to "remove" the n75 which should then force the turbo to be limited only by the wastegate setting which is about 3PSI? I have also wondered about the WakTT boost machine but located in the cabin so it can be dialed down for daily driving (works out about £140 for all the bits though so not a 'pikey' cheap mod)

Remove all four mud flaps

Make sure all the engine undertrays are in place correctly (sounds like you're on that)

Remove the rear wiper (only if it's a hatch)

Cut the aerial in half

Wax the car to death

Good 205 tyres at correct pressure

Always drive in a vacuum

Only ever drive down hills

how much of an effect do the mud flaps have and are they as bad if a wheel spoiler is in place in front?

still looking for the last tray and hoping to get some aluminium sheet as well

dont really want to remove rear wiper as it does get used occasionally (it has been changed to retrofit aero though), although all windows have been treated to Gtechniq G1 and car does get cleaned and polished so it sheds water very well when its raining, and at speed

tyres are going to be 195 as I have always found it a bit over tyred, especially when running on 225's also going to winters but eventually will be all seasons and pressure will be over by 10% at least, I do test pressures to find the best balance of grip and wear.

considering a sharkfin style antenna but its a lot of work for such a small gain. maybe when all other mods are done.

Sellotape on all panel gaps to reduce drag coefficient.

http://www.ecomagnets.com/motoflow.htm

Phil

Sellotape on all panel gaps to reduce drag coefficient.

Some sort of sealant would be good around the windscreen but must be able to remove if screen needs to be replaced.

How are you getting 80mpg at 60mph in a 1.8 turbo + Remapped + 4x4? Realistically that should see you at 40mpg.