True - maybe they are set up to make the car owner feel good !!! My only experience of them was back in 1971 when I had an Escort RS fitted with a 3 litre Capri GT engine (by Superspeed)

They told me "Gosh, you're getting 92 bhp at the back wheels!" 92 out of 3 litres!

I would almost give my right arm to have a car like that in mint condition today. I love the old Escorts!

I would almost give my right arm to have a car like that in mint condition today. I love the old Escorts!

I had 2 (not at the same time!) When I started work I got a secondhand Escort GT they'd fitted with a 1.6 engine (from Cortina GT I think). Then after getting some cash together got my first 3 litre one, based on a Lotus Escort twin cam. They improved it a year or so later by doing the same to the Escort RS so I traded in. They did other things like Koni shockers and rally lights up front.

Then I got married and landed back on Earth !!!

Considering the 1.4 TSI performance, I've investigated the air intake ducting this afternoon by removing it to see what can be done to increase airflow into the air fliter box and there seems to quite some scope for improvements which coupled with a performance air filter may release a few more horses.  Will let you know how I get on.

I had 2 (not at the same time!) When I started work I got a secondhand Escort GT they'd fitted with a 1.6 engine (from Cortina GT I think). Then after getting some cash together got my first 3 litre one, based on a Lotus Escort twin cam. They improved it a year or so later by doing the same to the Escort RS so I traded in. They did other things like Koni shockers and rally lights up front.

Then I got married and landed back on Earth !!!

Sounds like great fun! The old RWDs was great fun. My first car was a 1.6 Cortina. It was amazing in snow. Drifting like crazy

I've not got to the air intake ducting as yet but, niether have I forgotten it.  However, I've recently had to shift some second hand paving slabs we brought off ebay because I'm tighter than a Nun's chuff, they were £266 cheaper, I have a trailer/towbar and a pressre washer.  Anyway, that liitle 1.4 can pull weight as well as shift, 40 at a time I thought was reasonable but, having weighed a slab I found they are 17Kg each !!!

 

Then last night in an emergency for a mate, we towed a double axle car trailer with an old S plate Astra on it which I thought may have pushing the boundaries but, no she huffed and puffed but, got through it all, not that I'd recommend it.

If you changed the reading from mpg to litres/100 then the 0.0 reading on overrun is factually accurate.

I guess the system has a problem when set on mpg for showing 'infinity and beyond' (apologies to Buzz Lightyear).

I find the instant readout essential for economic driving. On a flat road you can driving steadily at 60 kph showing 4.5 l/100 and you can ease back to 3.7 l/100 and still maintain speed. Doesn't sound much but that is nearly 20% less. The greater consumption was actually giving you barely discernable and unnecessary acceleration.

Cruise control does a pretty good job on the flat but is less efficient in hilly terrain.

 

 

Spot on. I always have it on instant economy too and as you say when I see it at 20 litres I take my foot off a bit

I've just done the numbers on my last tank. The readout is showing me averaging anywhere between 53-56. Dividing distance covered by gallons in at the refill shows just over 47mpg. Not complaining.