Gentlemen,

Just taken delivery of my 2002 Black Octavia vRS but already a 'problemito'. On the way back home, a good 12 mile trip, my trip computer MPG was totally erratic, even when sustaining a constant speed for a mile or two. Basically, the computer would show anything from 16mpg to 129mpg (:confused:), changing at almost 2 SECOND intervals!!!

Having test driven the Octavia 3 times previously (other showroom cars), I have seen a steadier figure (roughly 36mpg and 44mpg depending on driving), so my guess is the above isn't normal. Does anyone here have an idea of what's going on?

Rich

P.S. I'm heading back to the garage right now (and I'm 6'9".......)

You wouldn't have the trip computer showing "instantaneous" MPG rather than average would you?

The average has a circle with a line across it somewhere on the display...

Rob.

Rob,

That might be possible . I'll go back to the car now.

What's the use of instantaneous mpg then?

Big Rich

P.S. I take back the bit about going to the garage (but I am 6'9" ). Never been much for RTFM, sorry [programmers, hey?...]

Hmm...well, it shows you how much fuel you're using at that time - so if you want to scare yourself, switch to it when you pull up to some traffic lights then do a "full throttle" start. Normally hangs somewhere below 10mpg for much longer than I'd like!

Other than that I can't really think of any uses...

Rob.

Sounds like Rob hit the nail on the head.

BTW, what is the purpose of the "instant mpg" readout?

If I'm trying to save fuel, I'll reset the counter and then use the average MPG to see how I'm doing...

The instant mpg does sod-all IMHO - apart from possibly just showing what a slight dab of the throttle does, but I don't believe it's realistic - It's probably just part of the calculations worked out to give the overall average, I think?

( Like I'm doing 300mpg when I lift off, and 10mpg when I floor it....? )

It acts as an econometer if you want to experiment and see how driving style/throttle usage affects fuel economy. But the figures it gives on a cold morning in traffic whilst the engine is warming up have to be seen to be believed!

MPG should be much better than that when you lift off, Jason! My fuel consumption drops to zero when I do that.

I sometimes wonder if it shouldn't be disabled for security. My old man had an octy about 4 years ago and I loved looking at the computer display - more than looking at the road ahead. Did produce a few unwanted :shocked: expressions from time to time

I know it can be intruiging looking at that random number generator, but keep your eyes on the road

Denis - One benefit of having a diesel - It seems to know you'll NEVER do worse than 10mpg.

PS: I guess it depends what gear you're in too - flooring in fifth gives 15 as worst, but in first or second I suspect it's below 10 (But then I also need to concentrate more on where I'm going if I'm flooring it in first or second gear..., not so in fifth)

Originally posted by DGW in this post

figures it gives on a cold morning in traffic whilst the engine is warming up have to be seen to be believed!

Argh...tell me about it, live near a school. Every morning it's out of the driveway, round the corner, sit in traffic...or at least that's my excuse for poor fuel economy...

Rob.

Originally posted by robmawer in this post

Argh...tell me about it, live near a school. Every morning it's out of the driveway, round the corner, sit in traffic...or at least that's my excuse for poor fuel economy...

Rob.

Aaah - The joys of living where I do.

Leave driveway - "Where are the cars?" 3 miles empty "bendy with straight bits" A road - 60mph average - Then 20 miles dual carriageway - sit there at 80. THEN I hit the town traffic but only takes about 10/15 minutes at worst to cover 3 or 4 miles.

[ps: don't mean to boast but after seeing the M6 around Brum during rush hour... :(]

Tsk...I managed to get my best ever fuel economy on the M6 in rush hour! Just over 45mpg - mainly 'cos it was so busy that I couldn't ever go much over 60...

Rob.

60? - I don't even remember getting into double figures for about 6 or 7 miles. (I think I hit it at a bad time)

I know what you mean though - If I get caught in 60mph tourist traffic before a bank holiday weekend, I'll often get close to 60mpg on my way home) - But then I'm too busy trying to shift those grockles out my damn way to look at the computer.

Originally posted by tfboy in this post

I sometimes wonder if it shouldn't be disabled for security. My old man had an octy about 4 years ago and I loved looking at the computer display - more than looking at the road ahead. Did produce a few unwanted :shocked: expressions from time to time

I know it can be intruiging looking at that random number generator, but keep your eyes on the road

I quite agree, it fascinates me when im on motorway, batting along at a nice steady sedate 80-90 (well it FEELS steady and sedate) with cruise control on, armrest down, and some good music playing

I have mine on and keep flicking between average and instant, and when cars pass me, I cant help chuckling to myself and thinking how much fuel they using, then have another look and its usually between 50 and 60 mpg on mine....oh look, there goes another beemer doing 18 to the gallon :D

I'm sorry to say but the best overall mpg I've ever got was on the way back from Edinburgh the other weekend due to the sheer number of speed cameras on the A1. On the way up I had fun with beemers and the like but then spotting a camera and slamming the anchors on does not make a smooth journey. Apart from anything else it's just bad driving. On the way back I just took it easy. I left the hotel thinking 'I really must fill up' but I was nearly in Berwick before I eventually did.