Feasable MPG?

[dozypillock]

What MPG would be feasible in the "real" world on a C209 320 Elegance 2003 model) ?
I do a lot of short trips mostly ( less than 2 miles) during the week, then try to give it a clear out at weekends. Try to do at least a 20-30 mile blast, giving it a lot more revs and warming it up properly etc to clear water out of the exhaust and clean the brake disks off of the rust (due to living within reach of sea spray).
Best I have seen has been 16.9 MPG on normal work run, dropping to 13 or so, if I leave it running for a while when I get there, as do not want battery to get too low.
Got 21.6 towing a caravan to Hastings recently, which I thought was good, compared to the focus that did worse, although it was obviously working harder.
I was surprised I managed to break traction (until the EBS cut in), in the dry, during that tow, with 800KG towball weight, whilst getting out at 2 roundabouts. It seems to go almost as quick with the van on the back, so was not "sparing the horses".
It towed well, I think, so suspect short journeys, in traffic, will have abysmal fuel consumption?

Neil

 

[claggy001]

Well, my normal commute is only just over a mile each way & during the week I use the car to potter around town. Under these conditions I see 20-23 mpg.
I recently had to take the car on a 67 mile journey to an MB specialist. On that run I was achieving 35+ mpg. Admittedly that was with a gearbox problem (speed sensor) so was taking it gently, but not dawdling.

 

[MancMike]

I think your "leaving it running for a bit" is what's killing your MPG, as you're doing zero, bringing your average crashing down.

In a 2 mile trip, your alternator should have easily replaced the juice pulled by the initial start...

I do similar 4~5 mile commute either way and I manage 18~20 mpg from my 3L V6 petrol and that's being quite brisk, and all inner city driving. I can get 35mpg on the motorway, but I never am.

 

[Mbstarz]

I get on average 24-27 around town in my c220 cdi which I'm not impressed with.. However on a long run at 65-70mph I can achieve 45mpg over a 50 mile journey for example. As said before, leaving it idle will kill your average.

 

[claggy001]

One thing I do notice about my commuting mpg is that in the morning, when I have to manoeuvre cautiously off my drive I achieve around 20 mpg.
When I leave work in the evening, where I can jump in the car & drive away, on the return journey I get 22-23 mpg.

 

[MancMike]

Yep, keeping the car moving is key. Creeping around a drive is akin to leaving it idling, it does terrible things to your average.

Mine varies by about 4mpg based on if I get a good run with the lights and traffic, or not, over my commute.

 

[rorf]

2 mile commute - get a bicycle

 

[johns E350]

2 mile commute - get a bicycle

Or even get some exercise and WALK

 

[shadrack]

im doing similar with ml63 and averging 17 mpg

 

[paulshep69]

im doing similar with ml63 and averging 17 mpg

I don't think some people believe how economic the 6.2 engine can be, I usually average 20-21 mpg round town and have managed a 28.3 mpg on a 170 mile run with the wife as my cruise control.

 

[NiC63]

I'm averaging 18mpg with my 209 AMG.
On a long run i managed to achieve 26mpg

 

[alexanderfoti]

I average 10-13 mpg on my cl55.... My average rarely goes above 9mph

 

[abecketts]

Our 2.6 e240 will average 23/24 around town and 31mpg on a sensible run, I know tis not the best engine Merc made for economy and I think the 320 and 430 petrol could beat it on a run in mpg terms, perhaps I'll make the right choice next time.

 

[moonloops]

2 mile commute - get a bicycle

Bit harsh!

Get a bus ticket