Least likely economy run

[Bobby Dazzler]

This week a trip North meant that I had the pleasure of driving at 60 MPH for mile after mile of the M1 between Nottingham and Leeds, much of which is controlled by average speed cameras.

When the speed limits were lifted I left the cruise control set to 60 MPH for the rest of the motorway journey. Just before we got off the motorway we touched 25.5 MPG over a distance of 130 miles.

That was achieved from a cold start, and the first 40 miles or so were spent cruising at around 70 MPH on dual carriageways - I suspect I could have touched 26 MPG had I sat at 60 MPH for that initial stint.

Remarkable for 10 year old 6.2 litre SUV. The most I've seen before was 22 which was very short lived on a drive to the South of France. Otherwise, taking it very easy on the motorway typically yields 20.0-20.5 MPG



Car: 2007 W164 ML63 AMG with M156 engine

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Here is the old girl:

 

[gunning]

Very impressive.... I always sack it off after 20 miles though, get so bored of eco

 

[CabrioDave]

Oh dear, 25 mpg nowadays sounds frightening to me! (Though it's about what my E220 does.)

Back in the 1980s, my 450SE took me 3 miles to work, through Hong Kong traffic jams. On the way home, just as I got ready to turn into my flat, the traffic would be clear enough for it to change ... into second! I used to get 9 mpg.

Road works on the M1 meant a steady 100 miles for me too recently, in my (daily driver) Skoda Superb. I pulled up at Luton airport reading 73.1 How times change.

 

[Darrell]

I'm getting an average of 22 mpg in the Jaaaag.

 

[clk320x]

Driving up M1 tomorrow to Huddersfield. How much of it is average speed check

 

[ringway]

This week a trip North meant that I had the pleasure of driving at 60 MPH for mile after mile of the M1 between Nottingham and Leeds, much of which is controlled by average speed cameras.

When the speed limits were lifted I left the cruise control set to 60 MPH for the rest of the motorway journey. Just before we got off the motorway we touched 25.5 MPG over a distance of 130 miles.

That was achieved from a cold start, and the first 40 miles or so were spent cruising at around 70 MPH on dual carriageways - I suspect I could have touched 26 MPG had I sat at 60 MPH for that initial stint.

Remarkable for 10 year old 6.2 litre SUV. The most I've seen before was 22 which was very short lived on a drive to the South of France. Otherwise, taking it very easy on the motorway typically yields 20.0-20.5 MPG

View attachment 63261

Car: 2007 W164 ML63 AMG with M156 engine

That's very good going indeed, Rob.

I think I might have seen 18.6 once (although I might be dreaming) on my Range Rover 4.2SC which is 2 litres smaller than your ML.
The regular figures I get are between 16.5 and 17.5 and usually to the lower of that range. I still love my RR, though.
Best thing I have ever bought.

Did you ever flirt with the idea of buying a Range Rover?

 

[zipdip]

I think this 60mph thing could become the norm,did something similar on my way to Benz on the Green this year,but did my normal speed on the way home and my S320 returned 38mpg,most I have got out of her,the thing is I added about 20 mins to the journey most of my journeys are now not time related so who knows,and for those who think it would be boring try this on a A duel carriageway set the cruise control to 60 and see how long you can keep it on cruise before you have to brake or accelerate,it keeps you right on your toes.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

That's very good going indeed, Rob.

I think I might have seen 18.6 once (although I might be dreaming) on my Range Rover 4.2SC which is 2 litres smaller than your ML.
The regular figures I get are between 16.5 and 17.5 and usually to the lower of that range. I still love my RR, though.
Best thing I have ever bought.

Did you ever flirt with the idea of buying a Range Rover?

Cheers Paul. Yes, seeing 25.5 MPG was truly exceptional, and once I could see the MPG creeping up I did deliberately do what I could to keep it creeping! Day to day driving is much lower. I'll check our long term averages later.

We've flirted with the idea of Range Rovers a few times over the years, both full-fat and sport, but we've never actually owned one. I think the ML has become a default for us now, because we've been driving them for years.

I think it might dangerous to try one too, because so many people say that once you've had a Range Rover, it's difficult to go back to something else!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Driving up M1 tomorrow to Huddersfield. How much of it is average speed check

Errr, quite a lot. There's the early stretch from the M25 to Bedford ish, and then again, between Nottingham and Leeds. Get a drive-they Starbucks, set the cruise control, sit back and relax.

The CLK320 is the perfect car for cruising looking cool

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

for those who think it would be boring try this on a A duel carriageway set the cruise control to 60 and see how long you can keep it on cruise before you have to brake or accelerate,it keeps you right on your toes.

I know exactly what you mean.

When towing I play exactly the same game, maintaining speed and therefore momentum is good for fuel economy and even more so when towing. It also means that I'm hopefully not getting in anyone's way and holding them up.

 

[clk320x]

Errr, quite a lot. There's the early stretch from the M25 to Bedford ish, and then again, between Nottingham and Leeds. Get a drive-they Starbucks, set the cruise control, sit back and relax.

The CLK320 is the perfect car for cruising looking cool

Hey.

I drive N'hampton to London daily on M1 they have now removed the average check at Bedford as they have now completed and opened the A5 link junction

Will keep an eye out for the average check past Nottingham

Thanks

 

[NigelOB]

My W140 S280 would drop into single figure round the doors and 18-19 on motorway run.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Darrell]

Hey. I drive N'hampton to London daily on M1 they have now removed the average check at Bedford as they have now completed and opened the A5 link junction Will keep an eye out for the average check past Nottingham Thanks

That must be a savage daily commute.

 

[clk320x]

That must be a savage daily commute.

Haha yep it is quite far but the CLK and it's automatic gearbox is brilliant. Silly smooth and comfortable. 320 not too bad on fuel either.

 

[clk320x]

Got up to Huddersfield MB and collected the part. All good. Just hoping that's the end of my xenon nightmare

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Hey. I drive N'hampton to London daily on M1 they have now removed the average check at Bedford as they have now completed and opened the A5 link junction Will keep an eye out for the average check past Nottingham Thanks

This is why I'm glad I live at the beginning of the A45, straight onto the A14 to the A1

Although I came back via M1 the other day the queues by Luton are still a joke

 

[clk320x]

This is why I'm glad I live at the beginning of the A45, straight onto the A14 to the A1

Although I came back via M1 the other day the queues by Luton are still a joke

Yeh Luton is always congested.
How is the A1 at 7 ish?

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Yeh Luton is always congested. How is the A1 at 7 ish?

It's great, however I fear from Northampton down the A45 you'd only get stuck in worse traffic. I can't stand the A45 in the morning

Rushden/Irthlingborough roundabout is always clogged, then you have the works at the old Skew bridge thinning traffic out, then for some unknown reason traffic comes to a halt between the McDonald's roundabout at wellingborough and some point after the Earls Barton sliproads by the petrol station and I've never understood why! There's no roundabouts there, no busy sliproads, it's like a magical road block

 

[clk320x]

It's great, however I fear from Northampton down the A45 you'd only get stuck in worse traffic. I can't stand the A45 in the morning

Rushden/Irthlingborough roundabout is always clogged, then you have the works at the old Skew bridge thinning traffic out, then for some unknown reason traffic comes to a halt between the McDonald's roundabout at wellingborough and some point after the Earls Barton sliproads by the petrol station and I've never understood why! There's no roundabouts there, no busy sliproads, it's like a magical road block

Yep the A45 always seems to be blocked! I drive past J15 which is M1 link to A45 and there is always a queue. Just yesterday I took the A45 to get to MB Northampton and there had been an accident making a 10 min journey over 40 mins.

I live around 1 mile from the M1. Morning it's taking me between 1.5-2 hours to get to Junction 4.

Return is normally ok around 1 - 1.5 hrs. After Junc.13 end of variable speed limit and then it's brilliant