Tempted

[st4]

That's a good description. I've nothing against 500bhp cars, but think that if there had been the right advances in engines we should be able to obtain that with higher efficiency.

25% efficiency at best is pretty woeful for any piece of engineering.

I suspect it's trying to gain that extra efficiency that drives Mactech for better fuel economy figures. It's the challenge of obtaining the best he can....and then bettering it.

They will, once we're in electic cars either going down the fuel cell route or the Li-ion battery route.

However he can still try and drive the CLS 55 in a fuel efficient manner and work the best he can with what he has. He can also enjoy the performance that the car offers combined with its luxury - no mean feat in engineering itself.

 

[Dieselman]

However he can still try and drive the CLS 55 in a fuel efficient manner and work the best he can with what he has. He can also enjoy the performance that the car offers combined with its luxury - no mean feat in engineering itself.

On one of the organised fuel economy events the challenge is to obtain a figure better than the manufacturers stipulated figures. The one with the highest percentage gain wins.
I read that one chap won in a Chrysler Voyager petrol, because by driving economically, coasting, and in particular switching off at stoppages he bettered the official figure by over 30%.

He chose a poor economy car because it savings made by switching off had a greater impact...

So a challenge for Mactech would be 53mpg from a CLS55 AMG..

 

[st4]

So a challenge for Mactech would be 53mpg from a CLS55 AMG..

If its a 100% down hill run then maybe just...

Personally with a car like that you enjoy it for what it was and what it was designed to do, and designed not to do. Fuel efficiency was never in that repatoir, drama + speed with comfort were.

 

[Howard]

Boring Boring Boring ..... foot down , listen to the noise .....

 

[A210AMG]

Seems a little sad that you loved it but its 'just' the fuel that's put you off?

Surey over a year this is not a huge difference? Your only here once so enjoy it while you can. No comment on the bike as they just don't appeal to me no matter how quick.


Thats the good thing about my present car it does 16 to 28 mpg and averages around 20mpg so when I do change almost anything is the same or better

How many miles will you do now? I worked out the difference getting 20mpg / 30 mpg etc and its not much over 7K miles (which I do)

 

[Mactech]

It's a little more complex than 'just the fuel'!
Everyone has different needs, likes and dislikes.
I figured with less miles overall I might need to have the awesome AMG experience on tap during most of my driving. But after driving the car that on the road I was more worried about getting caught speeding than really enjoying the car.
I also felt guilty about the amount of energy being used rather than elated.
Cost is an issue, but not an overriding one.
I have spent 40,000 road miles being paid to drive a Jaguar XJ220 so the performance is no real suprise, I just find my values and needs have changed.
I'll go to the track to enjoy performance and on the road I want to travel with the least stress possible. So the S Class stays.
The prevoius CLS55 owner had traded it for ....an ML320 CDI
Horses for courses

 

[st4]

It's a little more complex than 'just the fuel'!
Everyone has different needs, likes and dislikes.
I figured with less miles overall I might need to have the awesome AMG experience on tap during most of my driving. But after driving the car that on the road I was more worried about getting caught speeding than really enjoying the car.
I also felt guilty about the amount of energy being used rather than elated.
Cost is an issue, but not an overriding one.
I have spent 40,000 road miles being paid to drive a Jaguar XJ220 so the performance is no real suprise, I just find my values and needs have changed.
I'll go to the track to enjoy performance and on the road I want to travel with the least stress possible. So the S Class stays.
The prevoius CLS55 owner had traded it for ....an ML320 CDI
Horses for courses

Fair do. It probably isn't the car for you. I wouldn't feel too guilty about the wasted energy, its your fuel (as you paid for it) and yours to use as you see fit. A diesel engine is more energy efficienty, but compared to electric motors powered by battery or fuel cells they are pretty wasteful in comparison.

 

[A210AMG]

Thats fair enough, sorry I mis read and thought it was mainly the fuel issue as no v8 is going to be 'good'

Maybe just fit the brabus chip to your current car, best of all worlds. Does everything you want but a little extra when you want it.

 

[Mactech]

Thanks, I think my current S class would beat a Brabus chipped car for both power and economy
I learnt a little whilst doing the diesel landspeed record for JCB

 

[st4]

I learnt a little whilst doing the diesel landspeed record for JCB

I've seen your car @ Gaydon. Very nice.

 

[Howard]

Go on .....

What have you done to it then ?

 

[A210AMG]

Yes please tell.

 

[Mactech]

Digital optimisation. The base map is here:

http://www.superchips.co.uk/pdf/powercurve/S320CDI235bhp.pdf

But it is very much work in progress and we have moved on a little more now.
More than that I can't say!

 

[Dieselman]

Does the fuel economy reading still read accurately after your upgrades.?

 

[Mactech]

Within 2% on my last tank to tank check, but it was not my regular fuel station so the car could have taken a smidge more or less than normal to top it up.
Done over 500 miles so far this week on the current tank of fuel so still another 300+ miles before I will check again!

 

[DSLiverpool]

I love my CLS55, its 3 in April and will be the oldest (main) car I have had in years but I cant think of anything to swap it with (plus its lost shed loads of £) at any price.

The sense of occasion and the fun of the engine are key plus its well mannered and up to a long cruise or ten, I note the backend skips a bit due to the stiff chassis I guess.

To be honest the ONE car I do have in my sites is a CL63 but at what £ ??