rangie Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 hello all comming back to cempervaning after 25 years looking for an economic van 4 berth or bigger not much info on older mpg was thinking of 1.9 talbot open to suggestions cheers rangie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapido-lass Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 HI Rangie and welcome I'm afraid I'm not much use on the tech side, but I do know that the modern engine is far more economical than the older ones. This unfortunately carries a larger price tag. We had a Fiat 2.8tdi and now have a Fiat 3lt 160bhp and this is far more economical, we average 29/30mpg fully laden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 it's difficult to compare a hightop will be more fuel efficient than a low profile, a low profile will invariably be more fuel efficient than a coachbuilt, etc. However, the most likely scenario is that if you drive aggressively, whatever you drive, you will use more fuel. A light right foot is much better on a heavy coachbuilt than a heavy foot on a hightop van. Also, 1.9 is way underpowered for many coachbuilts and you will use the engine more to keep at the same speed as a more powerful, bigger engine. I can get an average of 15mpg out of my motorhome if I thrash it along at top speed (95+mph) but pottering about on motorways at 55 gives me 25mpg. With any diesel, keep the revs at between 2-2500 and you will be running it at its most fuel efficient. And no heavy braking! Think ahead and try to keep momentum up. Using sensible driving techniques I can get 70mpg out of my petrol car - with a 35l tank I can get over 500 miles before filling up if I try hard enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Compared to the cost of buying one and the worry of getting the layout and condition right, the mpg is in my view a minor consideration? Budget on around 25 mpg and guestimate how many miles you expect to do each year. Then work it out again based on 30 mpg and see if the difference will make or break your fun factor? If it will, you may have to consider limiting your use or buying a very small and economical van? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duetto owner Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 find a cruise control motorhome for more saving of petrol. we travel very early so traffic is very light and hit cruise control on 65 mph and get good results in or ford hi top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapido-lass Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Tracker - 2009-07-08 10:29 AM Compared to the cost of buying one and the worry of getting the layout and condition right, the mpg is in my view a minor consideration? A very valid point Richard, when using your motorhome the layout and obviously condition is the major factor. It's no good having the most economical mpg on a motorhome that the layout is totally unsuitable for your purposes. An unsuitable layout can't be changed, but you have the choice to play around on the mpg a tad. Like most of us we can then try and get best mpg depending on if we have time to go slower and whether we are fully laden etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 duetto owner - 2009-07-08 12:33 PM find a cruise control motorhome for more saving of petrol. we travel very early so traffic is very light and hit cruise control on 65 mph and get good results in or ford hi top. cruise control is not as economical as a driver paying attention due to the very nature of cruise control and how it works. It does not take into account incline (either up or down) and merely keeps you at a steady speed, regardless of road conditions and incline, so you waste fuel going uphill as well as down, where you could be coasting and building up speed naturally for the next incline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Cruise control might make a marginal difference to mpg but it's primary function is to relieve ankle ache on long runs - by which I mean hundreds of miles each day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Tracker - 2009-07-08 1:56 PM Cruise control might make a marginal difference to mpg but it's primary function is to relieve ankle ache on long runs - by which I mean hundreds of miles each day! as someone who has driven 45000 miles a year and still does 25000 in a variety of vehicles, I have never found the need nor urge to have cruise control! I find buying a comfortable vehicle and taking sensible breaks every couple of hours to be the best method of not getting ankle ache! I drove 160 miles with a broken ankle and foot and it wasn't too uncomfortable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapido-lass Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 messerschmitt owner - 2009-07-08 3:01 PM as someone who has driven 45000 miles a year and still does 25000 in a variety of vehicles, I have never found the need nor urge to have cruise control! I find buying a comfortable vehicle and taking sensible breaks every couple of hours to be the best method of not getting ankle ache! I drove 160 miles with a broken ankle and foot and it wasn't too uncomfortable! I for one do have cruise control my vehicle, I choose to have it as it does give my whole leg (ankle, knee, hip) a rest on long journeys where to use cruise control is relief to be in a more comfortable position. It is not that I have an uncomfortable vehicle, but as I have long legs (longer than many tall men) and no vehicle is 100% comfortable for me in a price range that I am willing to or can afford to pay. I also know of other people who use cruise control for similar reasons - back problems etc. I do however have concerns that you knowingly drove a vehicle with a broken ankle and foot and seem quite proud of the fact. I'm sorry but I find this kind of action and statement irresponsible in my eyes. I am also in the belief that your insurance would have been void had you been involved in an accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 messerschmitt owner - 2009-07-08 3:01 PM I find buying a comfortable vehicle and taking sensible breaks every couple of hours to be the best method of not getting ankle ache! I drove 160 miles with a broken ankle and foot and it wasn't too uncomfortable! Congratulations! You must be the size of the 'average' man for whom all vehicles are designed to fit comfortably! If you can drive a Boxer / Ducato (old model) all day with breaks and not get ankle ache you are indeed a very fortunate chappie! Personally speaking I find a cruise control makes for a more enjoyable high mileage holiday and I commend the idea to the house! There's no right or wrong - just different! Now where have I heard that before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffers Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 our fuel consumption varies by about 5m[pg] depending on whether we're in holday mood - ie wandering round France Germany Netherlands etc - 50 <> 60 mph or having to drive from A to B in this country, 60 <> 70 mph interspersed with 10 <> 40 mph just get the van that best suits your circumstances first - then worry about fuel rates ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorquingOfCatsUK Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 An interesting thread; when it comes to fuel consumption for diesels there is the option of tuning. The fitting of a tuning module is a very effective means of achieving:- 1/ a significant improvement in mpg 2/ a major increase in torque As an example, the 2.8 litre JTD Ducato-based motorhome will gain on average an additional 4-5mpg when hill-climbing simply by plugging in a tuning module. The other big benefit is the substantial improvement in overtaking performance with the increased torque. The reports I have from owners of the 2.8 litre JTD 127bhp speak very highly of the increased safety factor with the 2.8 sailing past slower traffic compared to struggling to pass using high revs, or even having to abandon an overtaking manoeuvre. The UK diesel tuning specialist Torquing Of Cats has easy to fit modules available for virtually all of the motorhome range eg Fiat Ducato 2.0 litre, 2.3, 2.8, 3.0 litre, Peugeot, Ford TDCi etc. If anyone would like further details or specific performance gains please let me know. Regards, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 What even for the 1.9 Talbot? D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Rapido-lass - 2009-07-08 3:10 PM I do however have concerns that you knowingly drove a vehicle with a broken ankle and foot and seem quite proud of the fact. I'm sorry but I find this kind of action and statement irresponsible in my eyes. I am also in the belief that your insurance would have been void had you been involved in an accident. I didn't knowingly drive with a broken ankle - I didn't find that out till I got to A&E the next day and they x-rayed it! I assumed it was sprained, albeit badly. I was also driving late at night on a motorway (M20, M25, M4, A419), with no traffic whatsover. And yes, I never found a problem driving my old Talbot Express with a swivelling seat! What you are all saying though (those of you with cruise) is that you drive with your feet away from the pedals? What effect does that have on reaction times I wonder. If we're going to have this holier than thou attitude, I guess we should have a think about the consequences of your foot not being roughly where it should be (in the vicinity of a pedal at an angle where it can press the stop pedal very quickly if needed)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 messerschmitt owner - 2009-07-13 3:45 PM What you are all saying though (those of you with cruise) is that you drive with your feet away from the pedals? What effect does that have on reaction times I wonder. If we're going to have this holier than thou attitude, I guess we should have a think about the consequences of your foot not being roughly where it should be (in the vicinity of a pedal at an angle where it can press the stop pedal very quickly if needed)! Well actually no - we are not saying that we drive with our feet away from the pedals - it was you who said that! Cruise control does allow one foot to be removed from the throttle pedal and, in many cases it is kept just as handy for the brake pedal. Indeed if the right foot does not first need to back off the throttle before hitting the brake it could be argued that there is little if any difference in reaction times either way and more would depend on driver alertness and ability that where his foot was as the first touch on either clutch or brake immediately reduces the engine speed to tickover - and in probably less time that it takes to shift right foot off one pedal and onto t'other.! The other foot is where it always is - close to - but no on the clutch pedal. So lets have no more of holier than thou philosophy from anyone and just agree to differ shall we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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