A letter to watchdog!
Hi,
On the 14th of July this year, I bought a 1.2 turbo diesel Fiat Doblo MPV, based on my wife's good impressions of the Fiat Brand, price, size, and an amazing fuel economy (or so I thought). Quoted as extra urban 58.9, combined 51.4, an urban of 42.2, in their literature, it seemed perfect.
Once bought imagine my disappointment when a trip to france gave me 42.6 over nearly 1000 miles.
Still, I thought once all the luggage is out and we are just doing the mixed driving around us locally things ought to improve, but no; the next test was 42.3!
Then I decided to report the matter to fiat, they had the car for the day and no fault was found.
Another test physical test was done and on a full tank to reserve I got 456 miles, achieved using 49.59 litres of fuel (10.92 gallons) giving me 41.8 mpg.
A later trip to Winchester saw me achieve just 38mpg (dual carriageway and motorway).
All the figures since France were achieved with no load, and single occupancy, unless you count my 6 year old daughter Molly.
Upon complaining to Fiat I was offered a fuel consumption test which I would have to pay for, and then if a fault was found, I would be reimbursed.
I was also told by Dale at Fiat customer care, that the quoted figures were produced in test conditions in a wind tunnel (presumably it was blowing from behind), no occupancy and with no gear changes. Also the mpg figures quoted were likely to vary from those stated (but he wasn't prepared to say by how much they might)
And that was that!
I was told when I bought the car that I could expect a 600 mile range, but I get 456. This is by anyone's measure a big difference.
Can it really be the case that, I have been sold something on the basis of what appears to be misleading information, and by law I do not have recourse to any support or compensation from the manufacturer.
Can the car industry really circumvent the sale of goods act? Can they describe cars that will only achieve the figures stated for them if the owner keeps the car in a wind tunnel, and doesn't occupy the driving seat.
If so, presumably then, they could take the wheels of it, tie it to the back of a jet aircraft and then base their figures on that test too and quite legally. Surely there are rules that motor manufacturers have to adhere to? Or is it open season for the car manufacturers to con (and in my view, that's what it is) buyers in a world where we are trying to reduce our CO2 emissions, and basing our buying decisions more and more on these figures.
It is also worth mentioning , that I am paying less in road tax than most owners of the 1.9 turbo diesel version, who are in fact getting better mpg figures than me (fiat forum source), and paying substantially more road tax.
Do other manufacturers exploit this loophole?
Time to name and shame I think!
Regards,
Duncan Brown