TwinAir fuel efficiency is nothing to write home about. Our former 0.9 TA, was no better on fuel consumption than our current 1.2 i10, and that averages around 48mpg. Many TA owners, unless you're driving like an utter snail with perfect braking and gear changing, have complained that the real world mpg figures are absolutely no where near the manufacturer 'in house' test figures. I also thought that auto boxes were generally less fuel efficient? hence why they attract a higher tax bracket? I once drove 360 miles in an autobox Vauxhall Corsa, it was utterly horrendous and the fuel consumption wasn't great at all!
I've driven a TwinAir a maximum of 235 miles here in the UK, just over four hours, and at the end of the journey, I was absolutely knackered. Bear in mind, I would do that same journey normally, in a very comfortable Saab 9-3 and arrive after a 4 or 5 hour journey considerably more relaxed than having done the journey in a car as small as the 500.
The TA, indeed all of the 500 models, for me, would only ever be a city car with the occasional longer journey. I genuinely don't know how owners can use the 500 as a long distance commuting vehicle, but everyone has their own opinion. We don't even use our i10 for long journeys, it's primary number one use, is the wife's 10 mile each way commute to work with the odd 40 miler thrown in. That being said, we were in South Africa recently and hired an identical i10 model to our own at home. It was actually nice to drive over reasonable distances of a couple of hundred miles, unlike the TA!
I think the key to any longevity of any vehicle, is regular servicing. If one is intent on using a vehicle, any vehicle as a commuting tool, then I'd personally go for more frequent oil and filter changes. Unfortunately, the TA is fitted with a rather expensive oil filter which then requires a reset in the ECU using diagnostic gear, a total utter faff in my opinion. I'd also agree about fitting much better plugs than the factory fit plugs.
