General 1.2 8V vs 16V fuel economy difference?

Currently reading:
General 1.2 8V vs 16V fuel economy difference?

Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
46
Points
19
Location
Tauranga
Hi everyone,
Just looking at buying another Punto for the Mrs. She will be doing 300KM a week just on the commute to work which is mostly open road, and then probably a bunch of other running around the suburbs etc.

Just wondering if there will be much difference economy wise between a MK2 1.2 8V punto and the 16V. The 16V one is much easier to get in NZ but if the economy is much better from the 8V I will be patient and wait for one.

Thanks!
 
Parkers 1.2 8v - 49MPG
Parkers 1.2 16v - 47MPG

Website here

To be honest, if its ALOT of open roads then a would have thought the 16v would better, more nippy and able todo cruise speed better
plus you get a 6speed box :) tasty :)

nothing says a 8v cant do it - just the 8v lacks some power the faster you go (like all cars tho)
the 16V would cope a little better

just if you do get a 16v - the history of the belt is crucial - get it changed if no history

Ziggy
 
last punto i ran i got 50mpg 1.2 8 valve over different driving types
im shortly going to run a 1.2 16 valve so will report in time
personally i would have though the 8 valve would be a lot more economical unless all your roads are hilly
 
lol im really lucky to see 40mpg in my sporting, rarely get over 36-37 and thats when im driving pretty economically. Long trips i get around 42-43 but i barely do motorway miles
 
Thanks Ziggy and others.

Oddly this time around power is not an issue as the road is not suitable for passing anyway and hills don't feature. That said given the quoted MPG is so close between them I probably won't worry too much and will likely end up with a 16 Valve. I guess what got me wondering was seeing the video on youtube of someone getting 3.5l/100km which I know I would have never got even remotely close to no matter what I did with my 1.2 16 valve speedgear. On a dead flat road with no wind at 100km/h the best I could briefly do was 5l/100km and that required a lot of effort.

Do you think the 6 speed affects MPG much? I could hang out for a sporting which is about the only 6 speed manual MK2 which is available here. I loved my previous CVT Punto but given the big milage this will do and that I will be buying a higher km one this time I think manual will suit better.

Good advice on the belt, it will be getting the "treatment" before its released to the Mrs with belt, tensioners, waterpump, oil change etc so no worries there.

Thanks again everyone!
 
Last edited:
I can reach 53 MPG when I time acceleration right and use momentum to keep me going.

On an average trip back from my work which is 23 miles with hilly roads, traffic etc, I average around 43-47 MPG.

If you put your foot down, expect about 33-35 MPG ish...at a glance :)
 
i;ve done a mile at 61mpg according to my car - it quickly slipped
But engine warm already - Rolling downhill - wind behind you in 5 gear all the way

and yes the 6speed will probably be better, as the engine works less to get upto speed
But more changes could counteract that
6speed is better for cruising i believe as the RPM is lower at 70mph then the 5speed

Ziggy
 
drove a 1.4 16 valve dynamic mk2b for 94 miles today
it was basically empty when i collected it,put £15 in at £1.38 a litre and at the end of the journey the petrol light came on again
guessing theres still 3 litres left i reckon it did a high 40's and it was driven at a consistent 56 mph nearly all motorway
:D
 
6 speed gearboxes are not always a given in 16v engines. for eg, u get the 16v ELX like mine, it is essentially the same engine as a sporting (which is the most common 16v 1.2 engines) but your running on a 5 speed gear box. ive average 42mpgs on 2 mile each way commuting a day. u will get a lil better mpg from 8v engines, but the 16v is more nippy and practical for driving imo.
 
Thanks people I really appreciate the input. Sounds like the 8V is more economical but not by much so I think we will just look out for the best car at the best price and not get too worried about which engine.

Also, on this particular busy NZ road you would be lucky to cruise with the traffic at 55 MPH so I won't get to worried about the 6th gear.

Anyhow, thanks again, you have all been most helpful.
 
I generally swap into 6th gear around 50MPH, I barely accelerate from there and allow the car to very gradually get to 60 (if I need to gain speed I'd never do so in gear 6)

Let us know what car you end up getting, and get some pictures up :D
 
I generally swap into 6th gear around 50MPH, I barely accelerate from there and allow the car to very gradually get to 60 (if I need to gain speed I'd never do so in gear 6)

Let us know what car you end up getting, and get some pictures up :D
Will do! Thanks Luca and others, I have had to put this on the back burner for the moment as the Multipla and Marea are both needing cambelts and I get married in 10 days.

SO... lots going on, but I will get back to this in a few weeks and let you know what I get and how we get on... oh and Yup I am reeeeally looking foward to changing the cambelt in the 20V Marea!
 
I did the cam belt on my Punto HGT. Oh what joy.

On busy roads, 6 gears are more hassle - too many gear shifts. TBH a Speedgear would be the best bet and its not wasteful on fuel like some older autos. Just make sure its properly serviced with the right oil. Don't over-run a 16V cam belt. on miles or age. If in the slightest doubt get it changed before using the car.

For ultimate fuel economy consider fitting an autogas conversion. They can be filled from 47kg bottles or from garage pumps (when you can find one). You still have petrol for when you cant get gas.
 
Last edited:
I have actually been considering an LPG conversion (which I assume is the same as your autogas). The great news for us is the Garage down the road from home has LPG.

I have had a speedgear Punto before and really liked it. Not so keen this time around though as its an open road run and with the massive km's its likely to do I will end up having to service the transmission at least once a year!

That and because I will be spending less than last time I bought one I am a bit weary of the speedgear in the older higher km Punto's we are looking at. Most people don't service their CVT's in NZ so its hard to find a good one.

Thanks for your input its appreciated!
 
A badly serviced CVT gearbox and chocolate teapot are both pretty useless.

LPG is your best bet. It also runs cleaner so the sump oil lasts longer. In UK we pay low fuel duty on autogas plus 20% VAT (sales tax) so save about 40% on per litre prices. We only pay 5% VAT on gas for heating so 47kg bottles are even cheaper.

These let you fill the car's gas tank
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_kw=lpg&_kw=filling
 
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Back
Top