Technical Twin-Air MPG

[Super Uwe]

Lol...I had a weird dream last night and I am sure this thread must have contributed to it!

I have no idea what the context was, but basically I read somewhere that Fiat had decided to do something about the "issues" with the TA engine in the 500L. Their solution? To chop 40cm off the back of the car and fit it with a TA engine that has 80bhp.

Apparently this solution was well received within the motor industry.

All I know is that I need a holiday and a break from FF!

 

[Pandabloke]

45mpg brim to brim last tank. However that included my mate collecting me from Gatwick and driving there and back like a knob at 55mph, a round trip of 125 miles.

Just done a round trip of 260 miles at more sensible speeds (70-75). Tank two thirds empty and mpg trip showing 46. Not horrendous, but when the urban figure should be 49, I kind of think I should be beating that easy on a run. Should be nearer early to mid fifties, I kinda hoped.

 

[Pandabloke]

42.5 brim to brim last tank. Computer said 44.5.

250 mile round trip motorway plus local work. Still no where near satisfactory. It's going in for a dicky sixth gear selection and a rattle in the door on Wednesday. Will mention disappointing mpg to them then.

 

[simon willgress]

42.5 brim to brim last tank. Computer said 44.5.

250 mile round trip motorway plus local work. Still no where near satisfactory. It's going in for a dicky sixth gear selection and a rattle in the door on Wednesday. Will mention disappointing mpg to them then.

How many miles has it done so far?

 

[Pandabloke]

Hi Simon. She's done just over 4000 miles now. Was expecting a continued improvement but she seems to have settled in low 40's mpg. Not even getting the 49mpg urban figures as an average. Heartily disappointed.

 

[simon willgress]

Hi Simon. She's done just over 4000 miles now. Was expecting a continued improvement but she seems to have settled in low 40's mpg. Not even getting the 49mpg urban figures as an average. Heartily disappointed.

I'm sorry to hear your not having the experience you hoped.
The twinair in the 500 is the 85hp power plant so my figures are not a far comparison.
Have you tried the diesel version or does that not appeal to you?

 

[Ulpian]

But changing a car is an expensive business.

Plus, there is a 120 Diesel on the way and I'd expect the consumption on that to be better than the 105. However, the price is going to be,

 

[Pandabloke]

Only just bought Elsie brand new. I bought her cos she was cheaper than the 105 diesel and SUPPOSED to be almost as economical. I'll stick it out either for a year and see if they'll let me trade to a diesel or move away from Fiat completely. I'm so disappointed, she's no more economical than my old 120 multijet diesel Multipla. And that had 125,000 miles on it.

 

[simon willgress]

Fingers crossed that she will get better with age.
Twinair's do seem to improve with millage. Although it maybe that we become more conditioned to how the engine behaves and what's best to deliver an improved mpg.

 

[JTD_Liam]

We've only got mid-late 40's to the gallon out of our 500 TwinAir over 18 months/18,000 miles, so I wouldn't imagine a 500L TwinAir getting more than mid 40's over the long term.

I'm a bit surprised you got sucked in by the high MPG marketing associated with the TwinAir. It's a decent engine but there's been tonnes of posts about the distinctly average MPG on here so I'm surprised you didn't just go for another diesel.

The 1.6 Multijet would've matched the Multipla, and feels very strong in the 500L. The 1.3 Multijet is competent rather than amazing, but if you don't hammer it you could well get very impressive mpg from that one.

 

[Pandabloke]

I'm a bit surprised you got sucked in by the high MPG marketing associated with the TwinAir. It's a decent engine but there's been tonnes of posts about the distinctly average MPG on here so I'm surprised you didn't just go for another diesel......

Unfortunately I couldn't find anything about 500L twin air economy when I looked initially. Also I've never before had a problem driving a car and getting pretty close to the advertised economy figures. I never dreamed that I wouldn't be able to achieve even the lowest advertised economy figures in day to day use.

It never crossed my mind to swap to the 500 forum and check on the twin-air figures there. I have to admit that was a bit remiss of me. I had heard that when thrashed, the twin-air figures tumbled, but I didn't realise how dreadful the average consumption figures are against what's advertised.

And from memory, the equivalent diesel was a fair bit more pricey, unfortunately.

 

[MJG]

And from memory, the equivalent diesel was a fair bit more pricey, unfortunately.

They are, and I reckon you would have to do a fair few miles per annum to recoup the initial extra outlay.

They are quite peppy though ( I had one as a loan car) but I can't say how close they come to the advertised MPG figures as I didn't have it long enough.

 

[Pandabloke]

Yes I drove a 105 diesel and thats why I went for the twin-air, cos of the 105bhp. It was certainly lively enough. Again though, too expensive for me.

 

[Super Uwe]

Unfortunately I couldn't find anything about 500L twin air economy when I looked initially. Also I've never before had a problem driving a car and getting pretty close to the advertised economy figures. I never dreamed that I wouldn't be able to achieve even the lowest advertised economy figures in day to day use.

It never crossed my mind to swap to the 500 forum and check on the twin-air figures there. I have to admit that was a bit remiss of me. I had heard that when thrashed, the twin-air figures tumbled, but I didn't realise how dreadful the average consumption figures are against what's advertised.

And from memory, the equivalent diesel was a fair bit more pricey, unfortunately.

I can tell from the tone of your posts that you really aren't happy with the performance of your TA so far.

All I would say though is give it another five or six months; by that time I'd imagine you'd have crept up to 10,000 miles, but more importantly the warmer weather will be on the way.

Might sound like I'm clutching at straws, but your car is still very new - relatively speaking. It wouldn't surprise me therefore if, come May/June next year, you're feeling a bit more upbeat about it!

Sure, it may never get close to achieving mid-50s on a mixed cycle. But I do honestly think it will get better.

 

[MJG]

I'd love to know the justification for the price premium a diesel commands - does it really cost 2-3 thousand more to make a diesel engine than a petrol one.

I Know the stresses involved are greater because of the compression but that much, really ????

 

[Pandabloke]

.....Sure, it may never get close to achieving mid-50s on a mixed cycle. But I do honestly think it will get better.

Thanks for that. I know I must seem like a miserable bugger. I promise I will try and enjoy driving the car and forget about the consumption figures for now!

 

[Pandabloke]

While Elsie was in for some warranty work today, I asked one of the service receptionists about the poor economy. He came back with a seemingly knowledgeable and reasonable response that things should improve after about ten thousand miles. Everything should have run in and settled down by then, he thought.

Fair enough, I'm nearly half way there. I will however keep reporting back on the economy just for info.

 

[JTD_Liam]

Unfortunately I couldn't find anything about 500L twin air economy when I looked initially. Also I've never before had a problem driving a car and getting pretty close to the advertised economy figures. I never dreamed that I wouldn't be able to achieve even the lowest advertised economy figures in day to day use.

It never crossed my mind to swap to the 500 forum and check on the twin-air figures there. I have to admit that was a bit remiss of me. I had heard that when thrashed, the twin-air figures tumbled, but I didn't realise how dreadful the average consumption figures are against what's advertised.

And from memory, the equivalent diesel was a fair bit more pricey, unfortunately.

There has been next-to-nothing in the way of reports on the 500L TwinAir unfortunately. It seems most people have gone for the diesels, and a few others have gone for the cheapest engine, the 1.4 16v. Of the 500L's I've ordered at work so far, they've all been diesel with the exception of one 1.4 16v petrol.

It is more of a new problem, cars not achieving the quoted MPG figures. Diesels seem to get closer, but even these are not exempt. I regularly get the quoted 53.3 combined MPG from my Stilo JTD, but we've never got the 67 mpg quoted from the 500 TwinAir. I think it's partly down to quotes getting more ambitious, but not helped by the increasing use of turbo petrol engines which are quite susceptible to driving style and how much you use the turbo.

It's fair to say that (as others have said) even if you get better MPG from the diesels, you might still be better off financially with the TwinAir because of its lower purchase price.

While Elsie was in for some warranty work today, I asked one of the service receptionists about the poor economy. He came back with a seemingly knowledgeable and reasonable response that things should improve after about ten thousand miles. Everything should have run in and settled down by then, he thought.

Fair enough, I'm nearly half way there. I will however keep reporting back on the economy just for info.

Our 500 TwinAir definitely got better as the miles piled on. We started off with averaging about 44mpg, and by around 10,000 miles we were upto 46. It's now on 18,000 miles and hovers around 47mpg but does go into the fifties on a run. Ours was extremely tight when new and the Eco mode now is as sprightly as normal mode was when we first got it. So don't expect miracles, but give it some time and you might start to feel more positive about it.

 

[Pandabloke]

As I said, I'll continue to report back without getting grumpy if I can. So here goes. 39mpg brim to brim, 40 on the trip. Mostly local and some ticking over to keep me warm while waiting for the mayor!

 

[soupdragon]

I really hope the figure gets better over time as I'm planning on a new Panda early next year.
At the moment I'm 70/30 in favour of the TwinAir over the Multijet. Got a 2007 Multijet Panda at the moment....

Cheers Tom