General TwinAir Thread (including MPG)

[pkam]

I am looking forward to your observations as I am still no where nearer a test drive.

Was sent to another dealership today, 'demo' car, up on a ramp in the showroom. They will be registering it on Wednesday or Thursday of next week, but it will not be driven.

As an aside, I had to phone the dealership from inside their showroom as the place was deserted. I was there for 20 minutes waiting for someone to appear.

Cheers

D

Our test drive was quite unintentional! Avis did not have our class of hire car available in Doncaster when we called to collect for a one way to LHR. All they could supply was 500 Lounge twinair, Manual. We never seriously considered buying one. Initially surprised by the roominess inside. Felt solid and well put together. I liked the seat especially because the cushion was longer than our Focus and supported my legs better. Being a hire car (600 miles)there was no sort of handbook so I became puzzled by the stop Start system seeming to be inconsistent and being unable to figure out the rear wipers.
All these wrinkles are explained in the forum. We are now sorting out buying a new Lounge T/A ,Dual logic with additions, Is the Stability Program worth the extra? I prefer useful extras to status or bling extras.
So, all in all a successful impromptu test drive,a total of 200 miles. varying roads and weather from good to S*** and all for a cost of GBP35 and 12.5 pounds of fuel. My keyboard is part Arabic so no Pound sign.
So if you check your local Avis they may have in or can get you a 500 to play with for day.

 

[pkam]

It's high load, rather than necessarily high revs that generates high exhaust velocity and thus high turbine speed/high boost pressure. I.e. large throttle openings. Sitting at high revs with the throttle shut won't spin up a turbo. Which is why revving the engine when stationary won't really generate much boost.

Pedantic from a newbie I know but I am struggling to understand the statement "Sitting at high revs with the throttle closed" I'm not sure you can do both at the same time.

 

[306maxi]

Pedantic from a newbie I know but I am struggling to understand the statement "Sitting at high revs with the throttle closed" I'm not sure you can do both at the same time.

Well, yes you can. Obviously the revs and speed will drop over time though.

 

[deeyup]

Being in 3rd gear at 5000 rpm going down a hill with no throttle is just such a situation for example.

 

[babbo_umbro]

Depends how you interpret "sitting" I suppose.

 

[bgunn]

Pedantic from a newbie I know but I am struggling to understand the statement "Sitting at high revs with the throttle closed" I'm not sure you can do both at the same time.

Yes, you are being pedantic

 

[jonlah]

So my car was tested and nothing showed up wrong with it. They are replacing a coil but only as it has been identified to be removed at first service as routine. That may make a difference but unlikely.

 

[Jamito45]

My Punto TA (1400 miles now) is averaging 36 MPG with town driving.

How is your's getting on now?

 

[wigit]

I fancied a laugh last night and checked out fits mpg figures for the TA

Seeing 45-50 on mine on motorway driving on a regular basis, it took 5,000 miles to start showing improvement

 

[flashyphotos]

After 17k miles my results are (Sorry for the long waffling reply)

I can easily manage 73mpg average on my 135 mile commute from Huthwaite to Central London. BUT to get that I have to spend the entire 120 Mile M1 Section of the journey at 53mph in the slow lane with the HGVs, its tiring its boring its no fun and I hate doing it. But I have done it multiple times to prove to myself that Fiats figures are achievable and beatable.

Doing the same trip with a Motorway speed of 60mph brings the trip average down to 62mpg

Doing the same trip with a Motorway speed of 70mph brings the trip average down to 49mpg

Doing the same trip with a Motorway speed of 80mph brings the trip average down to 37mpg

I don't think I have ever had an engine that punishes you so much for small increases in speed. (Especially with an engine that encourages you to give it that bit more beans)...

So on the plus side I know I can get Fiats figures if I am prepared to sit there bored tired and willing myself to throw the car of the road and end it all..!!! Or I can enjoy the drive and pay more than I would for driving a lot of other cars at the same speed.

I can live with that. I tend to drive down to London economically, but drive back more enthusiastically (Its normally 1am and I want to get home before the coffee wears off).

But after living with motorway cruisers in the past this has been a real culture shock that so little extra speed means so much extra consumption.

My Real Term average over 17k miles has averages now at 51mpg.
(70% Motorway, 30% Town & Heavy City Traffic)

 

[ahmett]

After 17k miles my results are (Sorry for the long waffling reply)

I can easily manage 73mpg average on my 135 mile commute from Huthwaite to Central London. BUT to get that I have to spend the entire 120 Mile M1 Section of the journey at 53mph in the slow lane with the HGVs, its tiring its boring its no fun and I hate doing it. But I have done it multiple times to prove to myself that Fiats figures are achievable and beatable.

Doing the same trip with a Motorway speed of 60mph brings the trip average down to 62mpg

Doing the same trip with a Motorway speed of 70mph brings the trip average down to 49mpg

Doing the same trip with a Motorway speed of 80mph brings the trip average down to 37mpg

I don't think I have ever had an engine that punishes you so much for small increases in speed. (Especially with an engine that encourages you to give it that bit more beans)...

So on the plus side I know I can get Fiats figures if I am prepared to sit there bored tired and willing myself to throw the car of the road and end it all..!!! Or I can enjoy the drive and pay more than I would for driving a lot of other cars at the same speed.

I can live with that. I tend to drive down to London economically, but drive back more enthusiastically (Its normally 1am and I want to get home before the coffee wears off).

But after living with motorway cruisers in the past this has been a real culture shock that so little extra speed means so much extra consumption.

My Real Term average over 17k miles has averages now at 51mpg.
(70% Motorway, 30% Town & Heavy City Traffic)

So on the motorway it is no better than the 1.4! I get around 35 mpg at 80-90 mph depending on the incline (Greece is not as flat as London). On the downhills I love going 90 mph at 50mpg but then back on the uphills not so economical!

 

[Mercky]

My Real Term average over 17k miles has averages now at 51mpg.
(70% Motorway, 30% Town & Heavy City Traffic)[/QUOTE]

Cant complain with that really and interesting to see you achieving above fiats figures - how did you calculate these?
I guess the TA is two cars in one - good fun if you give it the beans with mpg to match or really economical if you choose to drive it economically. Re the motorway mpg - sounds like it could do with a 6th gear perhaps??

 

[loveshandbags]

Cant complain with that really and interesting to see you achieving above fiats figures - how did you calculate these?
I guess the TA is two cars in one - good fun if you give it the beans with mpg to match or really economical if you choose to drive it economically. Re the motorway mpg - sounds like it could do with a 6th gear perhaps??

I would have to look for the gearbox ratios on the TA but 5th gear was quite high. If they had a six gear it would probably end up being a close ratio one. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but at 90mph a TA is doing around 4000rpm in 5th. The issue with mpg is more to do with drag. If the 500 coupe ever appears with the lower roof line it might be better at motorway speeds.

 

[flashyphotos]

Cant complain with that really and interesting to see you achieving above fiats figures - how did you calculate these?

I Get my Speed calculated from a Direct ECU pull - (Speedo is off by 3-5mph as are all), SatNav is fine on the level but goes off on an incline the ECU pull is always spot on, had a friend check it against a police calibrated speedo and radar gun, within a few 10ths on both.

Fuel I brim calculate my figures, (The Trip on my 500 is good never out by more then about .5mpg against brim to brim calculations.

It also helps having the ECU pulls direct on the dashboard as it shows when the fuel loops are open or closed giving you to drive as much as possible on a non fuelled coast, but its tiring and slow, hence preferring a more balanced driving style

Like I said in all my years driving I don't think I have ever seen an engine that changes economy so drastically over such a small speed difference.

Here are some images of the system I am using to Monitor it all,

I use the dash mounted tablet for work getting assignments and updates on jobs over 3G so figured as it was there may as well use it!. OBDII Link by Bluetooth, TorquePro software running on the tablet, monitoring speed from the ECU and GPS, Engine Load, Turbo Boost, Fuel Flow, and more, on the motorway run it really helps keep consumption down when you really want to push the economy.

 

[jrkitching]

Like I said in all my years driving I don't think I have ever seen an engine that changes economy so drastically over such a small speed difference.

That's just the basic physics of small lightweight ecocars.

Once you're cruising at 60mph+, aerodynamic drag is by far the biggest factor in determining economy.

Keep it below 55 mph & the manufacturer's official figures are there for the taking.

 

[deeyup]

My TA has taken a dive lately re mpg.
I tried momentum 99 (Tesco super unleaded) the last tank and had the worst result so far (44mpg). Funily enough, I tried momentum 99 last year in my Citroen C1 and that too did a lot worse over the tank full.

My idling has been rough lately too, but got home to find the recall letter on the mat. Coils to be changed then which may bring back better mpg and solve the idling roughness?

As for momentum 99, never again. I should check my tyre pressures and the recent bad weather will have taken a toll on consumption too.

 

[Zante]

Hi there!

Is that right about ESP coming as standard? I have just ordered a TA, and on looking on the Fiat configuration it was appearing as an extra, would be good if it does come with it, but I can't see it as it was an expensive extra on the configuration....

Look forward to your update

 

[flashyphotos]

Hi there!

Is that right about ESP coming as standard? I have just ordered a TA, and on looking on the Fiat configuration it was appearing as an extra, would be good if it does come with it, but I can't see it as it was an expensive extra on the configuration....

Look forward to your update

Its standard on the Twinair Engined Lounge 500c, not sure about other variants.?

 

[deeyup]

Hi there!

Is that right about ESP coming as standard? I have just ordered a TA, and on looking on the Fiat configuration it was appearing as an extra, would be good if it does come with it, but I can't see it as it was an expensive extra on the configuration....

Look forward to your update

Not on the hatchback.

 

[Zante]

Thanks for that. It's only been two weeks since I have ordered was told after Christmas I WMD get my Twinair Lounge-I am buying because I absolutely love the car outside and especially the beautiful dash inside.
I am curious what mpg I will get -i have traded in my KA TDCI as I do little mileage, what mpg am I likely to expect on average 5 miles to work , so you can see why I got rid of the diesel, when o. Average in a week I only travel about 50-60 miles....would be interested be nice if I got as much as the diesel per gallon.