General TwinAir Thread (including MPG)

[deeyup]

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.

Checked on the way to work, at 2000 rpm, speedo shows 48mph,
at 3000 speedo shows 73mph.
Approx 24mph per 1000rpm, so 96mph @ 4000. In reality most probably right, true 90mph ,4k revs.

I wouldn't expect better mpg if a taller 6th gear was fitted unless solely used for going downhill??

 

[deeyup]

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.

I wouldn't expect over 40mpg especially if you are in traffic, maybe mid 30's?
The motor will be cold and petrol motors use more fuel when they are cold unlike diesel motors.
Why not ask your dealer to borrow one for a day, and do your commute after resetting the trip computer. I did this and committed to buy once I saw I could get 50mpg on my work route.

 

[loveshandbags]

Checked on the way to work, at 2000 rpm, speedo shows 48mph,
at 3000 speedo shows 73mph.
Approx 24mph per 1000rpm, so 96mph @ 4000. In reality most probably right, true 90mph ,4k revs.

I wouldn't expect better mpg if a taller 6th gear was fitted unless solely used for going downhill??

:yeahthat:
Thanks for that Deeyup. Looks like Autocar got the same result but at least they could admit it ....

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/fiat/500/first-drives/fiat-500-twinair
At an even 90mph (measured by sat-nav) the engine was pulling just 4000rpm in fifth

Co-efficient x frontal area
0.325 x 2.42 = 0.7865 = DRAG figure

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=39086
Width 1627
Height 1488
Frontal area = 2.42sq.m.

 

[Zante]

Thank you for that - like I mentioned the mpg would have been the bonus, but I would buy the car anyway as its got the power there if needed! Also I shall try the eco mode for the short journey to work and back. The twinair was recommended as it had the power if needed and I liked the sound of that.....just can't wait now only been ordered two weeks funk white red leather etc etc.....

 

[Jumpinjacks]

I've just got a twin air 500, and love the engine sound although a little rattly at low revs, which I guess is normal?
Only asking as if there's a problem I would rather get it sorted while the warranty is there.

 

[wellfan]

I've just got a twin air 500, and love the engine sound although a little rattly at low revs, which I guess is normal?
Only asking as if there's a problem I would rather get it sorted while the warranty is there.

Yes mine is the same. It sounds like one of my old single cylinder motorbikes (liking lot of high revs in lower gears).
Fifth gear in mine is only useable above 40 MPH. Driving about town I flit between third and fourth gear. Takes a bit of getting used to. When I first got it I always felt the need to change down a gear as the engine sounded so laboured. I am now more used to it and feel more comfortable leaving it in a higher gear.

 

[Jumpinjacks]

Thanks for the reply, good to hear that it's normal. I take it the torque kicks in a little higher in the rev range then

 

[wigit]

Issue at low revs is the refinement of having just 2 cylinders, at lower speeds use Eco as changes the mapping, makes things smoother at lower rpm and a lot more driveable

 

[Jumpinjacks]

Issue at low revs is the refinement of having just 2 cylinders, at lower speeds use Eco as changes the mapping, makes things smoother at lower rpm and a lot more driveable

Interesting, My missus is the one driving it at the minute ( as my arm is in a cast ) and she seemed to think it was a little better with eco off

 

[wigit]

Generally if I'm below 40mph I use eco, in traffic it will drive just on tick over

It took my a month or two to get into the swing of thingson the TA as it drives like a cross between a turbo petrol and diesel as its happiest eploiting the torque

 

[Squadrone Rosso]

My car is going in for the coil recall tomorrow. Hopefully this will resolve the reluctant SS issue.

Also, over 6000 miles, it hasn't used any oil! Given previous Fiat's, this is a welcome surprise

 

[deeyup]

My car is going in for the coil recall tomorrow. Hopefully this will resolve the reluctant SS issue.

Also, over 6000 miles, it hasn't used any oil! Given previous Fiat's, this is a welcome surprise

Mines the same. No oil use.

What stop start problem are you having ?

Mine recently has been turning off and immediately restarting most of the time. Sometimes its better, but it never goes more than about 25 seconds with restarting.

 

[Squadrone Rosso]

Mines the same. No oil use.

What stop start problem are you having ?

Mine recently has been turning off and immediately restarting most of the time. Sometimes its better, but it never goes more than about 25 seconds with restarting.

Same as that, plus SS unavailable requiring a manual restart

 

[MissGilly]

Also, over 6000 miles, it hasn't used any oil! Given previous Fiat's, this is a welcome surprise

In the other thread, I mentioned that Fiat tried to tell me that half a litre of oil in 3200 miles is to be expected I didn't believe them, still don't!

The problem I had was faulty spark plugs; wondering whether the new ones will improve my mpg any? I'm probably around 38-39mpg over lifetime so far, mostly on ECO in urban driving.

 

[ahmett]

In the other thread, I mentioned that Fiat tried to tell me that half a litre of oil in 3200 miles is to be expected I didn't believe them, still don't!

The problem I had was faulty spark plugs; wondering whether the new ones will improve my mpg any? I'm probably around 38-39mpg over lifetime so far, mostly on ECO in urban driving.

If you take a look into my car, you will believe it!

38-39 mpg is not so bad in London actually.

 

[306maxi]

In the other thread, I mentioned that Fiat tried to tell me that half a litre of oil in 3200 miles is to be expected I didn't believe them, still don't!

The problem I had was faulty spark plugs; wondering whether the new ones will improve my mpg any? I'm probably around 38-39mpg over lifetime so far, mostly on ECO in urban driving.

It's not outside of the oil usage which Fiat specify can occur

 

[eco sTAr]

Had the car over 18 months now and at 25k it's well run in.

I think I'm pretty good at getting the most out of mpg, but over its lifetime I've only ever seen three tankfuls over 60mpg. I've had some incredibly good journeys (like 70-75 on my 25 mile trip to work) and even seen 85mpg on one occasion, but it's always offset by the journey home, or a trip where I just can't seem to get it going economically. Either way, the average on a tank has been around 58-59.

However, now it's cold and wet the mpg has really declined with the last couple of tanks at 51 and 50. Of course, these weather conditions increase friction so it's to be expected? It's a little disappointing as the car really doesn't get the mpg that I had wanted and I really don't know how to drive it any more economically.

I first noticed the summer/winter difference on my last car (a diesel) but I think that these ultra-economical cars are really affected by anything less than ideal conditions. Cold, wet, luggage, a passenger, a single overtake (maybe it's watching me?)..... they all seem to negatively impact mpg unlike when I had really UNeconomical cars when it didn't seem to make any difference how you drove.

Had my first instance of S/S unavailable a couple of weekends ago when S/S failed to restart the engine after switching it off at the lights. On came the warning lights and S/S message, along with the "Check Engine" message. Well, I looked and the engine was still there! Really, what is this message meant to mean? The lights and message wouldn't go away, but being a Saturday I thought they might disappear by the time the garage was open again on Monday. No way; same later in the day and on Sunday. The only solution turned out to be removal of the battery lead for 20 mins. The message still came on when I started the engine, but went away again and hasn't been seen since. Hopefully, this is a one-off?

All in all I'm a little disappointed with the car - mpg isn't as good as I'd like, build quality is good for a Fiat, but still pretty cheap compared to many other cars. It's quite good around town, but a mixed bag elsewhere. And if you use the height adjustment on the drivers seat to 'lower' it, it's just plain uncomfortable.

 

[306maxi]

I'm sorry, but 58 or 59 as an average is pretty good.

If the check engine light illuminates and doesn't go off, then you really should take a trip to the dealer.

 

[RobinPJ]

In the other thread, I mentioned that Fiat tried to tell me that half a litre of oil in 3200 miles is to be expected I didn't believe them, still don't!

The problem I had was faulty spark plugs; wondering whether the new ones will improve my mpg any? I'm probably around 38-39mpg over lifetime so far, mostly on ECO in urban driving.

That's nearly a pint....

 

[eco sTAr]

I'm sorry, but 58 or 59 as an average is pretty good.

If the check engine light illuminates and doesn't go off, then you really should take a trip to the dealer.

You're so right about 58-59 being good for a TA. But it's no where near the 70mpg combined that Fiat advertise and I really can't see any way to get that mpg on any return journey of greater than 10 or 20 miles. I've never had problems achieving the combined figure in previous vehicles so I had naively expected to do so the the TA.