Does it exist? 55mpg, reliable, not tedious?

[garethj]

My spaceship Civic is very reliable but 42-44mpg is the best I can get.  My mileage could be rising soon so extra mpg could be useful.  The thing is, I really like Honda levels of reliability, so what are my options?

I’m hoping that where most people get 55mpg I can get 60 which is a handy increase.  I normally beat the advertised economy by a bit anyway.

I thought a Toyota Auris SR180 would be worth a look but actually their economy is mid 40s.  Obscure and a bit speedy is good though!

I had a Skoda Octavia Tdi that would crack 60mpg but the seats were agony.  Is something like an A3 going to be better even though I really dislike Audi drivers?

Would a Peugeot 206 HDi be good?  I think the 2 litre engine is ok but how reliable will it be?

An Audi A2 is funky enough but do they hold together?  Perhaps a Yaris D4D is better but they seem fucking dull.

BMW Compact, or are they all fucked now?  An obscure little Volvo?  I rather lost touch with anything newer than an 850 so no idea what’s out there.

Ideas appreciated ?

[320touring]

205 1.8d

 

[garethj]

Just now, 320touring said:

205 1.8d

 

I had one a few years ago and it would just about tickle 55mpg but goodness me, it was slow.  I commutes in it for almost 2 years and the acceleration was just too slow?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

What about a Volvo C30 'drive-E' with the fancy smooth alloys, theyre supposedly pretty thrifty and look interesting, not sure how much driver joy is available mind you.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-59-VOLVO-C30-S-DRIVE-D-1-6-DIESEL-3-DOOR-HATCHBACK-20-TAX-64-MPG-RED-CLOTH/174386736908

 

[St.Jude]

I'm sure my old Peugeot 306 1.9 XLdt got to the 50's in MPG. 

[brownnova]

C30 was going to be my suggestion too... or maybe an Alfa MiTo 1.3dizzler... 

[rob88h]

I love those Volvo eDrive cucumber-slicer-blender-attachment alloys on that era of Volvo. I’m sure they have a proper name, but not to me. 

[garethj]

9 minutes ago, Mr_Bo11ox said:

What about a Volvo C30 'drive-E' with the fancy smooth alloys, theyre supposedly pretty thrifty and look interesting, not sure how much driver joy is available mind you.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-59-VOLVO-C30-S-DRIVE-D-1-6-DIESEL-3-DOOR-HATCHBACK-20-TAX-64-MPG-RED-CLOTH/174386736908

 

That looks pretty funky.  Wonder if the other diesels are a bit cheaper to buy.  I’ll have a browse, thank you ?

[320touring]

16 minutes ago, garethj said:

I had one a few years ago and it would just about tickle 55mpg but goodness me, it was slow.  I commutes in it for almost 2 years and the acceleration was just too slow?

205 1.8td then

[loserone]

I love our 205 1.8, and quite like my new 1.4, but I think a 206 HDI with a decent remap would make an excellent commuting weapon

[pbottomley]

Passat B5 1.9 TDI always in the 50's driven gently 60mpg easy

[beko1987]

My xsara ticks 2 of those 3 boxes... 

[garethj]

5 minutes ago, 320touring said:

205 1.8td then

Had one of those for a while and the performance is peachy but 45-48 mpg seems to be the maximum 

[Jim Bell]

Why only 55mpg when you can have 60-80mpg?

 

Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you'll be out amongst the stars. 

[320touring]

2 minutes ago, garethj said:

Had one of those for a while and the performance is peachy but 45-48 mpg seems to be the maximum 

I'd be trading off 7mpg for boost n grins:)

Or a 206 2.0 hdi may be ok too

[JayB]

I had an Audi A2 TDi for a little while and it would easily crack 55mpg, plus it felt bigger than it was and had plenty of torque. I sold it to my friend who then had loads of problems with it...

I've had several Volvo V70 D5s and if you go for a Euro 3 engined one it'll do over 50mpg if you've got a light right foot.

[garethj]

11 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

Why only 55mpg when you can have 60-80mpg?

 

Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you'll be out amongst the stars. 

I would dearly love one but need 4 seats

[MJK 24]

Mk4 Golf 1.9TDI.  But it’ll literally drain the life out of you via boredom and central locking and electric window faults.

[Agila]

Short answer is no.

 

I'm a mk9 civic 2.2 diesel owner and have mpg and reliability and tedium in equal measure.

If I wanted to get less tedium and sacrifice a bit possibly on the others I would go ford focus.

Tricky problem which I don't think can be answered.

[GMcD]

Always a risk moving to another car. If its reliable and does 42 mpg I'd stick to what I know than risk a (potentially) complicated diesel that does 55 mpg. Just takes a DMF or DPF to shite itself and bang goes any savings..

However if you are also really fancying a change too then ignore the above ??.

[Bazfr69]

We ran an A2 tdi for a couple of years and couldn’t get more than 55mpg out of it. 60 miles per day, mostly motorway.

It was a great little car but I was always worried about repairs if it got pranged with it being aluminium.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[garethj]

13 minutes ago, Agila said:

Short answer is no.

I'm a mk9 civic 2.2 diesel owner and have mpg and reliability and tedium in equal measure.

If I wanted to get less tedium and sacrifice a bit possibly on the others I would go ford focus.

Tricky problem which I don't think can be answered.

This is where I’m at and while my Type S has the same trick rear suspension as the Type R and the way it looks is really cool, it’s a bit monotonous to drive.

Dunno about a Focus, it just seems unforgivably dull and probably not as reliable as something Japanese

[Jazoli]

Prius, Auris Hybrid, will easily better 55mpg, my boss's new Superb 2.0tdi does 68mpg on the 60 mile run from Chorley to Bowness which is amazing, they are all boring though.

[garethj]

3 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Prius, Auris Hybrid, will easily better 55mpg, my boss's new Superb 2.0tdi does 68mpg on the 60 mile run from Chorley to Bowness which is amazing, they are all boring though.

I’d really like to be spending £1500 or less.  Moon on a stick, obvs?

[plasticvandan]

Avensis Diesel.

[320touring]

 

£550 for the car

200 on decent bilstein dampers

170 on good springs (eibach/h&r)

100 refresh of front arms

£99 on a remap

Some decent tyres

Cambelt and servicing

Done

[320touring]

Won't be the most fun ever, but will be quick, handle well and do the 55

[Jazoli]

I'd stick with what you have, a £1500 car with the promise of 55mpg could well have a big bill looming and will be a worn out old diesel, a D5 volvo would get the figures you wanted, unless you are doing moon mileage it doesn't make a lot of sense to change cars.

[Jazoli]

6 minutes ago, 320touring said:

 

£550 for the car

200 on decent bilstein dampers

170 on good springs (eibach/h&r)

100 refresh of front arms

£99 on a remap

Some decent tyres

Cambelt and servicing

Done

They are as dull as ditchwater, I had one, it was remapped, the creaking interior plastics and dead handling pissed me off eventually, they are also a significant downgrade from a 2.2 civic.

42-44mpg out of the civic is pretty poor, maybe have a look at your driving style? my friend gets almost 60mpg from his.

[Cavcraft]

51 minutes ago, pbottomley said:

Passat B5 1.9 TDI always in the 50's driven gently 60mpg easy

He wants something reliable and not tedious.