[JABC]

I read for many months before buying that the V6 TDI was good for combined fuel figures of 9.9. Mine is an MY08 with the 176/550 donk. It had 58k on the clock when I got it and I've done a little under 2k. I have seen the trip settle into 8s on occasion, but my averages have been 11 ish. I do a lot of highway driving with the cruise set on 112ks. I do give it a bit of stick every now and then (can't have that kind of grunt and not use it)

It has just had its major 60 k service with new filters etc - no change to fuel figures. The only thing I can put it down to are the 285 tyres...? I'm not too worried about 11s when there is 2.5 ton of car under me, but this forum has got me asking... Your thoughts are appreciated

 

[AndrieK]

When you say 8s and 11s and 176/550, I assume you're talking l/100km and not km/l or mpg...? Also 176kW/550Nm...?

In that case, according to VWSA's website, the fuel consumption of the V6TDi and the R5TDi is virtually the same. I get between 9 and 11 l/100km with my R5, depending on how I drive it, so I'd expect to get similar figures with a V6TDi. I think you'd really have to drive like my grandmother if you want to get 8 l/100km, but I have no experience with the V6, so I might be completely wrong.

 

[JABC]

G'day
Yes, your interpretation is spot on. Sorry for the ambiguity. Thanks for the feedback from your research. It gives some assurance that there isn't a hole in the tank

Tell your grand mother that she drives just fine!

 

[spockcat]

I was wondering what units he was talking about too as WA is the normal abbreviation for the state of Washington. But I realized that it is also the abbreviation for Western Australia. So he would be talking l/100km. At least we don't have to wonder whether he is talking imperial MPG or US MPG.

Anyway JABC, I'm not surprised. Lots of people claim high US MPG (mid to high 20's) with their V10 TDI Touaregs. But I can barely manage 20 US MPG with mine. Perhaps I don't drive like Andrie's grandmother either.

 

[Flipper Dog]

JABC,
in reference to fuel figures I have a 2 hour daily trip into work (yeah and it's only a 50km away) thanks to the fine traffic planning of the state of New South Wales. Back on track, the mornings I will get around the mid to high 10's but the afternoons I am more likely to get 14's or at best high 12's. In the mornings I have about half an hour of good driving at around 80km/hr before I find the massive car park so this allows the engine to warm up for good milage. The afternoons it is right into start/stop traffic until about the last half an hour, so this really makes a difference to the figures.
Vechile in "D" and driving normal (most of the time). Point of interest is if the vehicle is in "S" and I am giving it a bit I will still get the same 14's at the end of the trip?????

Highway use. I do the Sydney to Brisbane trip a few time a year and find the Pacific highway I am running mid 9's. Now that is mostly 110km/hr limits of which I stick to using the crusie control. The New England highway of which is mostly 100km/hr I will achieve mid 8's to even high 7's, again crusie control set to 100km/hr. Load is 2x2 (2 adults and 2 kids) with a boot full of bags. Again vehicle in "D" cruise on.

From what I can see is the vehilce loves a light sip of diesel no matter what you do to it or load on it at the magic 80-90 km/hr mark. Increase this to over the 110km/hr limit and this ups the drinking rate. Start/stop driving in heavy traffic and higher figures again.

BTW I have the 500nm model and the same KM's you have got.

 

[AndrieK]

Now that is mostly 110km/hr limits of which I stick to using the crusie control.

Like I said... like my grandmother...

Our National Road speed limit is 120km/h but, being an African country, it's really more of a guideline than a rule. I set my cruise control to 129km/h (using my GPS) as the traffic cops only start fining from 130km/h+ (They give us 10km/h grace... )

So yes, I get the figures mentioned above at a slightly higher speed, so I believe it is feasible to get into the low 8's or even high 7's if you stick to speeds below 100km/h.

FYI, my personal best is 7.3l/100km avg on my 65km way back home from work. Average speed was a VERY frustrating 76km/h. (I got 4.3l/100km with my TDi Jetta doing the same route... )

 

[Flipper Dog]

Even driving as a Nana you are not safe from our government’s revenue raising adventures. Fixed and mobile speed cameras, red light ones, both marked and unmarked highway patrol cars and anything parked on the side of the road (in some states) could have a camera inside it catching you out. Add on top of that double your points over long weekends and public holidays if caught and by the time you get home a huge fine and no licence.

It is all down to excess speed according to our policy makers nothing to do with driver education, road conditions or lack of funding for better motorways on which one can drive just a little bit quicker.

Funny but I just heard of police cars getting fined for speeding thanks to cameras, different department takes care of that so now they need a letter signed by the police commissioner requesting waiver of their fine.

Oh you are lucky in some ways to be in Afrika Andriek

 

[AndrieK]

Oh you are lucky in some ways to be in Afrika Andriek

Yeah, I hear ya... But luckily I've also grown up a little. Speed limits are there for a reason nonetheless. It just seems like all over the world the enforcement of these limits aren't always done for the same reasons.

A little off-topic, but just to give you an example of how silly speeding actually is: About a year ago I was going out of town on a business trip cruising along at my said 129km/h when, exactly one hour into my journey I get a phone call from home saying my 12month old daughter fell of her slide and broke her arm. I made a U-Turn and put foot back home, cruising at between 160km/h and 190km/h all the way. There was very little traffic and plenty daylight and in the end the trip back saved me 8 minutes and cost me R500 for a camera fine. (I saw it in time and managed to slow down to 140km/h.) I actually downloaded the tracks from my GPS the next day and compared it. EIGHT MINUTES AND R500 !!! And if someone or something did something stupid in front of me doing 190km/h I would've ended up next to my daughter in hospital with more than just a broken arm... All for 8 minutes....? Not worth it, I think...

Like I said, I set it to 129km/h, ignore the cops and enjoy the scenery. I think I might live longer this way...

 

[Bails]

I'll keep it off topic as well. My take, I drive at a speed that keeps me engaged, Very seldom speed to meet deadlines. We need speed limits because most drivers shouldn't be licensed to drive as they have no skill or ability ! A little over exaggerated . My take is if you are driving in the fast lane an you aren't over taking,can't see me behind wanting to get past. Then you are un observant and should be off the road !

Now, I drove to North of Sydney the other day, most peak hour traffic with some freeway, 3 hour journey both ways for distance of 136 klms. Filled up before the journey. Fuel from readout was 13/100 klms. From what you are saying about the V6 I'm happy with the V10. I also find it hard to better 10.5 on trips , need cruise on an be about 110 kph. I seem to get around 11.5/100 klms on long trips which suits me for the performance.

 

[JABC]

JABC,
in reference to fuel figures I have a 2 hour daily trip into work (yeah and it's only a 50km away) thanks to the fine traffic planning of the state of New South Wales. Back on track, the mornings I will get around the mid to high 10's but the afternoons I am more likely to get 14's or at best high 12's. In the mornings I have about half an hour of good driving at around 80km/hr before I find the massive car park so this allows the engine to warm up for good milage. The afternoons it is right into start/stop traffic until about the last half an hour, so this really makes a difference to the figures.
Vechile in "D" and driving normal (most of the time). Point of interest is if the vehicle is in "S" and I am giving it a bit I will still get the same 14's at the end of the trip?????

Highway use. I do the Sydney to Brisbane trip a few time a year and find the Pacific highway I am running mid 9's. Now that is mostly 110km/hr limits of which I stick to using the crusie control. The New England highway of which is mostly 100km/hr I will achieve mid 8's to even high 7's, again crusie control set to 100km/hr. Load is 2x2 (2 adults and 2 kids) with a boot full of bags. Again vehicle in "D" cruise on.

From what I can see is the vehilce loves a light sip of diesel no matter what you do to it or load on it at the magic 80-90 km/hr mark. Increase this to over the 110km/hr limit and this ups the drinking rate. Start/stop driving in heavy traffic and higher figures again.

BTW I have the 500nm model and the same KM's you have got.

G'day Flipper Dog

I just got back from a longish trip and with time on my hands I did a few tests re speed and economy and your numbers are very close to what I got. Thanks for all the feedback.

I don't however have to put up with the daily car park. Don't know how you guys do it! I guess you can get used to anything - necessity probably helps. My home is 21 ks from my office and at 'peak hour' it takes me just under 20 minutes

I will give the car a real test next year. Will be loaded and towing a boat and gear of about 1.5 ton, 2600km round trip. My old diesel cruiser did the trip many times and the best it got was 16l/100k average. That was just sitting on 100

Tell me - the S mode in the tranny - does it just hold it in gear longer? Does it it restrict top gear to forth? I've only used it once. I haven't made it that far into the encyclopaedic driver manual!

 

[Flipper Dog]

Tell me - the S mode in the tranny - does it just hold it in gear longer? Does it it restrict top gear to forth? I've only used it once. I haven't made it that far into the encyclopaedic driver manual!

The "S" mode holds the gears back a little, I find instead of going to 5 or 6 gear in it will hold on 5th at around 60km/h, around 65km/h changes up to 6th. S allows higher rpms so to battle in and out of traffic it has it's advantages in quicker take off and stopping with the gears. I find in "D" if I am in 5th or 6th and need to plant it I will have a short (only 1/2 second or so) delay while the tranny says "wrong gear lets go down 1 or 2".
It is good for towing going down hills as it holds the gears back better than just "D", however I go into "D" and switch over to manual for that control.

My wife uses "S" all the time when she drives but like I said I'll use "D" and go manual when I want something different.

Daily car parks will be history after Xmas, new work location then, 20 minutes away, in other direction to the traffic...can't wait