159/Brera 2.4 Fuel Consumption

[Nickt1976]

Originally Posted by mikeyw

Are you saying the 210 engine gives better economy than the 200 ?

mine doesn't seem to be much better

[mikeyw]

Sounds like a remapped 1.9 might be the perfect compromise here - just wish it came with the twin exhausts.

[mickeybee]

I can not believe the fuel consumption of the 159. I was considering one before opting for the cheaper 156 2.4 and currently showing 50+ on the computer.
I guess the 159 is a bigger heavier car but evan so...

[benlawers]

Reverse logic! - we run a Nissan Pathfinder 2.5 diesel which does 31mpg - it's a big monster with seven full size seats, etc. and a 159 2.4 which does the same mpg but this confuses my already fuzzy head. Why is the Nissan £400 per year to tax and the Alfa £165? - surely they both emit the same co2 (ish) if they are burning the same amount of fuel or am I thinking too simplistically as usual.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by Fraser

ARUK have been in touch by phone and they are arranging to have the car checked out next week.

Originally Posted by nomad

Good news F

Originally Posted by Fraser

True, but I suspect the answer will be there's nothing wrong.

Car checked today - they could find nothing wrong

Oh well, it wasn't something that bothered me too much anyway so I'll just keep smiling at the power

[Dougie166]

Originally Posted by mickeybee

I can not believe the fuel consumption of the 159. I was considering one before opting for the cheaper 156 2.4 and currently showing 50+ on the computer.
I guess the 159 is a bigger heavier car but evan so...

Increased BHP which is the main reason for decreased MPG.

[Smudgers]

Hi everyone, thought I'd let you know the results of a little test I've just carried out.

I filled my car with a full tank of std Total diesel, then drove it for the next couple of weeks, NOT EXCEEDING 2K on the rev counter. (It drove me mad )

I used cruise control when ever I could, including around town, but making sure the engine did not labour (>1k rpm). I was amazed at how often the car was operating in "over run" (if thats the correct term for when MPG shows 99.9)

The result I was amazed at, I normally average 32 - 34 MPG(checked on board computer with amount of fuel and distance and they seem to agree). Driving like captin Slow I gained an average of 44.9 MPG

Which enabled me to get 700 miles from a tank. This was mixture of A and B road and Motorway driving, so I think a fair test.

So it just shows what can be achieved with a remap of the right foot in sted of the engine.

Having said that I drive an Alfa because I like to drive, so my current MPG is at a more satisfying 33 MPG (and I'm watching for cameras again )

[Dougie166]

Well done Smudgers but that must have been sooooooooooo boring and very very hard to do - Keep it between 1 and 2k revs for a total of 700 miles, you must be very patient!

I will do 3000 miles or so in next few weeks - Will report on mpg findings.

[Smudgers]

Good luck Dougie166,

My advice would be to take a good book with you and plenty of Red Bull and anything else that will keep you awake.

I would be interested to see if you can get the same sort of improvement.

Smudgers

[k3lvc]

Managed a mind numbing 65.7mpg on the 12 mile trip home tonight - admittedly it's an 800m descent. Shame I struggle to manage 20mpg on the way up in the morning.

[Dougie166]

Thats Ok though - 42.85mpg average

[k3lvc]

Originally Posted by Dougie166

Thats Ok though - 42.85mpg average

Absolutely - driving the Swiss way is doing wonders for economy (and fuels cheaper over here despite the **** exchange rate). Cruising at 120kph with no traffic is giving about 45mpg so with the daily commute added in I'm still getting 40+

[juventino]

My 159 2.4 has now done 2500 miles over my and it's 1st 6 weeks. As I posted earlier, I was only averaging 31-32 mpg over combined roads and not pushing the car at all. This was not good!
Now, having just returned from the Shropshire area in England (from bonnie Scotland) on a round trip of 700 miles, the cruise control on and off, mainly motorway driving and not necessarily accelerating hard but yes, at times driving well over the three figures, got a return of....33.8 mpg!! OH MY GOD!
As per other posts, I too have noticed that driving around town can give you a lot of 99.9 mpg at times but this quickly dissapears.
I am so dissapointed in the fuel economy.
...and what the hell is that plastic rattling in the centre of the dashboard...how bloody annoying! Part from that - bloody good car!
Juventino.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by juventino

...and what the hell is that plastic rattling in the centre of the dashboard...how bloody annoying! Part from that - bloody good car!
Juventino.

Don't know - not many rattles reported - it's not the dreaded windscreen creak is it?

[Paul J]

I got about 35mpg from my first tank (calculated brim to brim) on a variety of roads, but the trip computer said 33.6mpg. I just got back from Alton Towers yesterday, travelling about 80 miles of A roads and 60 miles of motorway. The trip computer said 38.4mpg. I currently only have 950 miles on the clock, and have been taking it easy for most of the time I'm quite happy with this, since the engine is still pretty tight. It's also a lot better than the 32mpg I averaged in the 2.4 Sportwagon they loaned me whilst I was waiting for my car to arrive.

[Fraser]

Response from ARUK by letter:

"I have spoken to Rachel in the service department at Western. She has advised me that they completed testing on your vehcile and have been unable to determine a fault, All the diagnostic equipmenthas confirmed the fuel consumption computer is working correctly.

The dealership has confirmed that the system is responding correctly to the driving style of the vehicle. The fuel consumption will differ when the car is driven harder and faster. This will result in a predicted figure that if the car was driven at that speed continuously then the fuel consumption will be greatly reduced."

Apart from the fact that the last sentence barely makes sense this is the sort of reponse I expected. I had already emailed asking if this had been a noted issue in other countries and if AR have implemented measures in this regard. It will be interesting to see the reply to that question.

[juventino]

159 2.4

now done nearly 3000 miles and only averaging 31mpg without a heavy foot. I'm SO disapointed. Feel like I've been cheated by Alfa.

[Fraser]

TBH I'm fairly comfortable with it, but I would feel cheated if something can be done but isn't.

[nomad]

I've changed to Total Excellium (sp?) and my Average MPG has dropped by 3mpg

[Fraser]

My Wynn's additive makes no difference to mpg, but does improve the smoothness and power delivery.

[nomad]

Kiss your DPF goodbye

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by nomad

Kiss your DPF goodbye

Well, y'see - I don't understand why that should be the case. All that it is is a particle trap with a high surface area. And it survives very high temperatures. I can't see what a little bit of stuff that is mainly burnt off would do to a DPF.

[nomad]

I don't understand it either F... but as you know peeps here have been told that Super-Fuels and additives will kill DPFs

[Fraser]

Just had a quick look on google. Jings there's a lot about DPFs! Think I'll need to dig a bit deeper when I have time.

[Hunter]

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/viewtopic.php?t=76691

Pig ugly and worried about 48-49 mpg!!!