Altea DSG Economy?

a900ss

Full Member
Apr 20, 2004
24
0
Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a new Altea XL 2.0 Tdi with the DSG gearbox, everybody gives it good reviews.

I am a high mileage driver (40,000 miles per year) and I pay for my own fuel so economy is important to me. Most (85-90%) of my driving is long motoway journeys at a constant 70MPH. What do you guys get out of the Altea in these conditions?

Many thanks for your help.

a900ss
 
Nov 27, 2006
1,204
1
www.cardomain.com
I have a theory that says a DSG gearbox (essentially two gearboxes in one) isn't going to be the best option for economy, so I'd be interested to hear some real world figures too
 

Nathanio

Full Member
May 26, 2005
1,226
1
West Sussex
www.w1pcs.co.uk
On motorways I don't think it would make too much of a difference. Offical figures still say 57 on the DSG so 50 real world would be reasonable.

Apparently DSG is less thirst hungry than traditional slush'o'matics
 

Redcupra20vt

Full Member
Jan 9, 2004
357
0
kent
Visit site
i have seen 55mpg out of my altea dsg on a run cruising at 70mph it only has 8k on the clock too so i am hopeing things can improve a bit more too

i constantly see 50-52 on a long run, this is with the 17" wheels too

Paul
 

5imon

Guest
I have a New Toledo with the 2.0 TDi and DSG, max I can get is 40mpg. Must admit that I don't stick to 70mph though....

Around town I get 35mpg.

Done 2.5K So far.
 

Tell

Full Member
Staff member
Moderator
Yeah well 50 MPG etc is vapourware, I've done about 16,000 miles now in just over two year and I get 39 MPH. I do post up my times series figures from time to time, can do that when I get home.

It does quick dashes to Germany / Austria twice a year at 80 to 100, the rest is you normal speeds etc. The TDI engine isn't noted for it's efficiency unlike PUGs. I'd get 50 MPG out of my old ZX 1.9 TD. You got a lot of weight. Don't think it's anything to do with the DSG. Loadswine will agree with me. I don't think there are any DSG drivers on here that get 50 MPG !. Oh and these are brim to brim reading not using the computer read out which is a running average over a time period.
 

adt

Guest
I have done nearly 10K in my 2.0tdi dsg and consistently average 41 mpg, with mixed driving. A long motorway journey can give me 44 at best. It rarely drops below 39mpg if around town all the time.

The dash mpg gauge is a waste of space for accuracy. Guess it will look good when you sell the car if someone is not clued up....

The mpg has always disappointed me with this car, although it has many other merits.
 

mxcupra

Guest
I average 47-48mpg doing a steady 70-80 mph and and my Altea DSG has only done 7,000 miles (this includes overtaking blasts). once crawled at 65 and it was over 52 mpg

Around town and its nearer 36-38mpg and thats with spirited driving.

For some reason the MPG seems to go up when the cruise control is off

Such a good car, would only change it for a FR170 (if it had dsg:( ).
 

Nathanio

Full Member
May 26, 2005
1,226
1
West Sussex
www.w1pcs.co.uk
The DSG is great for trips with lots of roundabouts or stop start mway/town driving as less work on the ol' clutch foot.

Seems a lot of people with the new 2.0TDis are getting low to mid 40s in cars with less than 10-12k on the clock. After around 20k they have loosened alot more and getting the better MPG
 

Tell

Full Member
Staff member
Moderator
Those reading are off the trip computer. I would argue you can always give yourself a feel good factor by letting it warm up and then taking some measurements as you did but in reality one drives around when the car isn't warmed up, you slam your foot down to enjoy the DSG gear box when pulling away [I do] and those spirited journey knock the actual mileage.

Ah the spreadsheet, sorry for those who have seen it before, it contains the running MPG and the fill up to fill up, all using brimming of the tank, not feel good read out from the trip computer.

New Car December 2004

Brimmed at 10 miles

Date Miles Litres Total Lites Overal Ave Ave between Fills
10 0 0 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
09/01/2005 1184 138.75 138.75 38.46 38.46
07/02/2005 1607 50.67 189.42 38.32 37.95
04/03/2005 2035 48.2 237.62 38.74 40.36
06/03/2005 2298 30.7 268.32 38.76 38.94
12/03/2005 2636 39.68 308 38.75 38.72
17/04/2005 2981 40.54 348.54 38.75 38.68
14/05/2005 3487 45.41 393.95 40.12 50.65
26/05/2005 3786 33.60327537 427.5532754 40.14 40.45
27/05/2005 3989 23.42 450.9732754 40.11 39.40
27/05/2005 4183 23.89 474.8632754 39.94 36.91
30/05/2005 4547 40.05 514.9132754 40.05 41.31
04/06/2005 5044 20.02 534.9332754 42.78 112.84 part fill
04/06/2005 5135 44.74 579.6732754 40.19 9.25
05/06/2005 5316 20.28 599.9532754 40.20 40.57
06/06/2005 5523 24.99 624.9432754 40.10 37.65
02/07/2005 5938 49.03 673.9732754 39.98 38.47
30/07/2005 6301 43.61 717.5832754 39.85 37.84
02/09/2005 6722 47.41 764.9932754 39.88 40.36
25/09/2005 7130 48.4 813.3932754 39.79 38.32
22/10/2005 7605 53.86 867.2532754 39.81 40.09
10/12/2005 7934 37.88 905.1332754 39.79 39.48
15/12/2005 8165 25.83 930.9632754 39.82 40.65
15/12/2005 8360 22.27 953.2332754 39.82 39.80
17/12/2005 8484 15.03 968.2632754 39.78 37.50
18/12/2005 8667 21.29 989.5532754 39.77 39.07
24/12/2005 8876 25.75 1015.303275 39.69 36.89
28/01/2006 9308 51.78 1067.083275 39.61 37.92
19/02/2006 9725 50.52 1117.603275 39.51 37.52
14/03/2006 10127 14.97365648 1132.576932 40.60 122.03 <part fill
24/03/2006 10263 54.45 1187.026932 39.26 11.35
02/05/2006 10643 44.56 1231.586932 39.24 38.76
25/05/2006 11089 50.78 1282.366932 39.27 39.92
26/05/2006 11319 25.34 1307.706932 39.31 41.26
26/05/2006 11515 23.98 1331.686932 39.27 37.15
28/05/2006 11902 47.21 1378.896932 39.20 37.26
01/06/2006 12154 27.47 1406.366932 39.25 41.70
03/06/2006 12565 48.49 1454.856932 39.23 38.53
04/06/2006 12747 21.35 1476.206932 39.22 38.75
09/06/2006 12976 25.9 1502.106932 39.24 40.19
08/07/2006 13356 46.29 1548.396932 39.18 37.31
10/08/2006 13808 6 1554.396932 40.35 342.42 <part fill
16/08/2006 13833 50.01 1604.406932 39.16 2.27
15/09/2006 14196 44.08 1648.486932 39.12 37.43
14/10/2006 14647 51.49 1699.976932 39.14 39.81
10/11/2006 15103 51.81 1751.786932 39.16 40.01
13/12/2006 15392 33.25 1785.036932 39.17 39.51
14/12/2006 15590 22.95 1807.986932 39.17 39.22
14/12/2006 15785 25.57 1833.556932 39.11 34.66
16/12/2006 15917 14.67 1848.226932 39.12 40.90
17/12/2006 16101 26.25 1874.476932 39.02 31.86
23/12/2006 16299 24.94 1899.416932 38.98 36.09


BTW I've got two maths degrees and an applied researcher so it's all accurate :D.
 

a900ss

Full Member
Apr 20, 2004
24
0
Those reading are off the trip computer. I would argue you can always give yourself a feel good factor by letting it warm up and then taking some measurements as you did but in reality one drives around when the car isn't warmed up, you slam your foot down to enjoy the DSG gear box when pulling away [I do] and those spirited journey knock the actual mileage.

.

Thanks for this, I really appreciate it.

Having said that, my car always warms up fully on my journeys. I very rarely do a journey under 40-50 miles, most are over 100 miles. My current car, a BMW 320d touring, delivers just over 52MPG. That has been measured on a brim to brim basis for the last 10,000 miles. (I've got an Astrophysics degree, so I'm fairly confident I've worked it out correctly!!!). It's fair to say that my BMW is well run in by now though. It's a 2004 model and is currently showing 112,000 miles.

Thanks for your help everybody.
 

Tell

Full Member
Staff member
Moderator
Thanks, thanks.

I must say I was a little upset that I wasn't getting the documented figures for the DSG, but it seems nobody is who calculates them correctly. I can get the trip computer to show me 48 MPG on sedate journeys of 50 - 70 MPH after about 20 miles of running. The reality is I never get that and it's probably that I do drive it with some sportiness.

Other than that I do love the car and nothing is free. You probably need a pug engine in a VW built car. Whilst we are on the subject motoring correspondents don't rate the new Citreon / Pug DSG gear box which is good to know :).

Astrophysics degree... hmm do you make instant decisions ?, I note that a lot of physicists make quick decisions which aren't always valid... still they are loveably just the same since you know where they are coming from... too reductionist.
 

jtmac

Active Member
I drive the 19.TDI Reference Sport and do about 90 miles a day. 60 to 70 are fairly open motorway. Using Litres on the pump and miles on the clock to do the maths I've been getting a fairly constant and average of 43 MPG from 457 miles on the clock to 11794. I've twice got a week with an average over 45 MPG. I use whichever diesel is cheapest ( http://www.petrolprices.com/ ) it doesn't seem to make much difference. I haven't tried adding Millers yet. Or premium (high cetane) diesel. I know that there are some on these forums who swear by Shell/BP/Esso and Millers additives.

I get my best MPG when I stick to 70 and it's not too windy. When I rush (80ish) it goes down.

I try to keep my revs in the right range and I'll coast (cluch in) to drop down to 60 if i'm leaving the motorway and the left lane are only doing 60, or on slight downhill gradients and coming up to red lights with nobody behind me.

I would have thought that the XL would be marginally worse because it's a tiny bit heavier and the roof bars will probably add a smidgen of extra drag.

Just so you can decide whether or not i can multiply by 4.54609, my degree was Mechanical Engineering.

I keep my cost down by buying my diesel in York (work) when it's cheaper in York and in Bradford (home) when it's cheaper in Bradford.
 
Last edited:

richardh

Full Member
Mar 24, 2005
40
0
My Tdi Sport DSG (17" alloys) with 27k on the clock is currently returning around 48 mpg overall average. ON a steady commute (60-70 on a busy but flowing motorway) I get around 60mpg and the other day I this rose to an indicated 69mpg!

Definately a big difference as the engines loosens up.
 

a900ss

Full Member
Apr 20, 2004
24
0
My Tdi Sport DSG (17" alloys) with 27k on the clock is currently returning around 48 mpg overall average. ON a steady commute (60-70 on a busy but flowing motorway) I get around 60mpg and the other day I this rose to an indicated 69mpg!

Definately a big difference as the engines loosens up.

That MPG is amazing!!! Is that calculated or from the trip computer?

Thanks
 

loadswine

loadswine
Some amazing figures from some folks that i can only dream of. Now I am not ware of anything wrong with my car as it drives like a dream and its done 25k.
Round town with a lot of stop start driving and just concentrating on getting from A to B quickly, I get 30 to 32, but that is harsh conditions for any car fuel wise. An auto, even one as brilliant as the DSG will suffer a bit on economy here. Yes Tell is right, the added weight must account for a bit of that.
On a run 40 to 44 is possible and I don't do economy runs, it is real world driving. It is remapped, but figures were pretty much the same before the mapping. Cold weather really hammers my consumption round town , but no difference on a run.
All my figures are worked out by me brim to brim and not the computer, which is over optimistic to stupid levels on mpg. My qualifications are irrelevant, but I can do maths me!! Actually I'm a chartered building engineer.
 

Tell

Full Member
Staff member
Moderator
Yes my considered position on MPG Loadswine is that the folks that quote high MPG figures are getting them off the computer read out after the engine has warmed up, the road conditions are good [not raining] and they aren't thrashing it. As such the quoted figures of 48 I can read of my trip computer after 20 miles, it's a dry day and I'm doing 60 to 70, but that isn't your average driving and doesn't include the first 20 miles whilst the engine is warming up and your driving out of town, stop, starting etc. So ones is reality [brim to brim computations] and the other one is justing kidding yourself on what the Altea does. It's good to see that read out but if you believe that's what you get all the time that's not the case, I see mine saying 30 MPG untill it's warmed up and I'm out of town on a flat road etc... :).

We have had the 17" debate here and that will have a factor as well.... I just think with the DSG you boot it up a bit as well, no point in having rapid change if you don't use it, that could be why the getting out of town figures are low.
 

loadswine

loadswine
Absolutely Tell, I think you've hit the nail on the head about my town driving.
If I look at the computer for the first part of my journey in the mornings, dropping the kids off at the station, then as its a cold start and heavy acceleration up several hills, the consumption is dire... 20mpg!
After that it gets better and often find its up to almost 30 by the time I've reached the office car park 2 miles away.

The thread was asking for real world mpg and its safe to say that I haven't exaggerated to make the Altea look better, its what I actually get. I doubt anyone will get worse though. Perhaps we should have another thread entitled worst consumption figures!;)
 
Adrian Flux insurance services - discount for forum members.