Is that even possible??? -38 mpg out of a 2.0 N/A 740 Estate

[lionheart002]

Just looking at this add... They claim 38 mpg... B200F

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-V...cAAOSwrAFcQl2F

I am not sure you will get that even at 65mph on the motorway constantly...

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by lionheart002

Just looking at this add... They claim 38 mpg... B200F

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-V...cAAOSwrAFcQl2F

I am not sure you will get that even at 65mph on the motorway constantly...

I would say that it is possible, but at the outer limits of the range, 'lionheart002'.

We once had a 2.1 auto 244 that rarely bettered 23 MPG overall during normal motoring at home. To our amazement, on our first visit to Sweden in it, it comfortably exceeded 30 at a constant 90 KPH over long runs with little acceleration or braking. The car was running under optimum conditions and what it was built for. City cars they are not; prolonged town driving would see consumption rise to 16 -18 MPG.

As always, it depends upon driving style, terrain, climate, state of tune, altitude, etc. Under ideal conditions, I feel 38 MPG is quite possible.

Regards, John.

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

35mpg is the best I EVER got out of my 89MY 744 B200E

[Laird Scooby]

I don't see it as impossible but you'd have to be fairly light-footed to do it.

The best i've had from a 740 2.3 N/A (B230E) was 35mpg on a run, towing an empty 660kg trailer.
On the return journey with 1490kg of car on top of the trailer, the economy dropped to about 22-25mpg - overall i averaged 25mpg from door to door (filling up before collecting the trailer, collect trailer, down to the west country for the car, return home then return trailer next day and refill tank) and i have also bettered that in my current 760 (2.8 V6 B280E) where i've managed 37mpg on a run.

It's not an everyday thing to get 37mpg from my 760, usually it's in the region of 25-30mpg, depending where i drive, journey length and so on.

[tofufi]

It's probably not far off 'ideal' conditions.

Don't forget that those tests are done under perfect conditions - no very cold starts, constant speeds, no weather, no traffic, no hills as such (these days the tests are done on rolling roads rather than in the real world).

This:

https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-sp...Diesel-IC.html

Suggests 50mpg extra urban and 36MPG on highways for the diesel. I've averaged 44.2MPG over the last 20+k miles in mine, mostly motorways and A roads.

More specs here:

https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/Volvo/M721/740

[TonyS9]

Well I doubt it with normal driving, my 95 B230FT 940 does maybe 32 if you keep it below 50 and drive sensibly. I can get over 40mpg with pulse and glide technique, which is a bit anti-social. It will also do 40mpg if you keep it below 35mph and are very steady on the accelerator.

[mhuk]

Not Running. Spares or Repair

38mpg if dropped out of a plane maybe?

[classicswede]

I have known 45MPG to be possible on a long run with very steady throttle but I would say a practicle target is only 30MPG

[slowprop]

I must admit I'll probably never put the effort into working out my mpg out in case I don't like the answer and it detracts from the pleasure I get out of driving mine. It doesn't seem that bad really so I'll leave it at that.

[Ian21401]

Over several years my 1992, 940, 2.0L, B200F has averaged 30 mpg. That was commuting and general around and about. Once achieved 38 mpg on a nice steady long run, mostly on two way carriageways, so never over 60mph. It’s not good but I like the car and it’s no worse that the Morris Marina it replaced.
When I was club rallying I had a Triumph Herald 1200 with a twin SU carb Spitfire engine in. Around and about it did about 20 mpg and considerably less when actually rallying.