D5 (2005 on) Fuel Consumption

[stevie]

Have to say as a work vehicle i would plump for the diesel. But then again you like the power of your T5 and i do know where youre coming from, ive just been offered an S60R and the drive was just amazing but my D5 isnt a slouch especially from low down the rev range and i would really miss the MPG. Not to mention the £166 extra the insurance company wanted.

[foggyjames]

...and the tax!

Has anyone else noticed that used car prices haven't really dropped at all lately...unless you're looking at a gas guzzling luxobarge? I was thinking this would be a good time to buy a V50 D5...but there don't seem to be any bargains to be found.

cheers

James

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by foggyjames

...and the tax!

Has anyone else noticed that used car prices haven't really dropped at all lately...unless you're looking at a gas guzzling luxobarge? I was thinking this would be a good time to buy a V50 D5...but there don't seem to be any bargains to be found.

cheers

James

Yes I thought it might be a good time to buy the V8 XC90 but the prices are £25,000 to £28,000 for a three year old one!

All the best.

Roy

[oilburner]

It seems the dealers are wanting their cake and to eat it too. Trade in values are still dropping (although not as fast as 3-6 months ago), and yet auction prices have been going up for 4 months in a row.

No bargains to be had on main dealer forecourts either.

I can see it now: trade in my S80 and the spiel would be "nobody wants big luxo-barges anymore sir, I'm doing you a _favour_ giving you 50p for it"

And to buy the same car from them, it would be: "it's true that big cars are not as popular as they once were, but this is a Volvo sir, and with a great diesel engine, it'll hold its value better than almost anything, I'm afraid I can't knock a penny off"...

LOL!

Some things never change...

[Ian Green]

Originally Posted by foggyjames

Do keep us posted on any unsuccessful "enquiries" to customer services, and the club might, to quote Phil Mitchell, "have a word".

cheers

James

I received a complete non-reply from customer services. They refuse to accept that there is an issue, (deliberately?) miss the point that I am comparing the gap from actual to advertised mpg performance from my old D5 to my new one and refused to engage on why they treated me so badly on the phone when I rang up to ask the original question. To be honest, I wish I had not bought my new car right now - and I find their attitude incredible given the state of sales of cars.

Ian.

[dodgyken]

Fuel economy figures are OFFICIAL guide figures only - and come complete with their own disclaimer. I have proved that their figures are attainable without use of a light right foot.

The latest D5 does appear to take longer to break in AND will drink more fuel than the lighter Phase 2 EURO3 D5.

It doesn't take much to damage fuel economy - a classic example is getting the gearbox to lock up - sometimes you have to go faster than you initially want to for the gearbox to lock up - then drop your speed slightly - and it will maintain the lock - and be more fuel efficient.

It is also horrendous when called - which is more down to the gearbox not warming up them anything - a drive from my flat to our storage room - and it takes around 4 miles for the fuel economy to get pretty good - and 10 miles to be normal. The torque converter is far more active in that time.

I can achieve the official numbers.

[RoyMacDonald]

MPG also varies seasonally, expect a big drop in the winter due to lower thermal efficiency. MPG is 30% down during the first mile from cold, so short journeys will really hit the mpg. Expect to have to do over 10,000 miles before the engine starts to give good mpg. It will keep getting better for the life of a diesel engine. Will alway drop back proportionally during cold weather though.

Roy

[v70-xc90man]

I know its annoying that the latest d5 uses more fuel,but think about it the old d5 had 163 bhp and 340nm torques 1669 kg for the v70 and now the latest v70 d5 is 182 bhp and 400 nm torques and the car now weighs 1857 kg and has the anti soot gadget that uses fuel to carry out its function,so its hardly supprising to me that it uses more fuel as its also the same capacity engine cc,so it stands to reason,more weight and power and soot gadget=more fuel---but volvo are ambitious on the figures i know which is not right

Originally Posted by Ian Green

I received a complete non-reply from customer services. They refuse to accept that there is an issue, (deliberately?) miss the point that I am comparing the gap from actual to advertised mpg performance from my old D5 to my new one and refused to engage on why they treated me so badly on the phone when I rang up to ask the original question. To be honest, I wish I had not bought my new car right now - and I find their attitude incredible given the state of sales of cars.

Ian.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by v70-xc90man

Ibut volvo are ambitious on the figures i know which is not right

Isn't it the Government who set the tests for mpg?

Roy

[dodgyken]

As far as I can work out:

1) People are complaining the EURO4 engines aren't as economical as the EURO3
2) People are complaining the EURO4 engine doesn't achieve it's official figures
3) People are complaining the P3 V70 EURO4 isn't as economical as the P2.

So lets go though them 1 by 1

1) They aren't. The official figures say so. They didn't hide that when the engines changed.
2) The tests are done with warm engines - and simulated with the lowest model on the narrowest tyres - on a flat surface - in opitimal conditions. You can see quickly how in real terms any driver of any car will fail to achieve official figures. I have got 7.42l/100km from my P3 D5 - against 7.4l/100km official.
3) The P3 is heavier, wider and probably a greater frontal area - no wonder it is less efficient.

Personally - I have a car, that when loaded with 2 people and a couple of bags easily tips over 2000KG. I have 210PS and 470NM under my right foot - which I exercise. I cruise on 17" wheels at 80+mph on the motorway - but drive economically in terms of thinking ahead. And I can get 37mpg from the car. Not bad if you ask me.

If you are so damn worried about 2 or 3 mpg - then DON'T buy a new car - buy a 20 year old car and depreciation be damned - fuel costs make very little difference to the overall cost of running a car.