960 1994 Poor fuel economy

[Kappy5003]

Well I've had my new 960 about a week now and still enjoy driving her.

Rides well, comfortable feels good.

However having done approx 1000km since picking her Iam a bit shocked to discover that the fuel economy for highway driving turns out to be 24 miles per imperial gallon or about 20miles per US gallon.

All my research leans towards about 29 miles gallon(imp) is this correct or am I off track.

I checked the codes and there are none.

The tyres on the vehicle are a bit oversized (215/60 15) not sure if they impact on fuel economy, definately has an impact on speedo approx 6% reading low.

Is there anything else that would impact on economy.

I have also found the automatic down hill mode when in cruise control is very noticeable, is this normal and can that affect economy? BTW I use cruise control where ever possible.

On an entirely different note I would like to change gear selector with a wood grain one,are they interchangeable between different models and if so can anyone tell me the relevant models that would suit.

Cheers

[billofdurham]

If your speedo is reading 6% low then your mileage travelled will be reading 6% low. This will affect your figures.

When I had my 960 I reckoned to be around the 27 - 28mpg mark on what I describe as long runs. We don't have enough roads suitable for all 'highway' driving, even our motorways are congested making for fast/slow driving.

Which mode are you in, E or S? S uses more fuel as does, in my opinion, cruise control. Cruise control is very good for driving on roads that are fairly level. When you encounter up grades not using cruise control you can anticipate the grade and increase power slightly allowing the car to climb the grade with possibly one down change. Cruise control can't anticipate, it can only react to the grade once it is on it. On some grades it will change down two gears where an experienced driver would only need one. On down grades without cruise control you can anticipate the grade easing off the power earlier. Cruise control on a down grade reacts after it exceeds the set speed and has to drop a gear to get the speed right. Every extra gear change costs fuel.

I was involved in testing cruise control with a view to having it on our motorway cars. We didn't get it.

I've gone through VADIS and it looks as if you can only use the shift knob from the 960 or the S/V90.

Bill.

[Kappy5003]

Thanks Bill
I used my GPS to compare speed and distance after I discovered the distance was less on a known distance.
The figures were calculated taking into account the 6% discrepency.
I was only in E mode
Sort of defeats the purpose of having cruise, my 850 wagon used to get 33mpg on long runs, Bummer.
I guess next run to Perth I try without cruise see how it goes, also a different car to the 850.
Living in a rural envrioment our country highways aren't like you motorways, now and then you might get stuck behind a semi trailer for a while but generally we ae able to maintain the 110km/h speed limit.