How to get the absolute best fuel economy?

[marzman]

Well... i sold my zed earlier this year for several reasons, but im looking to get another one early next year once a few things are sorted.

 

However, i've got a new job at work meaning i'll be on the road a lot - probably doing 25k a year. My company will be paying me 25p per mile though.

 

So, ignoring depreciation

 

25k miles @ 25p = £6250

25k miles in a zed @ 25mpg = £5221 (£1k in my pocket)

25k miles in a diesel @ 50mpg = £2724 (£3500 in my pocket)

 

As you can see, by not getting a diesel, i'll be throwing away around £2500 every year...!

 

So - what are my options to get the best fuel economy in a zed...? Im thinking one of those throttle controllers and possibly a remap...? But if i got the remap, is my zed going to be @*!# to drive etc...?

 

I dont want to get a 2nd car alongside the zed.

 

Any thoughts?

[dyla350z]

95 oct

[UNABASHED]

your looking at it in the wrong way!

 

You're going to have all your petrol paid for and your worried about fuel economy - drive it like you stole it 24/7!

 

[rtbiscuit]

on long drives i was getting 30-32 round town and genral stuff about 27mpg. as soon as i modded it; this dropped to about 22mpg for round town and 29 -30 on long haul.

 

best advice is to leave stock.

[Husky]

just drive like a granny.

 

do 60mph everywhere seeing as you are being paid to drive.

[Mark@Abbey m/s]

Buy a car that can have multi maps , so you need a car with cruise control

 

All JDM cars if they have cruise can have multi maps

 

and all late 05 (296bhp) UK cars can have multi maps if they have cruise control, we can then do you a map for 98 and 95 fuel, the cars if tunedwhen totally stock get better MPG than a stock car , we remap the part throttle part of the maps, to run leaner this makes the car give better mid-range torque and throttle response.

 

 

Mark

[Wasso]

Looks like mark beat me to it. I was going to suggest a 95 octane map. But then why by a zed to conserve fuel it doesn't add up. Ask yourself what is the zed for? What does it represent? I'd get a cheap small diesel to run alongside the zed. The money you save on the diesel costs will benefit the pleasure you have with zed.

 

If I was forced to drive the zed in a reserved manner I'd go crazy. I'm sure you would too.

 

I'd rethink your options.

[JetSet]

Well, you use most fuel when its stone cold so keep your revs down for the first few miles..3 or 4 should do it. Keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you so that your not constantly slowing down and accelerating...saves on brake wear too. I'm a fairly gentle driver and change at about 3,500 rpm most times. Avoid being goaded by TT, Evo, Subaru, etc owners and most of all Boy Racers, just smile and let them get on with it remembering that you're in a better car. Switch off your engine if you're stuck in a queue that's not going to be moving for a while. On Motorways, set your cruise control to 70 or just above. Another one is to try and anticipate traffic lights, rather than roar up them when they are on red, ease back a bit, give them time to change. There are other ways, many of them , that I've used in the distant past to get me home when I was critically short of petrol.. Unfortunately, even adapting all these measures is only going to give you maybe 30 mpg over a 12 month period...and it's pretty difficult to be in constant fuel saving mode for more than a couple of days

 

Pete

[mbs]

Chris,

I think you are pulling our xxxxxx after your past experience in a Zed you know the answer

[spursmaddave]

All depends what you want the Z for, if you are going to do 25k a year in it you might as well buy an old high mileage one, but then why bother to keep it looking good, you will get a huge amount of stone chips etc.

If you are doing most of the miles on motorways doing long runs you will get much better than 25mpg anyway, probably nearer 30mpg...

Driving style has a lot to do with it too, since I have had my fidanza flywheel I keep the revs higher so that it doesn't chatter so much and I have found it's done wonders for my fuel economy, I only do an 18 mile commute to work and if there is no traffic I get 30mpg easily, and I don't hang around!

 

If you decide to go the diesel route (I would if I were you) then a nice comfy repmobile will get you around in comfort and save you a fortune, then you can get a top notch 350 or even a 370 for the weekends / meets and shows no brainer really

[marzman]

Buy a car that can have multi maps , so you need a car with cruise control

 

All JDM cars if they have cruise can have multi maps

 

and all late 05 (296bhp) UK cars can have multi maps if they have cruise control, we can then do you a map for 98 and 95 fuel, the cars if tunedwhen totally stock get better MPG than a stock car , we remap the part throttle part of the maps, to run leaner this makes the car give better mid-range torque and throttle response.

 

 

Mark

 

Thanks for that Mark... so this multi maps issue... how would i go about changing between the 2...? For example if i wanted to drive economically in the week, and have fun at weekend? And roughly, are we talking about saving 1-2mpg, 7-8mpg??

 

Looks like mark beat me to it. I was going to suggest a 95 octane map. But then why by a zed to conserve fuel it doesn't add up. Ask yourself what is the zed for? What does it represent? I'd get a cheap small diesel to run alongside the zed. The money you save on the diesel costs will benefit the pleasure you have with zed.

 

If I was forced to drive the zed in a reserved manner I'd go crazy. I'm sure you would too.

 

I'd rethink your options.

 

Why do i want a zed...? Because its an awesome car. I just wish i could flick a switch in it and only use half of the engine to save fuel when i dont need the performance

 

What i dont want is a boring rep-mobile just for the good economy.

[marzman]

Well, you use most fuel when its stone cold so keep your revs down for the first few miles..3 or 4 should do it. Keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you so that your not constantly slowing down and accelerating...saves on brake wear too. I'm a fairly gentle driver and change at about 3,500 rpm most times. Avoid being goaded by TT, Evo, Subaru, etc owners and most of all Boy Racers, just smile and let them get on with it remembering that you're in a better car. Switch off your engine if you're stuck in a queue that's not going to be moving for a while. On Motorways, set your cruise control to 70 or just above. Another one is to try and anticipate traffic lights, rather than roar up them when they are on red, ease back a bit, give them time to change. There are other ways, many of them , that I've used in the distant past to get me home when I was critically short of petrol.. Unfortunately, even adapting all these measures is only going to give you maybe 30 mpg over a 12 month period...and it's pretty difficult to be in constant fuel saving mode for more than a couple of days

 

Pete

 

 

You are absolutely right here Pete - i do drive very quick but employing all of the principles you describe here... i can get home from work without using my brakes.

 

If you decide to go the diesel route (I would if I were you) then a nice comfy repmobile will get you around in comfort and save you a fortune, then you can get a top notch 350 or even a 370 for the weekends / meets and shows no brainer really

 

I couldnt bare spending £3-5k on a repmobile, and then another £10k on a zed for the weekend. I dont believe the zed is a weekend car, if i was doing that, i'd get an elise probably, or a caterham. The zed is an accomplished GT car when it needs to be, and a weekend special when you want to get your foot down.

[spursmaddave]

I totally agree and my Z is certainly not a weekend car, I use my Z as a daily drive, that's why I got a high mileage one.

 

You would soon get bored of the Throttle Controller on Econ mode and stick it on Sport believe me I normally have mine on Sport 5, the other week it was raining hard and I did the sensible thing and put it on Econ... I thought I had just left my engine on the Dual Carriageway

 

All I was saying was that according to your calculations you can have 3k a year in your pocket, thats a fair amount and worth considering. Instead of a repmobile how about a sporty diesel, either a hatchback or even something like a 2.2l Jag diesel.

 

At the end of the day the choice is yours, only you can decide, there are also other considerations not just Fuel, a Z clutch can only be good for 30K so that would be almost one a year, service would be almost 3 a year etc etc it all adds up.

 

Good luck with whichever way you go

[marzman]

I totally agree and my Z is certainly not a weekend car, I use my Z as a daily drive, that's why I got a high mileage one.

 

You would soon get bored of the Throttle Controller on Econ mode and stick it on Sport believe me I normally have mine on Sport 5, the other week it was raining hard and I did the sensible thing and put it on Econ... I thought I had just left my engine on the Dual Carriageway

 

All I was saying was that according to your calculations you can have 3k a year in your pocket, thats a fair amount and worth considering. Instead of a repmobile how about a sporty diesel, either a hatchback or even something like a 2.2l Jag diesel.

 

At the end of the day the choice is yours, only you can decide, there are also other considerations not just Fuel, a Z clutch can only be good for 30K so that would be almost one a year, service would be almost 3 a year etc etc it all adds up.

 

Good luck with whichever way you go

 

30k a clutch... ouch?! I hadnt thought of that... my previous zed was an auto...!

 

I know what you're saying, and it is a fairly large chunk of money to be throwing away... 2 years of cheap driving and i'll be able to by a zed outright with the change...

 

Maybe i do need to think this through further...

[spursmaddave]

I totally agree and my Z is certainly not a weekend car, I use my Z as a daily drive, that's why I got a high mileage one.

 

You would soon get bored of the Throttle Controller on Econ mode and stick it on Sport believe me I normally have mine on Sport 5, the other week it was raining hard and I did the sensible thing and put it on Econ... I thought I had just left my engine on the Dual Carriageway

 

All I was saying was that according to your calculations you can have 3k a year in your pocket, thats a fair amount and worth considering. Instead of a repmobile how about a sporty diesel, either a hatchback or even something like a 2.2l Jag diesel.

 

At the end of the day the choice is yours, only you can decide, there are also other considerations not just Fuel, a Z clutch can only be good for 30K so that would be almost one a year, service would be almost 3 a year etc etc it all adds up.

 

Good luck with whichever way you go

 

30k a clutch... ouch?! I hadnt thought of that... my previous zed was an auto...!

 

I know what you're saying, and it is a fairly large chunk of money to be throwing away... 2 years of cheap driving and i'll be able to by a zed outright with the change...

 

Maybe i do need to think this through further...

 

I guess the clutch depends how you drive really... decisions decisions... Oh did I mention the tyres you are going to go through as well

[HEADPHONES]

Chris, who would have thought a promotion would bring so many headaches

 

It's nice to have the options though

 

For me my situation was the opposite.

Baby came and wife had a mini and me a zed.

 

That meant the mini is my weekend car and only really use the zed to and from work

But the zed is my only oasis of sanity.

Work is hard and long, and save the weekends for family.

Love the kid to bits but no more socialising, no going training, home cinema/stereo always on ultra low vol, even detailing the zed at night now using halogens on the drive

 

What I'm getting at is if your gonna be working and driving long and hard, a diesal may leave a few grand in your pocket but you'd be spending hours sitting in a car pining for a zed. Alot of driving means spending MORE OF YOUR LIFE IN A CAR so surely the zed choice would be even better "value" in the "pound per wear" sense.

You even told me you missed your in car sounds and didn't put anything decent in the fiesta as it didn't deserve it.

GET THE ZED, GET THE I.C.E, ENJOY YOUR COMMUTE. ZEDS ENRICH YOUR LIFE

[Wasso]

From what mark showed - it's a case of turn ignition on and select the map via the cruise control buttons. It will indicate via flashing the cruise light a number of times to indicate which map you have selected, then start the car. I believe to change the map you would then turn the car off and select the same process to apply a different map. Although mark may have more info regarding changing the map with the engine running?

[showtime1]

forget the fuel costs i would be more worried about running costs , tyres clutches etc plus depreciation if your doing that mileage a year i would get a cheap diesel . a zed aint for going to work in.

[showtime1]

depends what the route is like going to work, stuck in rush hour traffic aint my idea of pleasure no matter what i was driving

Chris, who would have thought a promotion would bring so many headaches

 

It's nice to have the options though

 

For me my situation was the opposite.

Baby came and wife had a mini and me a zed.

 

That meant the mini is my weekend car and only really use the zed to and from work

But the zed is my only oasis of sanity.

Work is hard and long, and save the weekends for family.

Love the kid to bits but no more socialising, no going training, home cinema/stereo always on ultra low vol, even detailing the zed at night now using halogens on the drive

 

What I'm getting at is if your gonna be working and driving long and hard, a diesal may leave a few grand in your pocket but you'd be spending hours sitting in a car pining for a zed. Alot of driving means spending MORE OF YOUR LIFE IN A CAR so surely the zed choice would be even better "value" in the "pound per wear" sense.

You even told me you missed your in car sounds and didn't put anything decent in the fiesta as it didn't deserve it.

GET THE ZED, GET THE I.C.E, ENJOY YOUR COMMUTE. ZEDS ENRICH YOUR LIFE

[BACON]

Well, you use most fuel when its stone cold so keep your revs down for the first few miles..3 or 4 should do it. Keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you so that your not constantly slowing down and accelerating...saves on brake wear too. I'm a fairly gentle driver and change at about 3,500 rpm most times. Avoid being goaded by TT, Evo, Subaru, etc owners and most of all Boy Racers, just smile and let them get on with it remembering that you're in a better car. Switch off your engine if you're stuck in a queue that's not going to be moving for a while. On Motorways, set your cruise control to 70 or just above. Another one is to try and anticipate traffic lights, rather than roar up them when they are on red, ease back a bit, give them time to change. There are other ways, many of them , that I've used in the distant past to get me home when I was critically short of petrol.. Unfortunately, even adapting all these measures is only going to give you maybe 30 mpg over a 12 month period...and it's pretty difficult to be in constant fuel saving mode for more than a couple of days

 

Pete

 

 

Jetset you certainly know what you're talking about and your advice is sound; without realising I do all of the above measures and I still cannot ever get much above 27 mpg.................maybe that is because of exactly what you have mentioned at the end.......there's only so long you can drive like a saint and be non-aggressive before the inevitable happens..........you relaise how good the Zed is to drive and the right foot gets planted

 

For me it's normally caused by a catalyst.......some idiot motorist driving at 32 mph in a 60 limit with no reasoning other than they just shouldn't be on the road; generally they're are so old and scared of the road and surrounding traffic they just become a liability!!!

[marzman]

Chris, who would have thought a promotion would bring so many headaches

 

It's nice to have the options though

 

For me my situation was the opposite.

Baby came and wife had a mini and me a zed.

 

That meant the mini is my weekend car and only really use the zed to and from work

But the zed is my only oasis of sanity.

Work is hard and long, and save the weekends for family.

Love the kid to bits but no more socialising, no going training, home cinema/stereo always on ultra low vol, even detailing the zed at night now using halogens on the drive

 

What I'm getting at is if your gonna be working and driving long and hard, a diesal may leave a few grand in your pocket but you'd be spending hours sitting in a car pining for a zed. Alot of driving means spending MORE OF YOUR LIFE IN A CAR so surely the zed choice would be even better "value" in the "pound per wear" sense.

You even told me you missed your in car sounds and didn't put anything decent in the fiesta as it didn't deserve it.

GET THE ZED, GET THE I.C.E, ENJOY YOUR COMMUTE. ZEDS ENRICH YOUR LIFE

 

 

Andy - what a post mate!!!!!!

 

You've just sold it to me. You're totally right - the zed will be my sanctuary from the stress of the new job.

 

From what mark showed - it's a case of turn ignition on and select the map via the cruise control buttons. It will indicate via flashing the cruise light a number of times to indicate which map you have selected, then start the car. I believe to change the map you would then turn the car off and select the same process to apply a different map. Although mark may have more info regarding changing the map with the engine running?

 

Cheers.

[M13KYF]

if you enjoy driving then spending a large amount of time in something you enjoy is money well spent chris

[geoff-r]

If you want my advise I'd go out and buy a diesel. I just bought a diesel for work, an '03 A3 TDi Quattro. Such a comfortable car, returns 50+mpg and should see you through the winter nicely with the 4x4 I gave £4k for it. I don't think I couldn't justify ruining my Zed for work. I have it purely as a car I enjoy when I want to. That said I haven't given it a good drive for nearly 2 weeks

[glrnet]

Abbey did my 54 GT last week and already I've noticed an increase in fuel economy, probably about 2-4 mpg overall, the throttle response and torque improvement goes with out saying!! Best money I've spent on the Zed so far without question

 

Buy a car that can have multi maps , so you need a car with cruise control

 

All JDM cars if they have cruise can have multi maps

 

and all late 05 (296bhp) UK cars can have multi maps if they have cruise control, we can then do you a map for 98 and 95 fuel, the cars if tunedwhen totally stock get better MPG than a stock car , we remap the part throttle part of the maps, to run leaner this makes the car give better mid-range torque and throttle response.

 

 

Mark

[spursmaddave]

Lots of different views, very interesting.

 

A Z is not just for weekends, if you can afford it then why not use it as a commuter, I do. Obviously you might as well get a high mileage one to start with, no point getting one that has 25k and then doubling it in a year

 

Just do all your sums and give it a go, you can always change your mind after 6 months.

 

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