Vectra 2004 fuel consumption

sdanseo

Hey folks

Just bought a 1.6 2004 Vectra - so far, I'm getting absolute shíte mileage from it. Filled the tank to 3/4 yesterday, I've done 74 miles since and it's used about 25 quid's worth of fuel, down to under the half mark. That'll work out about 250 miles to the tank. I floored it on the M1 for about 2 minutes, other than that proper economical driving all the way. Just wondering if anyone else is getting similarly crap mpg or have I gone and bought a ****ester?

Bit of bad vibration through the seat and wheel through high speeds so I reckon tracking could be an issue, need to get that looked at, could that be a contributor maybe?

Also as an aside, anyone know where to get a decent double-DIN radio with AUX for these that'll do a good job of fitting? Halfords insist on charging me €60 to fit a radio which is already overpriced. Looking for bricks n' mortar.

Cheers for any input!

Atlantic Dawn

Fuel gauge could be out a little, best way to measure is fill to brim, do 200 miles and then fill again and then work out the mpg on fuel used for those 200 miles.

Mr Benevolent

The fuel gauge isn't accurate enough to get good figures. Brim it, zero the trip, record how much fuel you put in next time to brim it and compare the mileage and fuel consumed.

As for the vibration, it could be a wheel balance problem.

According to Spritmonitor, 1.6 Vectras average 39.1 mpg and 1.8s average 35.2. A 10% fuel consumption increase for a 20% power increase. Interesting.

Squeaksoutloud

I usually get about 420-430 miles on a full tank in my 04 1.6 Vectra.

here.from.day.1

Squeaksoutloud wrote: »

I usually get about 420-430 miles on a full tank in my 04 1.6 Vectra.

Is that right or is that low for the car? I can manage 500km out of a 2L vtec engine?

Gophur

Any chance anyone can quote actual MPG or l/100km figures, and not this miles/tank nonsense?

frans crash repairs

I've driven both the 1.6 and 1.8 vectras, and I found the 1.8 to be more economical. The Vectra is a big car for a 1.6 engine to carry, the 1.8 is under less strain, therefore, uses less fuel. I never worked out MPG, I just based it on similar amount of mileage and how much I was filling up.

bazz26

Indeed, small underpowered engines in large family cars are a false economy. A small engine has to work alot harder if it has to push a large car around and even more so if it is full of pasengers. A larger engine doesn't struggle as much and will use less fuel. So while the smaller engine will save a few euro on motor taxi it will more than eat up the savings at the pump.

Cars like the Vectra, Avensis, etc were only sold in countries like Ireland because they were cheaper to tax. In most other countries the smallest engine available in these type cars is 1.8 litre. The difference in motor tax between 1.6 and 1.8 is less than €3 a week.

Squeaksoutloud

here.from.day.1 wrote: »

Is that right or is that low for the car? I can manage 500km out of a 2L vtec engine?

Well 420 miles is about 670km so prob not too far off. I havent actually driven it much in a while as I have a company car but as far as I can remember that is what I usually get.

bazz26

420 mile range is pretty good imo from a car and engine that size.

here.from.day.1

here.from.day.1 wrote: »

Is that right or is that low for the car? I can manage 500km out of a 2L vtec engine?

How many gallons does the tank hold ?

Andrew Campbell

If you still find it bad when you've used the complete tank, Change the spark plugs and Air filter and check the tyre pressures.

User Friendly

25 quids worth of petrol aint that many liters of fuel......and thats what you should be gauging our mileage against,not euros.

sorry cant be of anymore help.

Ardent

I have a '04 1.6 petrol Vectra too. I get 40 MPG (370 miles to a full tank) with mostly motorway driving. Around town I typically get 25 MPG.

Not great but not awful either. The way I look at it...the car was cheap.

Ardent

Ardent wrote: »

I have a '04 1.6 petrol Vectra too. .................. The way I look at it...the car was cheap.

Just out of interest how much was it ?? The bangernomics thread does what it says on the tin but there is savage value out there for folks spending a bit more too

Ardent

RoverJames wrote: »

Just out of interest how much was it ?? The bangernomics thread does what it says on the tin but there is savage value out there for folks spending a bit more too

I bought it a couple of years ago for 5k.

Mr Benevolent

Indeed, small underpowered engines in large family cars are a false economy. A small engine has to work alot harder if it has to push a large car around and even more so if it is full of pasengers. A larger engine doesn't struggle as much and will use less fuel. So while the smaller engine will save a few euro on motor taxi it will more than eat up the savings at the pump.

From Spritmonitor.de:

Focus 1.4 fuel consumption (average): 37.6 mpg
Focus 1.6 fuel consumption (average): 37.0 mpg

Vectra 1.6 fuel consumption (average): 39.1 mpg
Vectra 1.8 fuel consumption (average): 35.2 mpg

Golf 1.4 fuel consumption (average): 41.4 mpg
Golf 1.6 fuel consumption (average): 36.1 mpg

So we can finally put the 'smaller engine uses more fuel' OWT to rest.

sdanseo

Ardent wrote: »

I bought it a couple of years ago for 5k.

Bought mine on Tuesday from a dealer for €4,600. Looking at carzone that was fairly cheap too.

spiggotpaddy

the price of fuel is so high that we think we're getting crap mpg.
we get used to putting x amount of money in the tank and as a result we buy less than we used to, and blame the car for drinking to much.

i put 25 euro in the car at a maxol today 18 litres 132 odd per litre.
the fuel guage made a feeble atempt to rise up a little bit.

sdanseo

Right did the figures.

200.1 miles used 26.71 litres giving 33.74mpg or just under 12l/100km.

Cheers for that advice lads, that's decent enough (for the car that's in it and the way I drive).

here.from.day.1

RoverJames wrote: »

How many gallons does the tank hold ?

50L, so about 13.2 gallons?

sdanseo

here.from.day.1 wrote: »

50L, so about 13.2 gallons?

61L in mine apparently. Filled it on the flashing fuel light (i.e. fill up feckin now) and it took 54.5L. Reckon there was a bit in the pipe etc too.

kerten

sdonn wrote: »

Right did the figures.

200.1 miles used 26.71 litres giving 33.74mpg or just under 12l/100km.

Cheers for that advice lads, that's decent enough (for the car that's in it and the way I drive).

33 mpg should be around 8.5-9 lt/100 km if I don't read wrong. I think this is normal for this car-engine combination.

sdanseo

Nope -

26.74L / 4.5l = 5.93 Gal

200.1/5.93=33.74mpg

unless you consider a gallon in the US measurement of 5l in which case it's ~38mpg

rcdk1

sdonn wrote: »

unless you consider a gallon in the US measurement of 5l in which case it's ~38mpg

The US gallon is 3.79L which makes that 28mpg(US)

sdanseo

rcdk1 wrote: »

The US gallon is 3.79L which makes that 28mpg(US)

Oh.

Great.

kerten

sdonn wrote: »

Nope -

26.74L / 4.5l = 5.93 Gal

200.1/5.93=33.74mpg

unless you consider a gallon in the US measurement of 5l in which case it's ~38mpg

No problem related your mpg calculation. I just wanted to point 12 liter/100 km in your post. I think it is just typo or wrong OBC value.

Victor Meldrew

Gophur wrote: »

Any chance anyone can quote actual MPG or l/100km figures, and not this miles/tank nonsense?

I had a 2004 1.6 Vectra, from new, for two years. 32 MPG, religously.

And quoting what you get from a tank can be meaningful, especially if you are doing a lot of mileage. The hassle factor matters. BUt, if you don't do a lot of miles and never fill your tank, then, yes, it is a bit pointless.

delly

I had an '06 1.6 Vectra and done about 140k in my time. I would always fill up on the orange and would normally get 53/54 in the tank and would get at least 700 km's out of a fill, sometimes pushing to 730 or so on occasion.