That would account for it then - the fuel consumption - not your wife.

I think 28 for an auto DERV is quite bad - even as on auto...

My V6 does about 18 stop start ..... and thats petrol and two extra cylinders.... I wouldn't be happy with 28 from a DERV auto...

Paul

Just a thought...do Aussies use Imperial or US gallons? Could explain some of the difference as the US version is only 4/5ths of an IMP one. (28MPG would then equal 35 - a bit more as one might expect.)
Reading back I was pleased to see that Robert also does long distances in a day, we regularly do just under 1300 in 24hrs as part of a continuous 1650 mile journey (quickest time 34 hrs door to door including ferry and all stops). That's avoiding Autoroute tolls as much as possible, the most recent time only me driving and a trailer in tow. What other sub-£300 car would do that ?
Not many cars other than XM's that we'd like to do it in, although have used a Rover 620D (towing a 7metre traveller's caravan) and a Peugeot 405 TD in the past, all returning pretty comparable fuel figures.

Happy days! if a little jaded on arrival.

Rodders.

Hi Rodders

Just to let you know that Robert still looks in on Club-XM but has moved on to a BMW. I took on his silver estate and it is currently SORN while I get it ready to MOT. I am very interested in the fuel economy achieved aspect and may leave the thermostat problem and the overdue belts until after I have used it for a couple of months. Robert used to do better than I would expect to get from a 2.5TD and that was with the downsides of low engine temperature, aircon loading and increased cross-section of an estate.

John

Well my wife just did 800kms to her grandparents and back .... I just refilled the XM and it's returned 43mpg (most of which is highway)..... Hmmmmmm So 28mpg around town and 43 on the highway. About right I guess given the large size of the car.

seeya,
Shane L.

That sounds more like it!

Peter.

Thats an AMAZING difference, Ive never known town to drop MPG by that much...

You learn something everyday....

Paul

Yep,that's what my OBC shows, 28 mpg over the week for the daily commute 12 miles each way.Hills, stop/start and stuck in 3rd or 2nd for 80% of the time.No complaints, the fiesta 1.25 zetec(petrol) did 35, BUT, the 1.3 multijet diesel punto did 54, now that's impressive!

Ive done 290 miles since friday in the Xm - mostly motorway with the odd B road. So ive filled up to see the MPG, it works out to 30.2MPG. - Little disappointing.

The last tank was 32MPG with roughly 500 motorway miles, the tank before was 34MPG with mainly B roads.

Id love a Td Xm, but can't bring myself to sell the 2.0!

Hmm.
Right.
So, how come that, in between two tank stops (500 and a bit miles apart) with 60% motorway and the remainder with A-road, B-road and local road, reel in 49,5 mpg?

On another note:
I visited a Dutch Peugeot and Citroën diesel/hydraulics specialist (Renard) yesterday, to have him see if my newly acquired 2.1 TD auto was healthy (which it was).

As he took it for a spin, we discussed the acceleration, and the fact that some say that, from standstill, "an auto 2.1 TD simply will not move", and will be beaten by a pushbike. Surprisingly, his comment was that mine has the Lucas Epic pump, and that makes it quicker. He also added that the Epic pump usually does give better MPG, and, if kept in check, usually doesn't die on you. Apparently, he liked the Epic pump better than the Bosch.