LJK Setright

[RGSchmitt]

A few years ago I had a Lincoln Town car as a rental (large) that
gave 27 mpg in moderate driving. EPA ratings for the similar Ford
Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis are 15 city and 23 highway
(mpg).. Pretty good for a 4061 lb car.

[Sam410]

Originally Posted by RGSchmitt

A few years ago I had a Lincoln Town car as a rental (large) that
gave 27 mpg in moderate driving. EPA ratings for the similar Ford
Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis are 15 city and 23 highway
(mpg).. Pretty good for a 4061 lb car.

I had a fairly new (about 4000 miles on the clock) rental Town Car earlier this year and the trip computer said 24mpg (US gallons of course) when I collected it, and I'd managed to get it down to 19mpg 2500 miles later when I returned it. I had of course been driving it at European speeds, shall we say! It is, I think, a 4.6 V8, that struggled to haul its 4061 lb up freeway inclines, and handled like a boat. Corners on freeways were alarming if you were going too fast (over 80mph or so) as the weight shifted and the air suspension lurched. I loved it as a honeymoon car, but wouldn't want one of my own.

[Markus Berzborn]

By the way, are we talking about US or UK gallons?

Regards,
Markus

[Rubbond]

I find it a little worrying that people are able to remember the fuel
consumption of rental cars, and then several years ago.
Last week I rented a Peugeot 107 (at least that was what I was told it was)
on Malta. Small island, so small car.
Having spent 2 days folding down the front seats up and down to get things
into it (it had no boot to speak of), I only realised when filling up with
petrol just before turning it in, that it actually had four doors (!), the
rear doors closing right up against the rear windscreen
Thankfully they do full service at Maltese filling stations, or likely I
would never have found the filler cap, even in daylight.
Another car I won't be buying.
It had 5 gears but I didn't get out of 3rd.
Oh and the fuel consumption - no idea.

[Sam410]

I only remember it because it I had a discussion with the hire car guy about it, there was a display telling me consumption that I spent three weeks watching slowly fall, and it was only a few months ago. It may be thirsty by UK standards, but it gas was still very cheap in California compared to here!

[Ashley James]

I completely rebuild my cars with meticulous attention to their
workings. This includes adjusting carburettors and ignition timing
etc to perfection and applying modifications to achieve better
temperature control and economy. Therefore fuel consumption for me
is one indicator of my success or failure.
Modern cars are different and my wife and I have just endured a long
weekend in Picardy in the back of a six cylinder Subaru Outback with a
small TV screen. This began by advertising the company and, because
no one could fathom the satnav, went on to provide overall and
instananeous fuel consumption. This being the least iritating display
available unless we wanted to drive from Sturminster Newton to
Portsmouth via Dover whilst located somewhere near Rheims. I have a
friend with a BMW who's been unable to persuade his car that he's no
longer on holiday in Spain!
I hope this clarifies the situation, though I should add that any rear
wheel steering in the Subaru was more advisory than mechanical.
Ash

[UK6]

Dear Forum,
My 1939 Jag burns 1 gallon of 92 octane petrol every 20 miles at a constant 2000 rpm (52 mph). Further, the vehicle produces a lot of NOX and a plethora of unburnt hydrocarbons - especially in the form of fuel vapour from the tank breather and atop the old Skinner's float bowls during a hot Aussie summer. Apart from the vehicle's inherent driving pleasure, I am not about to trade the clunker in on a newer/cleaner burning car or indeed, fit a catalystic converter or apply similar mods. The greenies reading this ramble will no doubt be in a mild state of apoplexy at this point, however, in my defence ,I make two important points:
1. The vehicle in question is lucky to travel over 5000mls in one year, and
2. Most of the car is over 70 years old and therefore the energy required to build the car initially has, I believe, been well and truly put to good use.

In closing, I think that the next time I receive my registration bill, I should ask for a rebate given that my vehicle embodies a significant carbon sink ie the car has a wooden body frame!

Brett