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Did anyone see the latest TOP GEAR (http://www.topgear.com/uk/tv-show/series-12/episode-4)? Richard Hammond achieved over 80 MPG on a Polo and James May got over 60 MPG on a Subaru estate on an eco race where the only rules were time to destination and no refueling. It was fun to watch and interesting to see how into Hypermiling James May is. I'm sure he's visited this site.

At the end Hammond said, but would anyone buy a Prius when they can get mileage like this in a car which costs 8000 pounds less?

Too bad we don't have the Polo here.

At the end Hammond said, but would anyone buy a Prius when they can get mileage like this in a car which costs 8000 pounds less?

Too bad we don't have the Polo here.

Oh snap. :(

Hey, I would have at least test-driven it.

Which Subaru?

Also, which gallons? Imperial, I presume?

@WriConsult

Richard Hammond would not utilize inferior measurement units. If its not British or German it must be rubbish.

I don't think it was imperial, because the blue motion only has a 12 gallon tank and he drove 800 miles or close to. Even if it was imperial that would that would translate to 67 us mpg from someone who isn't a skilled hypermiler. Still impressive in my book.

Yes it was imperial gallons - we don't work on short measures in the UK! :)

I finally got around to watching that show (along with the rest of Season 12). That was a rally good race!

Makes you wonder what the jag would do if driven moderately

That was an interesting episode....if what they said about the fuel left in the Jaguar was correct, Clarkson could've turned the A/C back on, gunned it at the end and actually won the race, and still had a little bit left over.

It also makes me wonder why they don't make the tanks bigger on smaller cars. I'd love to have a 60 litre tank on the Yaris vs the paultry 42 litre tank it comes with. Loss in FE when the tank is full would be marginal at best and being able to go 1300 kms easily on a tank vs the 900 now, would be very nice.

We may be getting the POLO! (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2009/01/vw-polo-us.html)

i have seen it and i think the prius is better, worth the extra, money, perhaps on the highway driven really carefully it is as good, but the prius can easily give you great mpg especially in the city
also the blumotion takes advantage of a better fuel, the prius uses its fuel better, plus the pruis is a bit more versatile

I'd take the Polo because I drive mostly hwy and would never benefit from the Prius city FE enough to make up the price difference. I probably would have bought the Polo if it was available over a year ago.

Yeah, too little too late. If they sell GTI or a decently powered diesel in the US I would MAYBE consider it.

Talk about losing the point. The company that was built on the backs of many a small car brings us the Pheaton before the Polo? So nouveau riche...

well volks wagen apparently doesn't mean the same thing in German anymore, it seems all German manufacturers have forgotten the meaning of this term
old flat 4s were awesome and brilliant (who thinks to use the same camshaft lobes for different cylinders)

There are different VW POLO BMT (blue motion technology) out on the market. The current hypermilers dream is the 1.2 TDI BMT with a 3.3 litre consumption according the New European Driving Cycle. Early April 2011, I testdrove the 87 g CO2 version on behalf of VW Switzerland. After 1808 kms ( 1125 mls) in 27:45 hours (6 days of driving, 53% Autobahn at 55 mph, 37% rural roads, 10% inner city), total vertical gain/drop: 27'000 ft, I topped it off with 54.7 litres (14.45 USG) and almost hit the 78 mpg (yes, USG based!) mark, that's 3.025 litres per 100 kms. Amazingly the built-in BC had a outstanding accuracy in excess of 99%!

The 2010 VW POLO 1.2 TDI bluemotion tank holds about 55 litres usable fuel which easily gives a 1500 - 1800 kilometer range!

That don't impress me much, la la la la la...

Reached the 1800km=1118mi & 70mpgUS during my last tank with my not direct injection, not high pressure (common rail) 35mpgUS rated 14 years old 1.9L turbo diesel engine at 70km/h=44mph average speed.
I'm confident I'll reach this summer my 83.3mpg (equiv to kilo tank with a 12gal tank) 2100km=1300mi tank :cool:

Got 60mpgUS in my wife's 2001 scenic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Sc%C3%A9nic#Phase_2_.281999.29) yesterday, on a 18°C=64°F highway trip with family and full cargo while rated 48/40mpgUS on highway/mix.

Reminder to myself : I have to lower megane's idle rpm which went up from 1050 to 1100 since I change the air filter, while it should be at around 850 from documentation. Wait... why should I do that ? I'm so rarely at idle ;)

I'll be impressed by a diesel when it will be as clean as a 2000 insight/prius :p
Definitely I trade my diesel for an old insight1 (my dream car) or a priusII as soon as I have the money.

Denis.

Impressive, Denis!!

By the way, I have to ask... were you quoting a song with that first line? ;)

I could reply "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" :D (*)
but I will reply "Sans contrefaçon Je suis un garçon" ("Without infringing I am a boy") :rolleyes:
and I'm thinking about "Libertine" / "Pourvu Qu'Elles Soient Douces" :o

(*) as my dreamcar is an insight1, may be... ;)

Denis.

:D Denis, you crack me up. :D