Fuel Efficiency/Running Costs S2

[Rtwoodstock]

Realise this is not a sexy topic at all - But, in recent few weeks had to drive a mix of modern/modern'ish cars - mostly turbo diesels of various descriptions but with couple of petrol 'sport' versions thrown in - From all the usual suspects - and was somewhat surprised/pleased to see that in real world driving was not seeing much more fuel efficiency (according to their dash computers) than I see from my now 26 year old S2.

My S2 according to the app on my phone has averaged 29.7 MPG since I've owned it (about 18 months). Admittedly, my figures may be slightly skewed because my car does generally very long journeys in Europe at fairly steady speeds. But, I'm not that careful either. But, I rarely saw an awful lot more from any of these modern cars when driven normally. So, in theory, at least, that isn't a lot of progress in over quarter of a century.

In running costs generally, I budget a grand a year for servicing (I do about 15,000 a year in my S2) and keep another another grand in reserve for a project/unexpected cost which if not used I roll over. This is the first S2 I've owned but the 4th 944 and the 7th Porsche. I bought this one for £4,250 about 18 months ago with 104,000 miles on it.

The point am badly making and is not an exciting one but perhaps useful to someone contemplating one of these cars before the cost of buying them makes actually driving them prohibitive is that they are much more economic than you may think particularly for 'GT' trips.

 

[zcacogp]

Bear in mind that the MPG improves during the summer as the air is lighter and thinner and pushing a car through it takes less effort. However those figures look about the same (maybe a little higher) than I get from my S2. Long European trips are by far the most economical way of driving the cars, and I've seen an average of 35mpg across a tank on such a holiday. Worst was about 18, in the depths of winter, when used for nothing but town driving.

I agree that that's not as bad as you'd expect, compared to modern cars, mainly because real-world averages on modern stuff is never anywhere near as good as the figures tell you they should be. A good friend of mine was astonished to work out the average MPG on his 1.6 automatic focus estate and find it was some way south of 30; the book figure was something like 47. And, no, I didn't hesitate to point out that my 25-year-old Porsche is more economical .... []


Oli.

 

[g944s2]

I switched from a 2L Petrol BMW to a brand new 335D which claims 52mpg but in my 1500 miles I've only managed 32mpg at best. Probably due to a heavy right foot but that's not going to change any time soon!

No idea what my S2 gets as I don't fill it right up and not sure how reliable the fuel gauge reading is so never let it get too low either but I do think it's quite good on fuel.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Part of running a car is the money tied up in it, or the leasing costs. Any cheapish car like a 944 will beat a new model every time here. The largest running cost to consider is depreciation, and the your S2 is currently not losing any money, and might even be appreciating.
I'd always rather have a more interesting car if the per-mile total is comparable to something boring and modern. The only down-side is reliability, but that's what the AA is for. []

I'm always surprised by the real-world fuel economy of modern cars: I'd guess there aren't too many petrol coupes with similar performance that would be much more efficient than a 944, but cars are so much heavier today in most cases.

 

[Waylander]

I have an A4 2.0 Tdi Quattro 28K miles on the clock claimed at 62MPG, the best I have ever managed in that is 54MPG driving like Miss Daisy on the motorway through 15 miles of 50mph.

Average is about 45MPG

the 968 on average does about 28-30 I do drive it fast but not much decked right foot through the gears, but its a shed load more fun to drive than the soulless A4

kerb weight of the A4 1575 kg

 

[Rtwoodstock]

Have been very lucky over the years with reliability - I guess/hope because I don't skimp on servicing/preventative work. They have done an average of 16,000 miles a year often with 3 plus thousand mile road trips. Just once have been left at side of road in 10 years and that was a few months ago when the fuel pump regulator went on the M42.

 

[zcacogp]

Have been very lucky over the years with reliability - I guess/hope because I don't skimp on servicing/preventative work. They have done an average of 16,000 miles a year often with 3 plus thousand mile road trips. Just once have been left at side of road in 10 years and that was a few months ago when the fuel pump regulator went on the M42.

I presume you mean fuel pressure regulator, not fuel pump regulator?

I quite agree about the reliability point. Regular maintenance is the key, and this is helped if you know your car really well and are capable enough to work on it yourself. In industrial settings, old machinery is not replaced because it is old, it is maintained properly and carries on going. Old cars get unreliable because people see them as worthless and hence don't spend the money on maintenance, which makes them unreliable and hence worth even less .... Keep up the maintenance, preventively replace parts before they fail and the car should remain reliable.

Oli.

 

[Rtwoodstock]

Ah, that sounds more like it.

Although, this is first S2 have owned is the 4th 944 and they have all been reliable. I guess was just making that point and in conjunction with in reality (I think) fuel costs not that far off many supposedly more efficient and modern cars giving approaching 500 miles on a tank - I found them to be great and very cost effective GT cars for long distances. And on top of that massively practical - I can get all the stuff in for a 3 week road trip comfortably with more than enough space for few cases of wine to bring back. Can't think of many cars that offer such good value - providing as you say that you don't slide on upkeep.

 

[vitesse]

The red ebay 924s bought for £950 did 31.8 mpg tankful to tankful on my round trip to Althorp at 75/80 mph motorway speeds-day to day 26/27/28 ish & I think I have a small leak somewhere in the fuel filler/breather/fuelpump area when filling up to full.
Even doing a full day sprinting at Curborough with the motorway round trip from Formby gives 26/27 mpg.
Our Stone Grey 924S with 105k miles with us since 1991 only used rarely on long trips does 32.5mpg on similar motorway/mixed A & B road trips.
By contrast,the BMW 530D SE chipped to 250BHP lowered to the minimum does 31.8 on the same basis using autobox held in manual,cruise control on a round trip to Whalton ,Northumberland using mix of M6,A69,the Military Road & mix of A,B & unclassified single track roads over 350 miles--some figures suggest 48 mpg for mixed use!