TR6 Running Costs

[bbob]

Hi folks. I'm thinking of buying an early fuel injected (CP) TR6 and was wondering what sort of fuel economy I can expect on a run for a well maintained car.

I don't expect it to be particularly economical but was wondering if it would be too expensive to use for my 60 mile round trip commute.

[Yertis]

I get less than 20mpg, and the fuel tank is quite small. And although it's generally pretty reliable, something or other always needs looking at. Not the ideal commuting car. Although I do use mine for that purpose in the summer, when the sun is out and the kids are off. Using it to commute everyday would be like putting Jack Daniels on your cornflakes.

[Alfaguy]

Most TR6's are not that water tight so I never use mine in wet weather. Have used mine to go to work on fine days (40 mile round trip) never had a problem but I would not recommend using it everyday. That's like expecting an 80 year old to run a marathon - sooner or later it will make you pay dearly.

[ingrowtn]

Not too bad on a run, I get mid thirties from mine with sensible driving. I sometimes use mine for an occasional commute in the summer or on the bright frosty winter mornings when I can have the roof off but the stop/start of rush hour traffic hurts mpg and the car isn't at its best with that kind of motoring (mine much prefers to be let off the leash!).

If you have an easy commute with fast sweeping roads and little traffic then it'd be brilliant.

[bbob]

Thanks for your replies so far. I wasn't planning on using it everyday just occassionally when the weather's nice.

I suspect the fuel economy has a lot to with how well tuned the car is (and a steady right foot of course!). It sounds like yours "ingrowtn" is a good one!

[ingrowtn]

Thanks, there's a blog in my profile of the running costs I've had and pictures of the car are on the Manchester TSSC website - The red TR6. Mine's a later 125 bhp model and it's been to Le Mans twice.

[Yertis]

bbob said:

Thanks for your replies so far. I wasn't planning on using it everyday just occassionally when the weather's nice.

Very wise...

bbob said:

I suspect the fuel economy has a lot to with how well tuned the car is (and a steady right foot of course!). It sounds like yours "ingrowtn" is a good one!

The TR6 is a very "musical" car- I find it quite difficult to keep my right foot steady. The best run I've had was steady though, Glasgow to Bristol in about five hours and two tankfuls. Was great. Had the exhaust note ringing in my ears for two days afterwards.

[Combover]

ingrowtn said:

Not too bad on a run, I get mid thirties from mine with sensible driving.

Eh? How the hell do you manage mid 30s?! I never get anything more than 18mpg, even at a steady cruise for a lot of the journey.

I suppose it depends where you drive too....

[ingrowtn]

Combover said:

ingrowtn said:

Not too bad on a run, I get mid thirties from mine with sensible driving.

Eh? How the hell do you manage mid 30s?! I never get anything more than 18mpg, even at a steady cruise for a lot of the journey.

I suppose it depends where you drive too....

I don't go mental with it on a long run. To clarify I get 17-18 around town (stop start and all that), 22 - 28 on fast A roads and 33-35 on motorways. Overdrive in top at 60-65 on the motorway is just over 2,250 rpm, which with the stainless exhaust has a pitch that I really enjoy, means I went from Manchester to Newhaven on one tankfull and have done Manchester to Dover the same. Even at higher speed (and I never go above 70 honest officer) 26-28 isn't uncommon.

It's been converted to unleaded and I usually run Optimax or Excellium in the tank if that makes any difference.

[Yertis]

ingrowtn said:

Combover said:

ingrowtn said:

Not too bad on a run, I get mid thirties from mine with sensible driving.

Eh? How the hell do you manage mid 30s?! I never get anything more than 18mpg, even at a steady cruise for a lot of the journey.

I suppose it depends where you drive too....

I don't go mental with it on a long run. To clarify I get 17-18 around town (stop start and all that), 22 - 28 on fast A roads and 33-35 on motorways. Overdrive in top at 60-65 on the motorway is just over 2,250 rpm, which with the stainless exhaust has a pitch that I really enjoy, means I went from Manchester to Newhaven on one tankfull and have done Manchester to Dover the same. Even at higher speed (and I never go above 70 honest officer) 26-28 isn't uncommon.

It's been converted to unleaded and I usually run Optimax or Excellium in the tank if that makes any difference.

Have you got PI or Carbs?

[ingrowtn]

1975 PI - 124bhp model

Edited by ingrowtn on Thursday 28th June 15:17

[Yertis]

ingrowtn said:

1975 PI - 124bhp model

Edited by ingrowtn on Thursday 28th June 15:17

Mine is a tuned CP but even so I wish I could get MPG nearer yours.

[Combover]

ingrowtn said:

1975 PI - 124bhp model

Would the lower power help?

What type of overdrive do you have as I think the 5 runs at higher rpm at the speeds you mentioned (although I could be wrong as due to the crap weather it hasn't been out for a while).

Incidentally, when booting it recently I got 8mpg...

Edited by Combover on Thursday 28th June 19:57

[ingrowtn]

It's just got the standard overdrive unit on 3rd and 4th. I thought I read once that the 124 had longer gears so maybe I'm just pulling lower rpm. But I've been to Le Mans twice in it and got the same consumption - even my dad will vouch for it. (Unless both out maths has one awry).

Other than that I just keep it serviced regularly.

I'll do a more scientific test next weekend on the run to and from the TSSC international show.

[Yertis]

I don't think Ingowntn is driving his TR6 properly...

What's the weather this weekend? I've not had mine out for nearly a month...

[ingrowtn]

Yertis said:

I don't think Ingowntn is driving his TR6 properly...

Grin: Try telling that to my passengers (yes there were 2) when we blasted down the Mulsanne just before they closed the road at the Classic last year!

That may be the key though, mine does get a bootful - just not all the time.

The forecast isn't looking good for the weekend.

[//j17]

ingrowtn said:

(Unless both out maths has one awry).

It could be - are you working your mileage off of the speedo, or a GPS/AA route planning site? Compared to the same GPS 70MPH in my Spitfire is an indicated 60/62. In the 2.5PI it's 90!

Put a dent in my Spitfire MPG when I took that in to account

[ingrowtn]

//j17 said:

It could be - are you working your mileage off of the speedo, or a GPS/AA route planning site? Compared to the same GPS 70MPH in my Spitfire is an indicated 60/62. In the 2.5PI it's 90!

Rather less scientific: Fill the car to the brim (i.e. an inch below the top of the filler cap), set the trip to zero, refill to the brim. The indicated travelling speed seems close enough when compared to other traffic so.....

154.7 miles this weekend going to and from the TSSC International Event at Stafford on a mix of fast road and motorway. I drove harder than usual to give the car a shakedown before it goes to Devon in a fortnight.

By harder I mean not using overdrive on the A roads and cruising at 2,500 rpm with overdrive on the motorway plus the odd bit of 'modern baiting' for good measure.

Using fill, drive, refill: 24.76 litres, which if my maths is right: 5.45 gallons = 28.39 mpg. I still rekon on 32-34 for my usual motorway cruising speed.

If you went to the TSSC International, mine was the red 6 next to the Herald coupe infront of 'Le Mancs' in Bingley Hall.

[ingrowtn]

Just back from a 1,056 mile trip around Devon in the 6. Averaged 27.4 mpg for the whole trip. Not bad considering many roads driven on were narrow, hilly single track roads with much 2nd and 3rd gear running.

[WoS]

Once did a 3000 mile mile tour of S Europe in my TR5.....two people, loads of luggage and towing a large camping trailer. Averaged about 27mpg. It depends to a great extent on how well the PI system is set up- I now have a computer program to assist with this.