Fuel economy advice on 9-3 Aero convertible

[Evo]

Hi all,

I'm opting out of my company car and decided that i may as well have something fun rather than the excellent but dull Passat/3 series choice. I definately want a 9-3 convertble but am trying to convince myself that a 9-3 Aero would be the better choice over a Vector 1.9 TiD convertible.

It's only doing 15kpa to and from work so I can cope with the lower mpg (I think) from the Aero engine.

How bad is the fuel ecomony in real terms ( i have searchd about on the forum but not found much), it's 25 miles of relatively open country roads each way. I can drive at a stead 50mph without falling unconsious from boredom, with the roof down it'll be even more fun.

I really want to convince myself about the Aero as you seem to get so much more kit and being a petrol head 210hp is being rather difficult to turn away.

Cheers

[DCLane]

I've recently got one of these - I'm getting 32mpg on mine, which is OK considering I got 27 on the 9000 2.3 I still have (for sale!)

[John D9395]

I have an 05 which I can get 33 out of on a run, but when the wife uses it around town (which is most days of the week) it drops to about 23 (acording to SID).

My office is about 40 miles from home on bendy roads, and if I use the Aero rag top after having got the SID up to 33 on a long run, the SID drops closer to 30mpg, meaning in real terms I am probably only getting late 20's on the bendy roads.

I am sure I could do better, but no point in having the power and not using it!

[Evo]

Thanks guys, my mental justification is an average of 30mpg. I've convinced the wife anyway.

What she doesn't know is i doubt it'll be too long before a remap is done, the only other proper turbo car i've owned was an Evo2 Integrale and that "on boost" feeling is very addictive. If i were to remap to 250hp does it hit the mpg if driven carefully, obviously it will foot to the floor?

I had to sell my TVR Chimaera when our first child arrived and it's time to have a car with some poke in it whilst being practical ha ha

[John D9395]

Evo

Mine has the Hirsch re map (and susspension), it doesn't effect the mpg, although some claim it improves it.

Happy hunting

[900T-R]

Evo said:

If i were to remap to 250hp does it hit the mpg if driven carefully

Nah, it might even be marginally thriftier - it's the driving carefully part you'll have trouble with

[Prof Beard]

My Aero convertible is the "old" (02) model convertible. It has been modified by MapTun to 270bhp/370Nm (from 205bhp/270bhp) - the mods were a year ago, and my fuel consumption has IMPROVED - I get 23mpg round town, 35+ cruising at speed and am averaging around 28+. I'm told this is a quite common result of remaps etc