58 replies to this topic

[jameswilson]

We have recently bought a new Van. Peugeot Bippa 1.3 Td

It is supposed to do 60+ mpg. We hoped to achieve late 40's from it with ladders on. We are now trialling mpg average with and without roof racks. Now across a few vans this could be quite a saving per year. Alternativly Im thinking of boxes for the ladders to reduce the drag etc.

Has anyone done anything similar or worried about it. Our fuel bill currently is nearly 3k per month and i reakon we can make savings.

[RichL]

I looked at a Bippa a few weeks back, still not had chance to do anything about it yet. My concern is fuel economy of the current van (Caddy), and Ive asked the eng to only take ladders when he needs them.

Let me know how you get on with the Bippa fuel results, Im very interested. Also, how much did you pay (pm if you like).

[reidy]

My corsa van 1.3cdti (same engine I think) averages about 35mpg with ladders, tools etc

[RichL]

Also, there's not much room in the back of a Bippa when you have some folded steps in.

[jameswilson]

My audi does more than that lol

Paid about 11.3 for the bippa. Its the one with the side door, stop start, aircon, bluetooth phone prep etc.

Agreed on the size at the time didnt think ladders were going in it.

Its only doing the same to the gallon as the 1.7Td combo he was driving before. Gonna see if its a heavy foot etc.

[reidy]

The problem with these smaller capacity engines is that they're always on boost, they make no usable power without it. So unless you do a lot of long runs you won't see much benefit

I will add though that at least 50% of the time there's two people in the vehicle and that will make an impact

A lot of companies around here have started using kia estates, I guess the 7 year warranty is very appealing

[jameswilson]

yes but the company car tax is a killer for cars. We offer the choice. Everyone wants an estate till they work out the costs.

Id run kias think they are ok. That ceed is a good looking car imo.

the problem at the moment is long runs. We are working a lot in and around london. This has highlighted the issue. If my audi can do late 40's (lates 50's at 55) there has to be something wrong if a 1.3 van does less to the gallon. Ive never had ladders on my car but im thinking of putting em on for a week to see if its really that bad. If it is they need to run without roof racks. Fuel is only going up, something i think we all need to consider.

[reidy]

We have three corsa vans and they all seem to average about the same, We also have a Y reg Astra with the old 1.7 dti engine and that's actually better on fuel

VAG TDI's are awesome diesel engines, not many other manufacturer's can produce the results that they do

[MrHappy]

jameswilson, on 23 August 2011 - 08:04 PM, said:

If my audi can do late 40's (lates 50's at 55) there has to be something wrong if a 1.3 van does less to the gallon.

if gentle with van get low 40's on average on the copuetr, 55 mph is mid 30's, 100mph = 16mpg, real world around £106 a tank 700 miles

[jameswilson]

id agree, block off the egr valves and have them remapped gives more power and economy.

MrHappy, on 23 August 2011 - 08:24 PM, said:

if gentle with van get low 40's on average on the copuetr, 55 mph is mid 30's, 100mph = 16mpg, real world around £106 a tank 700 miles

big van? ie im assuming its not a caddy?

[itesecurity]

reidy, on 23 August 2011 - 08:20 PM, said:

We have three corsa vans and they all seem to average about the same, We also have a Y reg Astra with the old 1.7 dti engine and that's actually better on fuel

VAG TDI's are awesome diesel engines, not many other manufacturer's can produce the results that they do

We still have two of the old astra estates with the 1.7 dti, they go on the sniff of diesel fumes and mpg is a lot better than the newer astra's we have with the 1.7 cdti engine. Getting dated looking now though and I guess they will have to go soon.

[jameswilson]

judging by our new van id hold on to them. I thought new stuff was supposed to be greener and as such cheaper to run?

[reidy]

Greener for the economy

[alterEGO]

The connects we have are **** for fuel. They are packed out though, racking in the back thats full, 2 short steps, full galv rack, full size steps and extension ladders. Couldn't be arsed taking ladders and rack off every two minutes.

[jameswilson]

Aaron im not thinking of removing it as and when. Im thinking of taking it of permanantly. If we need big ladders as a one of, ill put the roof rack on the roof rails, and ill take it to site. But im assuming that would be required once every 1 to 2 years?

[alterEGO]

We use ladders enough that, that wouldn't work for us. You would have to work out if it was worth the cost of a revisit when you need the ladders and don't have them.

[jameswilson]

If agree that ladders are needed most days but I'm hoping to get them inside.

[alterEGO]

jameswilson, on 24 August 2011 - 08:02 AM, said:

If agree that ladders are needed most days but I'm hoping to get them inside.

Good luck, only ever seen that work out by just sticking the normal ladders in a large van, no use to you i know. I don't rate the fold away ladders myself.

[jameswilson]

i used to have a set of fold aways years ago. Didnt use them every day so they were ok. But if it improves mpg by 10-15 mpg im definetly going to do it

[digitalwitness]

You need one of these lol


Not sure what happened since 2008 though

If you have seen the Car Blackbox set-up, little Camera with GPS that sticks to the front window. Some of these come with software that can monitor driving styles or how "green" the driver is using GPS and the shock sensors built in.