Bought the T5 :-)

If the compressor is cycling in and out before interior temp reaches what you have told it, then it needs gassing.

If it engages and stays engaged for a goodly while, then its okay.

On the motorway our 2.5 will do 34mpg according to the computer at a steady

Tim..

"Mike G" wrote in news:42fb86e2$0$1295$ snipped-for-privacy@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net:

Righto, Mike. After 5 mins of driving I noticed the cabin getting very cold and that is when I noticed I'd left it on, so it does work. Don't need a thermometer to tell it's cold enough once it gets going. Due to it's age, it's quite likely that it's had a regas. I'll scour the service history for one.

"Tim.." wrote in news:ddg3oe$frl$ snipped-for-privacy@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com:

It seemed to stay engaged for a while (or at least until I got in and went for a drive). It isn't a climate model so you don't 'tell it' the temperature, you just compenste manually via the heater matrix and blower speed control.

Clearly the increase in efficiency from the higher engine speed outweighs the extra power required to overcome the added air resistance. The Primera was never like this, more like "faster you cruise, more gas you use." It would do 40mpg at a steady 70 but wouldn't have managed 34mpg at

Stu,

I achieved that figure on a 300 mile drive doing lots of 50-60 mpg cruising on flat roads, with few changes in speed or many stops. On a typical 50 mile run doing *cough* 70 mph low to mid 30's are more typical. Factor this for your Wales trip and you should not be dissapointed.

Alan.

"Alan" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mercury.tcm.vispa.net.uk:

Even so, seems very impressive for mpg in real life conditions with such a powerful engine.

I assume that your bad chest means that you're talking of a *flexible*

What do you think of using Optimax or similar high octane fuel? Does it improve your mpg as others say?

I suggest you try it for yourself. Personally I don't believe the gain in mpg, if any, will justify it's higher price. My Celica turbo runs marginally better on Optimax. Being an import it's set up to run on 100 Octane, which is still available in Japan, so the 98 of Optimax is nearer it's optimum fuel, but in any case I tend to use whatever performance the fuel gives me, so any increase in mpg Optimax might give is lost, under my right foot. :-) Mike.

That does happen...

"Tim S Kemp" wrote in news:cf-dnahIA8CizmHfRVn- snipped-for-privacy@karoo.co.uk:

What I'd really like to know is can I expect better mpg if I don't use the extra performance it offers. If I was going on a long trip, I would not spend the extra on Optimax just for a bit more performance. If however, I can expect better mpg with steady driving, then I will use it all the time. It would make sense as I'd have a choice of more performance or better economy.

As I indicated in my previous post. I would expect a marginal increase in mpg, but Optimax can be as much as 10% dearer than super, so unless the reduction in fuel consumption is greater than that, which I suspect it wont be, it's not worth using it economically. All you can do is carefully check it yourself. I don't think anyone can tell you the result of using it in your particular car. Results might be better if the car has an adaptive, or 'learning' ECU. Even so, in some cars it appears to make no difference at all. Mike.

You'll get better MPG all the time. Try it and see, spend a month of mixed driving on regular, then a month using only Esso super and Optimax (BP ultimate seems a bit variable)

Every station I've been to is 6p/l more for optimax / super, which is way under 10%.

"Tim S Kemp" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@karoo.co.uk:

OK, I'll give it a go. Super is currently 97.9p/l at the local garage :-(

It is, but when I topped up my Celica last friday. Optimax was over 9p more per litre. Mike.

Is regular 91.9 or lower?

As I mentioned, all the ones I've been to have been a flat 6p dearer.

"Tim S Kemp" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@karoo.co.uk:

Regular is 90.9 IIRC. Varies slightly from garage to garage, though. That was the local Texaco.