A1 very poor mpg

[Big D]

I've had my A1 1.4 TFSI S-Line S-Tronic for one month now and it is returning only 41mpg ! It has done 19,000 MILES (I've driven 1000 of them).

 

Facts:- Light right foot, rarely use A/C, no luggage, no towing hook, no passengers. Only use for commuting 60 miles per day / 5 days per week. 70 mph top speed. The journey is from Hove (East susex to East Grinstead in West Sussex) mainly dual carriageway / A roads. I travel early in the morning and rarely if ever need to stop as there is only 1 set of pedestrian lights on my journey. so if that doesn't meet the upper end (Extra Urban) journey I don't know what does.

 

I did the same journey in my BMW320D for almost 4 years and that returned 43mpg constantly. Why does a car weighing so much less not even get to that figure?

 

I have looked at various independant websites and they all give the upper 40's to low 50's as the norm. I bought this vehicle on the basis of it's economy but so far it hasn't lived up to the billing:-

43 local, 53 combined, 63 extra urban.

 

 

My local dealer in Brighton has run various tests and say there is nothing wrong.

 

Please can any of you offer guidance / advice / similar history.

[Audi Owners Club]

Sadly sometimes manufacturers MPG claims are a little optimistic to say the least  :(

 

They test the cars in ideal conditions in laboratories, not on actual roads.

 

Have you tried using a premium fuel such as Shell V Power to see if that makes any difference after 2 or 3 tanks? 

[Big D]

Thank you for this. I will try it out as you suggest. I'm aware that there is between 10 to 15% discrepancy of all manufacrtures claimed figures (downward). However I contiually get a 30% reduced mpg for the same journey type.

 

To add insult to injury I now find that I am supposed to use the Automatic AC feature to keep the windscreen clear as there is no screen direction on the air vents (the only car I've ever ownded or driven without this control) !! This will obviously reduce my mpg even further.

[Audi Owners Club]

30% does seem like a considerable difference. That's strange that it has no way of keeping the fan on the windscreen. I was going to say that some cars I have seen automatically turn on the air con when you point the fan at the windscreen but obviously this can't be the problem for you.  :(

[Big D]

I'm told that A5's are the same and perhaps even TT's - is this the case ?

 

An A3 owner I know tells me that the reason is to keep the AC as efficient as it can be. My main point is that I'd like the choice as to how I keep the windscreen clear as on all other vehicles I know of - to ensure I maximise the fuel economy.

 

Oh and before anyone suggests it (the defroster button is fine for what it's purpose is for) but not for general ongoing widscreen clearance.

 

I'm happy for anyone to comment on this element but the topic is about the outrageously poor mpg for what is basically a super-mini. Come on guys are there no A1 owners out there who have either no problem at all with this or indeed suffer exactly the same :-)

[rich2barr]

Bit late replying! You've prob sold the car by now.

my 1.4 125 sport stronic does between 42 and 55 mpg depending upon route.  Averaging about 48 mpg. 

Cheers!