Just arrived in Alice Springs via Leeton NSW from Melbourne and now have about 3000 kms of fuel economy data collected and calculated out on paper, not relying on trip computer. Although the figures suggested by the computer were surprisingly accurate!
Around town doing short trips, eg. 10 kms per day, on ULP 91 at an average speed of about 25 kms/h economy is pretty poor at around 17 litres per 100 km. Although if only doing 10 kms per day this is only $2.50 per day...
Mix in some highway driving for an average speed of 50 km/h, still on ULP 91, and it drops to about 10.7 litres per 100 km
Get out onto the highway with car fully loaded, and cruise at between 105 and 115, still on ULP 91 and it drops to 9 litres per 100 km.
Up the speed to 135 in NT and it sits on about 9.8 litres per 100 km, so must be fairly good aerodynamically
Noticed if I dropped speed to about 85 could get usage down to about 7 litres per 100 km on dash, which is probably accurate, and robably using cylinder deactivation assuming its fitted, but not practical to drive so slow to save a few dollars an hour...
Had one long stretch on PULP 98 from a near empty tank and no effect at all on fuel economy although the engine felt a little more eager at times, or seemed to run smoother, not much in it.
So long story short:
- Poor economy if used for very short trips at about 17 litres per 100 kms, although I suspect a lot of reasonably quick cars wouldn't do well with short trips
- 9 litres is pretty good for interstate use with car loaded up, although I concede a lot of much older cars would probably be able to do the same thing
Headlights definitely better with the Osram Nightbreaker Ultimates but still not enough to be confidently detecting 'roos at night. Presently tossing up between a light bar and some LED globe inserts for the high beams. Presumably in Germany they don't have animals to worry about on the autobahn's...
Other than that car's been great so far.