A3 1.6 TDI S-Line 3dr 54-55mpg
I've a theory that the tyres on the S-Line may be a factor. The standard Conti's only get an E-grade for fuel efficiency, compared to a Pireli which is A/B grade. I'm led to believe this could affect fuel economy by up to 10mpg. If I put up with the car unti the Conti's are worn out- I would definately try the Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue just to see the difference.
Also my 8P came standard with 205/55 R16 tyres. I decided after a year to fit replica 18" wheels with the 225/40 tyres- it really did hit the fuel economy. After a few buckled alloys I changed back to the original 16's and really noticed the difference. It would be interesting to hear from someone with a new 1.6 TDI SE with the standard 16" wheels.
Well i don't have a 8V, but I've had 3.5 years with the 1.6TDI in a Mk 6 Golf and at the wekend swapped it for a MY12 8P with the same engine. Here's my findings..
I spec'd sports suspension and 17" wheels from the factory - these were ridiculously heavy, at least 50% heavier than my winter steel wheel set (see later)
I started with Bridgestone RE050 tyres (hopeless in even half an inch of snow), then swapped to Falken ZE-912 and latterly to Pirelli P7 Contuarto - I saw no improvement in mpg using any of these tyres
My winter wheel set are 15" steelies with 195/65/15 Nokian W+ tyres - I used these over three winters and over 25k miles - thery were brillinat for ride comfort, noise and grip, but best of all I got at least 5mpg extra from these. Whether it was the narrow tyres (less drag), the considerable reduction in wheel weight (less torque required) or the compound I can't say but every winter in like for like driving I saw an improvement
You can get good mpg from the 1.6 engine, but you must keep to 50-52mph on A roads and 62-64mph on dual carriageways and M-ways. Hardly very exciting ! If you want to drive at 75mph on the M-way then expect 48-50mpg, at 80mph you'll be more likely to see 45-46mpg. Drop to 62mpg and you'll get 60-62mpg.
I have a 27 mile commute, which is 3 miles of 50mph d/c'way, 22 miles of 70mph d/c'way and 2 miles urban 30mph. On my summer wheel set I could get 62-63mpg by keeping to 62mph in the 70 and 50mph in the 50 zone. On winter tyres that would be 67-69mpg dependent upon the traffic. The best I did for a south to north wales A road trip (ca 110 miles) was 76mpg, keeping to 52mph on cruise for the majority of the journey (sometimes due to traffic, other times for economy). I did that trip regularly and could repeatedly get over 70mpg on the winter tyres, but 64-65mpg on the summers.
So the 1.6TDI can be economical but you have to try hard - alternative tyres may help the cause a little but there's not a huge difference if you stick to summer performance tyres in Sport/S-line sizes I'm afraid.
For reference, first commute in the 8P3 SB this morning - 62mpg on 225/45/17 Bridgestome Turanza ER300 tyres (very much in line with my last 3.5years in the similarly equipped Golf).