S3 Fuel Consumption

[Peter1201]

I've just completed a 3 day camping trip to Snowdon, North Wales in my S3. I covered 734.3 miles in total, a mix of motorway (about 350 miles in total), the rest being on A and B roads. For 440 of those miles, the car was packed with two people and camping gear, for the other half, 5 people. Speeds were not excessive keeping pretty much close to legal limits. Below is the read out from the trip computer, which has amazed me! Fuel used was Shell V Power - it's the only fuel i've put in the car since new.

 

[farmerpalmer]

I have been getting very similar results. The last few tanks i have had over 400 miles. currently done 110 miles with an estimate of 345 miles left. This is a mixture of A/ B road and medium length journeys. Way better than the previous Golf ED30 i had. I did notice a positive benefit to mpg when i removed the "snow guard" in the air box.

 

[TYb]

These S3’s run far more efficiently in the warmer weather, it’ll drop off a bit in the cold but still extremely efficient for the performance.

 

[Timi8888]

Not that amazing. I can see 48-49mpg on two hour journeys on motorways or country lanes! Tesco 99 used.

 

[oli356]

Not that amazing. I can see 48-49mpg on two hour journeys on motorways or country lanes! Tesco 99 used.

How slow are you going... 50? Lol

I did just under 200 miles today, basically all motorway. Averaged 37mpg which I was more than happy with. Cruising at 80 where I could, average speed probably mid 50s though.

 

[ohmyaudi]

I live in London and my average is 27mpg. Pretty spirited driving mostly to be fair!

 

[Timi8888]

How slow are you going... 50? Lol

I did just under 200 miles today, basically all motorway. Averaged 37mpg which I was more than happy with. Cruising at 80 where I could, average speed probably mid 50s though.

Was doing 60 most of it! Wasn’t a motorway. Was an A road without traffic though lol.

 

[4K]

Not that amazing. I can see 48-49mpg on two hour journeys on motorways or country lanes! Tesco 99 used.

You must be a granny of a driver.

 

[4K]

What mode is the engine on in your individual preferences? Guaranteed it's not dynamic.

 

[oli356]

What mode is the engine on in your individual preferences? Guaranteed it's not dynamic.

Doubt it matters really unless the gearbox is in "S"

 

[Timi8888]

What mode is the engine on in your individual preferences? Guaranteed it's not dynamic.

Unfortunately I'm always in manual dynamic, yes gear is in S mode.

 

[Deleted member 132563]

Unfortunately I'm always in manual dynamic, yes gear is in S mode.

Hmm, how can you put the gear in S mode when it is in manual? Manual is manual? Or am I missing something.

 

[mikemod]

Move lever from manual to D/S,
If in S when moving back to manual it is manual/S mode,
If in D when moving back to manual it is manual/D mode.

Manual/S mode or Auto/S mode opens the flaps and gives more pops and bangs.

 

[Timi8888]

Yeah if you shift to S then across it is like Manual S. If you shift to D then across it is like Manual D lol.

 

[oli356]

I still fail to understand how people can drive in manual, doesn't manual just hold the gear until max RPM so you look like an idiot in town?

 

[MattSedg]

I still fail to understand how people can drive in manual, doesn't manual just hold the gear until max RPM so you look like an idiot in town?

im always in manual through town full control of the FL downshift pops......poser

 

[Timi8888]

I still fail to understand how people can drive in manual, doesn't manual just hold the gear until max RPM so you look like an idiot in town?

Manual means you change gear on your own.... surely you know this? Lol

 

[oli356]

Manual means you change gear on your own.... surely you know this? Lol

Buy a manual then if you are going to be driving like that all the time? Not like its manual anyway as it will change still anyways.

 

[oli356]

im always in manual through town full control of the FL downshift pops......poser

Maybe its a PFL thing, I don't understand these downshift pops

 

[Timi8888]

Maybe its a PFL thing, I don't understand these downshift pops

I have a FL. you can control pops and bangs in Manual. Ear porn. Sounds like you don’t even have an S3

 

[oli356]

I have a FL. you can control pops and bangs in Manual. Ear porn. Sounds like you don’t even have an S3

Just don't get them in the PFL lol. Very very very rarely. Just DSG pops on upshifts, nothing on down though etc.

Or maybe mine is a S3 branded A3 TDI

 

[Timi8888]

Just don't get them in the PFL lol. Very very very rarely. Just DSG pops on upshifts, nothing on down though etc.

Or maybe mine is a S3 branded A3 TDI

All my mates say my S3 is a tdi lol. I’m literally known as the guy with the diesel A3. The FL on downshifts has burbles and pops. Sounds so good. So driving in manual you can learn to control it.

 

[Pook]

All my mates say my S3 is a tdi lol. I’m literally known as the guy with the diesel A3. The FL on downshifts has burbles and pops. Sounds so good. So driving in manual you can learn to control it.

How? And also, is there a specific time on the upshifts it pops? Or is it just basically when you floor to top end of the revs?

 

[Timi8888]

How? And also, is there a specific time on the upshifts it pops? Or is it just basically when you floor to top end of the revs?

On upshifts, the more boost the louder the farts. If you hover around 3k, on and off the acceleration you can hear the burble and crackles, same as if you downshift so that your car is then sitting on 3-4k revs.

 

[Pook]

On upshifts, the more boost the louder the farts. If you hover around 3k, on and off the acceleration you can hear the burble and crackles, same as if you downshift so that your car is then sitting on 3-4k revs.

I’m new to his whole S3 and boost thing see. I don’t even know how to get the boost up. I know how to launch control and get the boost that way (I haven’t done it yet) but outside of that ie holding the brake at a standstill to boost, how do you do it mid ride?

 

[oli356]

I’m new to his whole S3 and boost thing see. I don’t even know how to get the boost up. I know how to launch control and get the boost that way (I haven’t done it yet) but outside of that ie holding the brake at a standstill to boost, how do you do it mid ride?

Plant your right foot while mid ride ? I don't hold the brake at a standstill though unless ready to launch, the car won't be happy

 

[Pook]

Plant your right foot while mid ride ? I don't hold the brake at a standstill though unless ready to launch, the car won't be happy

Haha thanks. I guess the ‘hover’ around 3k bit confused me, as it suggests kinda letting it build up or something and then flooring it?

 

[Supa Koopa]

I managed to get a proper bang this weekend when messing around rather than the manufactured pops, I was quite pleased with myself. Manual is fun when you want to mess and yes it is a FL thing as my old car was boring in comparison.

 

[NevMan]

It is funny how FL RS3 is quieter (less pops and bangs) whereas the FL S3 has got louder. My mate has PFL S3, and had to open exhaust flaps etc to get better sound, whereas I got a FL S3 from my dealer a few months back for the day, and loved the whole dynamic/manual/popping and banging. Even the wife loved it. She now has Mini JCW with Sports exhaust, which I put down to her having a blast in the S3 that day.

 

[4K]

Doubt it matters really unless the gearbox is in "S"

It does matter. If it's in auto, it will be more economical.

 

[oli356]

It does matter. If it's in auto, it will be more economical.

What difference would dynamic (in D gearbox) vs Auto (in D gearbox) give? Would dynamic keep the gear for slightly longer? Like efficiency drive select vs auto drive select. Although I can't say I notice much difference apart from the coasting obviously.

But again if speeds are stable then surely unless you are in S gearbox and 1 gear too low then it won't matter much?

I've noticed no difference in mpg between efficiency and auto drive select mode. And I've used both for thousands of miles on all sorts of journeys.

 

[Timi8888]

If you put car in dynamic, then the Gear goes to S not D.

What difference would dynamic (in D gearbox) vs Auto (in D gearbox) give? Would dynamic keep the gear for slightly longer? Like efficiency drive select vs auto drive select. Although I can't say I notice much difference apart from the coasting obviously.

But again if speeds are stable then surely unless you are in S gearbox and 1 gear too low then it won't matter much?

I've noticed no difference in mpg between efficiency and auto drive select mode. And I've used both for thousands of miles on all sorts of journeys.

 

[lledwoc]

Not that amazing. I can see 48-49mpg on two hour journeys on motorways or country lanes! Tesco 99 used.

Yup, I got 49.8MPG going from MK to Sheffield the other day.

 

[Timi8888]

Yup, I got 49.8MPG going from MK to Sheffield the other day.

It’s crazy init! Something with this performance and this economy