[vinaygeorgeroy]

This is my first write-up on Team-BHP, so kindly excuse any mistakes. I wanted to write on something I have been thinking about recently and a feeling that is echoed among my friend circle.

Ever since I started driving, I was bitten by the need for speed (like most teenage BHPians would have been). I believe I have always stayed on the cautious side (probably a misconception, in hindsight), except for the speed of course. If there was a road to do high speeds, I would have done it without thinking twice, and generally be overtaken very rarely, especially on long highway trips (not bragging, I understand the mix of stupidity and over-confidence).

I was never one of the very aggressive accelerators, I would rather do it smoothly, but I would build up speed quite fast, especially on single lane roads where overtaking gaps were tight.- I never really bothered about mileage mainly because of two reasons: I never had daily long commutes (so driving style rarely mattered in a significant fuel difference in a month-on-month perspective), and secondly, I have always had very torquey turbo diesels (which are in general frugal and you never really had to rev up to extract the torque, thus aiding the mileage). Most of my friends also belonged in the same category and the only optimization considered was time and never fuel.

But now, I have had to bid farewell to the diesel owing to the current car scene, need for a smaller car and budget. I got myself a Kushaq 1.5 DSG; my friends have also moved to similar turbo petrol DSGs in the same range. At the same time, my daily commute has increased to a considerable 40 km/day, out of which 20 km are on good 3-lane roads with only moderate traffic, while the other 20 are in medium-to-heavy Bangalore traffic.

This engine as most of you know has a bipolar temperament, if you are gentle with the throttle on open roads and keep it under 100 km/hr, it will give a mileage of anywhere between 14 to 20 kmpl on decent roads, while a heavy input will drop it to the early double digits in good roads and single digits in traffic.

This nature of mileage, plus my long commutes (which usually involve me listening to audiobooks), and maybe age (I just crossed over to the wrong side of 30s ), has resulted in my daily driving style becoming very sedate with revs rarely going over 2.5k rpm and speeds always hovering around 90 to 100, only occasionally going faster (mostly to overtake a stream of slow-moving zip-zapping cars). And, my display is always configured to show mileage from the start (this gamification of trying to get a better mileage also probably aids).

I was not that surprised by the above, as it makes sense in a daily commuting scenario and makes a significant difference in fuel costs, with rarely any significant gain in time (5 to 10 minutes tops). What got me was my associated change in behavior while going on highway trips. For some reason, I am quite addicted to the gamification on mileage that, it hits me when it takes a dip.

So, I catch myself hitting the cruise control button between 100 and 120 even on very open express highways, and my urge to be the fastest car on the road is long gone, I am overtaken frequently and I don't have the old urge to be faster (even when the road is there for it.) Another thing I noticed is that, it takes a toll on me now, when I am pushing my car to the limit (limits on Indian roads that is), and I don't feel comfortable doing that. Even on a closed flyover with zero traffic, that urge to push the car to its max (to see how fast it can go), is also long gone. I had never experienced this previously, I was quite comfortable and not tired even after long hauls at the wheel with fast cruising. I have discussed the same with my friends (with turbo petrol ATs) and multiple people have echoed the same feeling.

This got me curious to know, whether this is a feeling echoed by other BHPians. And what were the reasons for: better fuel efficiency? wisdom of age? preference for a smoother drive?

[Thyag]

The answer is in your post itself, you come from the background of good diesel engines and never worried or cared about mileage, but now venturing into the petrol vehicles your subconscious mind is playing spoil sport with your care free driving.

Pure Guess - You are spending more time watching YouTube videos, Teambhp rants and etc; seeing how unsafe our Indian roads and doesn't feel having fun in the roads anymore.

Whatever it is, the decision and outcome is good for you, your family and other road users.Happy motoring

[revsperminute]

Contrary to you, my right foot develops a brain of its own when it’s put in charge of a powerful turbo petrol engine. I’m fine zipping around Bombay in my City CVT in eco mode or cruising all day on the highway in our lazy diesel GLE. But it takes all of my will (and some more from my passengers) to keep myself at bay in a turbo petrol powered steed like my Octavia.

[vinaygeorgeroy]

Originally Posted by Thyag

The answer is in your post itself, you come from the background of good diesel engines and never worried or cared about mileage, but now venturing into the petrol vehicles your subconscious mind is playing spoil sport with your care free driving.

Pure Guess - You are spending more time watching YouTube videos, Teambhp rants and etc; seeing how unsafe our Indian roads and doesn't feel having fun in the roads anymore.

Whatever it is, the decision and outcome is good for you, your family and other road users.Happy motoring

Your guess is spot on

[PrasannaDhana]

Forget turbopetrols, my driving changes when I drive my Punch 1.2 N/A petrol.

If I drive it in my usual style, with a heavy right foot like I drive my turbo diesels, the fuel efficiency drops to single digits. I have accustomed to be sedate with my driving whenever I drive my Punch.

[bharathgr]

Originally Posted by vinaygeorgeroy

But now, I have had to bid farewell to the diesel owing to the current car scene, need for a smaller car and budget. I got myself a Kushaq 1.5 DSG; my friends have also moved to similar turbo petrol DSGs in the same range. At the same time, my daily commute has increased to a considerable 40 km/day, out of which 20 km are on good 3-lane roads with only moderate traffic, while the other 20 are in medium-to-heavy Bangalore traffic.

Well my case has been something similar. I have a 1.5T DCT seltos and opted for petrol coz of dpf issues with my ford ecosport. BS6 diesel has been a let down for folks like me who have a mixed city + highway drive (i drive 80Kms a day with almost 50 kms in traffic). My primary car in the past has always been a diesel Lancer, Scorpio, Sunny, Ecosport. The secondary a petrol for shorter commutes by my family.

I totally agree with you on the increased aggression, but i look at it as having a bit of fun (relieving stress). My scorpio was a beast and it commanded respect in city traffic. But with my seltos, the sound, when the turbo kicks in does give a rush. The ADAS is more like the police keeping you in check and reminding you to behave :0).

[vinaygeorgeroy]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

Forget turbopetrols, my driving changes when I drive my Punch 1.2 N/A petrol.

If I drive it in my usual style, with a heavy right foot like I drive my turbo diesels, the fuel efficiency drops to single digits. I have accustomed to be sedate with my driving whenever I drive my Punch.

I can completely understand. Just curious, Do you go back to your heavy foot mode when driving other cars(say diesels) or do you see this sedate slowly becoming your default mode?

[vprao]

Ever since I bought the Thar petrol, my right foot has become feather-light. I rarely cross 80 and most of the time drive on cruise mode. I have extended this behaviour to my Honda City as well and take pride in getting upto 19 kmpl on highways. Fortunately, this behaviour of mine has coincided well with my age. I'm 47 now and up until my 40, I used to zip on highways and rarely went below 100 kmph. I have no complaints now and enjoy the change in my driving style. It's not just about getting more mileage, it's about going slow and enjoying the journey. More mileage is just the icing on the cake.

[cryptarchy]

I drive a 1.0 MPI engine, you practically have to put a brick on A pedal to gain any momentum

[vinaygeorgeroy]

Originally Posted by bharathgr

Well my case has been something similar. I have a 1.5T DCT seltos and opted for petrol coz of dpf issues with my ford ecosport.

The ADAS is more like the police keeping you in check and reminding you to behave :0).

Seeing that you have a lot of highway drives, do you use adaptive cruise control often (when you are aiming for fuel efficiency ) ?

[that_sedate_guy]

This is quite interesting, I've had and driven a mix of petrol and diesel vehicles which has essentially homogenised my driving entirely. Chronologically speaking, M800 > Mahindra MM540 > Scorpio mHawk > Renault Kwid > WagonR Automatic > Scorpio again.

What has happened is that, the financial slaps the petrols gave me even when they were just NA petrols coupled with the scary torque of the Scorpio on our roads full of idiots have made me a personification of my username

The trigger maybe the reasons mentioned above but what convinced me to stay sedate and defensive are a little away from the topic of Turbo petrols, efficiency and such. These are those points.

1. Immense difference in eye strain and mental fatigue on 600+ km drives in a single day. It's downright visible instantly.
2. Surprisingly, nearly the same time taken to reach a place at lower but constant speed as at a higher but inconsistent speed. Reasons being unpredictable traffic behaviour, animals on the roads etc which would require stronger braking for a longer time when at a higher speed, translating to an overall loss of average speed
3. Of course, joyous fuel station visits when you get 16.5kmpl from a 2.2L turbo diesel or 22+kmpl from an automatic petrol which would otherwise slap you with less than 13kmpl!
4. Superb ride comfort for passengers. Wifey always loves it when I drive because the butter smooth acceleration and deceleration instantly lulls her to sleep
5. Significant increase in safety margins. I've lost count of the times I've been able to avoid accidents only and only because I was doing less than 85kph and numerous incidents where I've escaped horrific crashes in interior Bangalore only because I was doing 45kph with everyone else scrambling about at silly speeds on tiny roads
6. Extremely good for the overall longevity and in turn, low maintenance costs of the car. Lower speeds allow for more time to react to near-invisible speed breakers and potholes saving the tyres and the suspension in the process.

These are some points which made me stick to the more sedate driving style and keep reaping benefits.

[bharathgr]

Originally Posted by vinaygeorgeroy

Seeing that you have a lot of highway drives, do you use adaptive cruise control often (when you are aiming for fuel efficiency ) ?

In my daily drive ACC is very difficult, infact did it only once, there was frequent braking. The animals and humans on two/three wheels in between makes it impossible !

I manage to get between 12-14 kmpl for my daily commute. I switch to eco mode when I enter the city and am in normal mode on the highway. With less braking and necessary overtakes. In bumper to bumper it does not cross single digit.

[vvs29]

I can relate. When I had the Amaze that's when I started driving. Once I was confident I kept pushing the car and would be doing 120-140 which the car felt very uncomfortable to do.

Then with the city CVT I settled at cruising at 120 with occasional bursts to 140.

Now with the Kia carens and fronx, I cruise at 80-100 depending on traffic and go aggressive for short bursts. Then cruise behind some vehicle then rinse and repeat. Driving aggressively need immense concentration which I find hard to maintain for a long time.

also now that I have gotten a taste of the speed and power, I now know what my and cars limits are, I want to settle at a comfortable pace and I know how much reserve I and the car have.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by vinaygeorgeroy

I can completely understand. Just curious, Do you go back to your heavy foot mode when driving other cars(say diesels) or do you see this sedate slowly becoming your default mode?

I go back to my regular driving mode once I get into my turbodiesels

The problem is, it continues in the Punch until I refill the tank and see a poor FE, and then I get back to sedate driving.

You can see the trend in actual FE here, 13 kmpl to 18 kmpl

[amitayu]

I prefer not to overanalyse my own driving as I already have enough to look out for on the road.
For me, it's a simple 'feel' of right gear at right grunt (torque) as I find that's the best way to maintain healthy mileage.
Everything else eventually settles around that