Remapping

[Rhothgar]

Me too. I love Eco but next week will be a mix on the Autobahns.

[Northern_Mike]

I wonder what a properly fettled 8V HDi engine could do, if it were really pushed? PSA seem to have come up with a solid reliable engine (when properly maintained).

I've seen 8v Berlingos with over 140bhp and over 330lbft with standard internals. I believe with internal modifications over 180 is possible.

[Northern_Mike]

Me too. I love Eco but next week will be a mix on the Autobahns.

I generally drive sensibly and get around 50p out of the C5 in mixed driving. Over the channel I figured the cost of ferry+diesel was so much less than any other form of transport for the 3/4 of us that economy wasn't really relevant. Even at that speed it averaged 36.1mpg on the computer. Obviously you spend a lot of time off the loud pedal when lifting off to avoid braking for traffic far ahead.

I once drove the Xantia 110hdi literally flat out, foot to the boards, for 95 miles and it still did 33mpg. As a comparison my old turbo Saab returned 14mpg driven I'm a similar manner.

[Peter.N.]

Modern diesels are mostly very good on fuel but reward you for gentle driving much more than a petrol engine with a fixed fuel/air ratio. I used to be able to get over 50mpg from the 2.1 XUD in the XM going to Scotland and get over 60 mpg from the Hdi but my driving would probably bore many to tears.

Peter

[chinkostu]

In my youth I would have been interested but I don't drive fast enough now, I drive for economy rather than speed.

Peter

I find it all depends on my mood, had a drive back from kent to cheshire a few weeks back, was in no real hurry so just huddled into the first lane and stuck at 56. Cruiser seems to soak up the miles, barely felt like 4 hours!

sometimes though the old girl gets a good thrashing when shes warm and i've got an open stretch. My old Saxo VTR used to be foot to the floor everywhere, pretty much due to the fact it was uncomfortable at 5mph nevermind 56!

[Peter.N.]

I had my moments in my youth but when I was doing high mileages for work I found that it was much more relaxing to sit in the nearside lane with the lorries than be continually overtaking and you felt much better when you arrived at your destination, so that was a mode of driving I got into. It also has the bonus of a considerably improved fuel consumption plus reduced general wear.

Peter

[Northern_Mike]

I had my moments in my youth but when I was doing high mileages for work I found that it was much more relaxing to sit in the nearside lane with the lorries than be continually overtaking and you felt much better when you arrived at your destination,

You're quite right Peter, and if I'm travelling in sane hours, this is always the method I use, unless there's very little traffic. It's pointless trying to battle with the other traffic to arrive only 5 or 10 mins earlier, and way too stressful.

I go a bit faster if I'm travelling the middle of the night, as I find the higher speed helps keep my concentration up. It is more tiring, but I find it easier to keep alert at higher speed as you constantly have to monitor the road.

I thought the roads in France and Belgium, along with the C5 suspension just made it so very easy to go very quickly indeed.

[Lighty]

We map quite a few of these engines, they seem strong & reliable, the main issue is the Dual mass flywheel, which doesn't like the extra stress, so often when the map is done, this needs replacing shortly afterwards.

[Rhothgar]

It is the best way. People never believe that driving at 56 only takes a little longer than driving at 80-90 unless they actually try it on a known route. You simply cannot sustain a high average in UK roads. I was challenged as a young man by my bosses to drive Nottingham to Cheshunt and back in 4 hours to deliver some drawings to Tesco HQ. 240 mile round trip down the A1 and back and I managed to average 60mph. I should say I was in my Mk. 2 Escort RS2000 and not holding back.

If you drive at a lower speed i.e. 56 it is far easy to average close to it and a decent journey AND be very relaxed and stress-free.

[Rhothgar]

Lighty. Which car are you referring to AFAIK 110 Xantia doesn't have a DMF

[Stickyfinger]

Mapping with Auto Box ?? problems, can they take it ?

[Northern_Mike]

Lighty. Which car are you referring to AFAIK 110 Xantia doesn't have a DMF

The Xantia doesn't but the C5 does. My C5 doesn't not as it had a solid flywheel kit fitted when the DMF failed.

[daviemck2006]

when comparing journey times I once drove a coach from Aberdeen bus station to Victoria bus station London in 9&1/2hrs driving. 3 hrs driving, 45 mins stop, 3 hrs driving 45 mins stop, 3&1/2 hrs driving. 100 kph, 62 mph speed limiter, just ran with foot on the floor every inch of the way. 12 hrs off for a sleep and back the next night the same. On the roads up here I usually tend to run at 55 mph, but if I come behind a lorry or bus, if it's doing 50 I just keep my distance and run behind it. Seems to make very little difference to journey times. I believe the speed limits should be changed, single carriageway 50 mph for everything, dual carriageway 60 mph for everything, motorway 70 for everything. Modern coaches and lorries are quite capable of cruising at those speeds, and everything going at the same speed must be safer than different speeds. Also far heavier penalties for breaking speed limits. Only my opinion of course.

Getting back on topic, I dont suppose my c5 will get remapped now. I was thinking about a box on it but had decided to save a few more pounds and do it properly. If it get fixed that saved money will have to go to pay my excess, if it doesn't get fixed I have no idea what I will be doing. One thing I do know, an old 1.6 escort is horrendous on fuel, about 25mpg. Just reinforced my belief that a car that size is not big enough to be comfy, and not small enough to be economical. I would be better off with a v6 xantia and get a bit of performance and luxury at the same costs or a 1.1 saxo and get economy with the same wheelbarrow ness

[Northern_Mike]

I believe the speed limits should be changed, single carriageway 50 mph for everything, dual carriageway 60 mph for everything, motorway 70 for everything. Modern coaches and lorries are quite capable of cruising at those speeds,

I don't the capability of them to cruise at those speeds is the issue Davie, it's the fact they take a hell of a lot longer to stop from them.

I believe trucks and buses should be limited as they are, but the limit for cars on motorways should just be removed completely and replaced with a catch-all "driving without due care and attention" or "dangerous driving", or replaced with a 100mph limit with an instant ban for any speed above it. I don't believe this would lead to any change whatsoever in people's driving behaviour in the slightest. Policing speed limits costs money, and there's better things to spend it on. Cars are safe and capable. I didn't see massive piles of death on the roads in Belgium and France because their speed limit is 11mph higher than ours is..

[old-un77]

I knew someone in a 1.4 Renault 19, that did 124 miles in 92 minutes...
Bob