I hope you have all seen the Topic below?
http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-countryman/184253-mpg-your-countryman-6.html
It seems that an awful lot of us are unhappy with the obtained fuel economy.
I'm driving around so steady yet am at least 33% away from the official figures. I never really expect to achieve what the Manufacturer states. But I do expect to get close to it. I've managed that on all my previous cars. We can even get close on my wifes Cooper Hatch.
On my Countryman SD 2wd manual, country driving (extra urban?) I am getting 42 to 43 mpg yet Mini shows.....
Fuel consumption mpg - Manual (urban) 54.3 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Automatic (urban) 38.7 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Manual (extra-urban) 65.7 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Automatic (extra-urban) 58.9 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Manual (combined) 61.4 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Automatic (combined) 49.6 mpg
I've written to Mini and get their standard response which is below.
Thank you for your email dated September 17, 2012, regarding the fuel consumption of your MINI Countryman. Please accept my sincere apologies for the reasons which have given you cause to contact us on this occasion.
I certainly appreciate your concern and disappointment in relation to this matter. However, I can confirm that the fuel consumption figures published are independently regulated and monitored by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and are achieved in accordance with their recommended testing conditions. On the VCA website it is advised that "because of the need to maintain strict comparability of results achieved by the standard tests they cannot be fully representative of real-life driving conditions. Firstly, it is not practicable to test each individual new car; thus only one production car is tested as being representative of the model and may therefore produce a better or worse result than another similar vehicle. Secondly, there are infinite variations in driving styles and in road, car and weather conditions, all of which can have a bearing on the results achieved. For these reasons the consumption achieved on the road will not necessarily accord with the official test results."
We have published the figures that have been achieved and approved during testing and it is accepted by the regulating body that these figures may not be achievable in normal driving conditions. The VCA website also advises that "the fuel consumption testing scheme is intended to give car buyers comparative information about the fuel consumption of different models in standard tests."
"I understand that you have approached MINI UK Customer Service directly, with a view to obtaining information on this issue. However, from a practical perspective, our network of MINI Approved Dealerships are best placed to offer you this advice. As your dealership have inspected the vehicle and stated that there is no defect, we would stand by their diagnosis. Nevertheless, should you remain unhappy, you can seek a second opinion from an alternative approved dealership, if you wish to do so."
So if you are unhappy with your cars economy, please in the first instance write to MINI. The more the merrier.
customer.service@mini.co.uk
Also write (like I have) to BBC Watchdog, if we write to Watchdog we may get some action and it will at least highlight the issue. What have we to lose? Link below, it's easy enough.
BBC - Watchdog - Send your story
I am seriously thinking of selling my Countryman SD. Whilst I like the car if I'm going to drive round in something so slow and get such poor mileage I might as well get something a little more exciting and get the same mpg.
Come on pick up your pens (so to speak) and do something. Please post on here if you've written so we get some idea of the level of contact.
STEVE.................
http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-countryman/184253-mpg-your-countryman-6.html
It seems that an awful lot of us are unhappy with the obtained fuel economy.
I'm driving around so steady yet am at least 33% away from the official figures. I never really expect to achieve what the Manufacturer states. But I do expect to get close to it. I've managed that on all my previous cars. We can even get close on my wifes Cooper Hatch.
On my Countryman SD 2wd manual, country driving (extra urban?) I am getting 42 to 43 mpg yet Mini shows.....
Fuel consumption mpg - Manual (urban) 54.3 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Automatic (urban) 38.7 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Manual (extra-urban) 65.7 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Automatic (extra-urban) 58.9 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Manual (combined) 61.4 mpg
Fuel consumption mpg - Automatic (combined) 49.6 mpg
I've written to Mini and get their standard response which is below.
Thank you for your email dated September 17, 2012, regarding the fuel consumption of your MINI Countryman. Please accept my sincere apologies for the reasons which have given you cause to contact us on this occasion.
I certainly appreciate your concern and disappointment in relation to this matter. However, I can confirm that the fuel consumption figures published are independently regulated and monitored by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and are achieved in accordance with their recommended testing conditions. On the VCA website it is advised that "because of the need to maintain strict comparability of results achieved by the standard tests they cannot be fully representative of real-life driving conditions. Firstly, it is not practicable to test each individual new car; thus only one production car is tested as being representative of the model and may therefore produce a better or worse result than another similar vehicle. Secondly, there are infinite variations in driving styles and in road, car and weather conditions, all of which can have a bearing on the results achieved. For these reasons the consumption achieved on the road will not necessarily accord with the official test results."
We have published the figures that have been achieved and approved during testing and it is accepted by the regulating body that these figures may not be achievable in normal driving conditions. The VCA website also advises that "the fuel consumption testing scheme is intended to give car buyers comparative information about the fuel consumption of different models in standard tests."
"I understand that you have approached MINI UK Customer Service directly, with a view to obtaining information on this issue. However, from a practical perspective, our network of MINI Approved Dealerships are best placed to offer you this advice. As your dealership have inspected the vehicle and stated that there is no defect, we would stand by their diagnosis. Nevertheless, should you remain unhappy, you can seek a second opinion from an alternative approved dealership, if you wish to do so."
So if you are unhappy with your cars economy, please in the first instance write to MINI. The more the merrier.
customer.service@mini.co.uk
Also write (like I have) to BBC Watchdog, if we write to Watchdog we may get some action and it will at least highlight the issue. What have we to lose? Link below, it's easy enough.
BBC - Watchdog - Send your story
I am seriously thinking of selling my Countryman SD. Whilst I like the car if I'm going to drive round in something so slow and get such poor mileage I might as well get something a little more exciting and get the same mpg.
Come on pick up your pens (so to speak) and do something. Please post on here if you've written so we get some idea of the level of contact.
STEVE.................