Basically agree with that Makem; but I have done a lot of research on numerous DIESEL cars in conjunction with the instant fuel consumption facility.I have found the critical revs for maximum economy and reasonable performance are 1850 r.p.m. Go above this line and consumption increases quite quickly; go above 2000 r.p.m. and there is a considerable increase. We could all drive around at 1500 r.p.m. and forget where the fuel intake is, but it all balances out on how important fuel costs are to the individual. How many times have you asked someone ' how much does it do to the gallon ' and got the answer ' I don't know, I never check it ! '.
The B Max 1.6 CRDI rotates at 33 m.p.h. at 1000 revs which means of course you can keep the engine under 2000 r.p.m. at the legal single carriageway U.K. speed limit. Missing out a gear whilst moving off on a downward slope makes sense; as does engaging 2nd gear a.s.a.p. But I have noticed on the diesel B Max 1.6 that 2nd gear and 3 rd. gear at low revs are quite gutless. We have a number of steep hills around here, and there is one in particular in Aberystwyth which my present car refuses to take in second gear, as it is on a sharp left hand turn there is no chance to take a run at it. Previous cars, Hyundai i40, ix20, 1.6 VW Passatt, Fiat Sedici 1.9 and Freelander 2 made easy work of the incline in second gear.
I like 6 gear cars, but my experience is that they do not offer a lower top gear r.p.m., the ratios are just narrowed down. I would be interested to hear from forum members whether they know of any cars that can offer 40 m.p.h. or more per 1000 revs in top gear. Very few manufacturers offer this information in their sales brochures or hand books. I can only imagine that vehicles achieving this figure would provide economic drivers very good returns on motorways.
