Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Humpy on 26 May 2010, 08:44:18

Title: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Humpy on 26 May 2010, 08:44:18
Not really a problem more of a statement really.

Went down to Somerset from Kent last weekend in SWMBO's car a 3.0 auto saloon. Without trying I got 35mpg whereas the same trip in my car (3.0 manual est) I struggle to get 28mpg and that's really trying! One thing I did notice is that my car does 3500rpm at 70 whereas the wifes car does 2500rpm at 70! That would probably explain it. I'm guessing that a manual estate is geared a lot lower to cope with load lugging? And there's me bought a manual 'cos I though it'd be more frugal  :( Can anyone confirm the difference in gear ratios?

Humpy
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 May 2010, 09:47:21
3500rpm at 70 sounds rather high. Makes me wonder if it's got the right diff ratio.

Gear ratio information here http://www.autobahnstormers.org/eligible_cars/omega_b/mv6.asp seems to suggest you should be geared for 24.9 MPH/1K RPM. As it is you're only getting 20 MPH.

Kevin
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: tigers_gonads on 26 May 2010, 14:02:41
has it been a 2.5 then converted too a 3 ltr ?

i know the 2.5 dif is lower geared
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Welung666 on 26 May 2010, 16:30:34
Is it ex-cop? Or could it have an LSD fitted from an ex-cop?
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: tunnie on 26 May 2010, 17:05:56
3.5k rpm at 70mph is way to high, even my 2.2 is sub 3k rpm at 70, its only at 3.2k rpm at 80mph
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Humpy on 26 May 2010, 20:30:03
Interesting replies chaps. As I had the car after umpteen owners I don't know where it came from originaly but I don't think it was a police car as it has all the toys, roof rails and no holes everywhere :)  I don't think it's got a slipper as I've driven these in the Monza's and it don't feel the same and as far as I know it's always been a 3.0l so gawd knows what the problem is.
Looking at the data on the ABs site, the manual is lower geared but no mention if the estate is even lower.
Like I said, I went for a manual as I thought I was doing the right thing (and it was the right price and only 2 miles away from home :y) but now I'm not so sure :(

Humpy
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: VXL V6 on 26 May 2010, 20:32:16
AFAIK there is no difference in gearing of identical engine/gearbox combinations between estates and saloons.

Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: MickAP on 26 May 2010, 20:33:05
Daft as it sounds but....did you use 5th gear.

I've been driving my auto around for 2 weeks so never touched the manual estate in that time.

Went on a long journey in the estate and did around 25 miles before I realized I'd not got it into 5th gear, that's doing 70mph with c/c on.
Made a bit difference to mpg and of course rpm shifting up from 4th to 5th :y

Never done that before...forgot I had a 5th gear :-[


Mick ;)
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Johna on 26 May 2010, 23:30:39
I've got a 2.6 manual and just bought the missus a 2.6 auto. Identical cars, year, trim etc other than that, and strangely enough I noticed the auto was getting more mpg's when cruising at 70. I thought I was going round the bend  :-[ Maybe not then?  ;D

And I was sure it was running slightly less revs, but haven't been allowed near it again to double check against mine properly.

Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Humpy on 27 May 2010, 11:15:04
Definately using 5th gear, you'd know all about it if not! The mystery deepens...

Humpy
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Kevin Wood on 27 May 2010, 12:03:09
Is it worth double checking the speedo is accurate against a GPS? (If only to protect your licence? ;))

If it is reading OK, only thing I can think of is that the diff ratio is wrong. You can work it out by getting under the car and turning the two output shafts together through one revolution while an assistant counts the turns of the propshaft.

On the plus side, it must accelerate like a scalded cat. :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Humpy on 27 May 2010, 16:17:17
Quote
On the plus side, it must accelerate like a scalded cat.

It doesn't hang about :D

Humpy
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: jonnycool on 27 May 2010, 21:14:20
Quote
Quote
On the plus side, it must accelerate like a scalded cat.

It doesn't hang about :D

Humpy
1st gear must be very short though   :P
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: revolvolt on 27 May 2010, 21:55:39
just a quick thought but your wheels and tyres are the right size? that could change gearing
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: Sixstring on 28 May 2010, 08:23:39
I've had both the 3.0 V6 manual and now the auto, DEFINATELY more frugal with auto, but less acceleration/sporty/lower cruising revs at 80mph.
hope this is some help.

Mike.
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: 2woody on 28 May 2010, 12:47:37
I've got just the opposite.

My 3.0 auto estate struggles to get to 25, even on a run, whilst the manual car easily does 30+

going to calculate which diffs I've got mind, I think the auto estate has a police-spec 4.22 in it.
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: serek on 28 May 2010, 16:54:31
got 4.22 on mine at 70MPH just over 3100rpm
before 3.9 at same speed was show 2700rpm

Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: rbramm on 28 May 2010, 17:02:00
maybe just being dense here but have you checked that your clutch is not slipping slightly could be gripping ok in lower gears / less noticable but shows when labouring in high gear.
just a thought. :)
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: zirk on 28 May 2010, 17:33:22
Mine:

2000 FL 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate:
2600 at 70mph,
27.5 MPG Average over say 1000 miles,
24 MPG around town,
33 MPG on a run,
Best ever 38 MPG with CC at 60 mph. (long trip / Motorway)

2000 FL 3.0 MV6 Auto Estate:
2700 at 70mph,
24.5 MPG Average over say 1000 miles,
21 MPG around town,
31 MPG on a run,
Best ever 40 (!) MPG with CC at 60 mph. (long trip / Motorway)

MPG figures are from MID but are fairly accurate when compared to fill ups and trip meter.

Manual is SuperChiped and the Auto is Courtenay Chipped. Both Chips give better MPG than normal it seems for Me.

Chris.
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: biggriffin on 28 May 2010, 17:58:27
has the car got the under tray and front spliter on as if not you will lose 2mpg.
  i know from experience that they do make a lot of difference,if not fitted.
Title: Re: Estate vs Saloon Comparison
Post by: seanjones on 03 June 2010, 08:55:12
Have you compared with the sport button pressed on your wife's?