I did a trip into Sydney last week so as to help a friend work on his Rover. The route is anything but flat comprising a mixture of suburban through to freeway running, with fuel consumption being recorded over a distance of 130 Miles (209km) in each direction.
On the trip in, my Rover returned 27.4 mpg and on the return 23.4 mpg, giving an average consumption of 25.4 mpg for a round 260 Mile (419km).
Apart from moving through the gears after a stop, top gear is used exclusively for the remainder, no changing down for overtaking or for climbing any of the long winding steep hills being necessary. Climbing through the Blue Mountains, the speed limits constantly vary between about 30 and 50mph, which is the maximum limit. The remainder will be run off in the 60 to 70 mph bracket where permissable (2500 to 3000rpm range).
Traffic lights in the Blue Mountains.
The rugged landscape near Mount Victoria.
Decending Victoria Pass.
At the base of Victoria Pass.
Approaching Lithgow.
The town of Lithgow.
Sitting behind another Mercedes Benz.
Undulating 70 mph (3000rpm) freeway section.
Ron.