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VW to MPG victory
N by Colin Barnett
CM recently joined forces with Volkswagen to take a class win in the CV section of the MPG Marathon. Sponsored by Fleet World, Esso and RAC Motoring Services, the event covered a seriously challenging 600-mile route over two days based at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire.
An entry of 28 cars and 11 light CVs included vehicles as disparate as Honda's Insight hybrid and a Cadillac STS, not to mention a Renault Clio 172 Sport driven by Helene "size matters" Mahieu, The LCVs were ballasted to give approximately half payload. A scheduled average of 30mph sounds easy enough, but over such a demanding route it was actually a challenging target.
CM's vehicle was a Volkswagen Transporter 1200, powered by the
102hp five-cylinder turbo-diesel, and ably navigated by VW's Carly Herder. We contested Class 8, for LCVs of 2,800-3.500kg GVW with at least 5.0m5 of load space. It attracted five entrants; the largest of the LCV classes.
Day 1 took us through Birmingham city centre's mid-morning traffic and out through the wilds of the Peak District as far as Barnsley, before returning south to Gaydon. The route avoided motorways and even many A-roads, occasionally traversing long forgotten byways with grass growing in the middle of the road. Atrocious weather made life even more interesting.
On Day 2 we ventured into even wilder territory, passing via the Malvern Hills and Hereford into the depths of mid Wales. and not turning back until the lunch halt at Dinas Mawddwy. The return, by way of Shrewsbury. brought yet more foul weather, including wheel-deep floods. The Transporter's fine handling allowed the most to be made of valuable momentum, while the excellent ABS-assisted brakes were appreciated on a succession of slippery descents.
Team VW had an outright victory, with the Lupo TDI's 79.35mpg comprehensively beating the electrically assisted Honda's 63.61mpg. The Caddy ttli's 54:19mpg took CV honours; CM'S entry achieved 39.86mpg, compared with the official economy figure of 33.2mpg, to win its class.