Pete S. wrote:

When I bought my TD4 SE Auto in April last year, my first trip was from the dealers (London) back home to Blackpool. At a general 70-75mph I averaged 38.4 I think it was, which seemed very reasonable. In December we took it to Torver for its 12 month first service (less than 9,000mls) and it had the PTC thing done too. Went down to Northampton at Xmas and got 32.7mpg. I've been up to the Lakes in Jan with a very light foot and got the same. Ironically, I'm getting 29mpg round town.

After a few days swanning around the Midlands, I had my first chance to do my regular commute this morning (20 miles mostly nadgery country roads and a bit of stop/start dual carriageway). From 0 degrees C, it did exactly 38mpg, which is the same as my previous commuter, a Saab 9-3 150hp diesel auto. I am very happy with that.

Just had a busy spell at work, have covered 1800+ miles in ten days. I'm on my fourth tank of fuel, but within those miles I've used three full tanks. MPG across the three tanks (measured full to full - not the computer) 41.8 mpg

That's far too good. I think there is something wrong with my car, will have to take it to the stealer and get its software updated.  Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

I must have a problem - bought the Freel a couple of weeks ago - driving from Tonbridge to Bristol a couple of times cannot get better than 33mpg very light foot in an auto. Previous car was a SKL 350 auto and it did more at eye watering speeds. Ideas!! Checked tyres and all the normal causes.

Schipper, my guess is you've got the same ECU firmware revision as me. I get slightly more than that with motorway (65-75mph) miles, but mine's a manual. I can get around 40mpg with A road (30-50mpg) if I'm very careful. Next trip to the dealers, I'm asking for different firmware.

Hi Andy - any easy way of checking the version or code no for the ECU firmware that is installed. I also wonder if it is just worth getting the chipping kit suggested on another thread, Bluefin I think it was called, have to look it up again.

I suspect it would need to be accessed through computer/software connection as happens at the dealers. In theory, it would be possible from the inbuilt satnav system (model permitting) if it is connected to the car's CANBUS network, but I'm not sure if that's been implemented. I've read before about diagnostic/engineer modes via the satnav screen but I'm not sure how far they extend.
I've asked this before, but if anyone is aware of codes and access to such modes it would be useful to collate a list. If we could easily access ECU revision versions, we could do our own poll to assess which is better.
Whenever any owner has service work done, It might be worth asking for a list of firmware versions. They might be reluctant to offer that but we can only ask.

If LR dealers are anything like Merc dealers, they know little too nothing. Need to go to an Indie that is interested in the Freel. I will try to contact one in East Peckam that my brother in law rates very highly.
Good idea to put a list together, we could then, as you say, find which version returns the best fuel consumption. (The Merc could be accessed via the sat nav into engineering mode - I had to show the workshop how to do it, it bypassed their 'star' diagnostics unit for basic settings.) but it did let you know what the garage had in fact done - or in my case - not.