FINDING THE TRUTH BEHIND THE CLAIMS.
Claims, so many claims. Who should you believe when it comes to your car’s supposed performance and fuel economy? The manufacturer makes certain claims, and as creators of the cars, we tend to believe them, right? So you believe what the manufacturer states regarding your car’s capabilities. Their claims must surely be more accurate than outrageous claims of better performance and economy, made by other people?
How accurate are those power claims?
The question remains, how accurate are the manufacturer’s claims? In terms of performance claims, we can say, they are fairly accurate. It is highly likely that they test their cars under ideal conditions and with a light load. The point is, an average driver should be able to do a sprint in the time the manufacturer claims. We should, however, keep in mind that the quoted output of an engine is taken as an average of several engines.
They test a lot of engines and take the average. So, a certain percentage of those will be above or below the power that these manufacturers claim. There may be as much as a 10% difference. An engine that claims to develop 100 kW, may develop 90 kW or 110 kW. Such a car will still fall within the normal range. The difference between the best and the worst is, however, still 20 kW, which is a lot! This may explain why your cousin’s car (same model as yours) feel more powerful than yours up that hill…
How accurate are those consumption claims?
When it comes to fuel consumption claims, things do not look rosier. They test cars in a laboratory on a rolling road. After that, they derive fuel consumption figures from these tests. They do this in the interest of science, but these figures mostly turn out to be too optimistic. Why is this? Well, because an average driver cannot attain these figures on the road, under real driving conditions. One can typically add anything between 15 and 30% to the figures they claim. You may probably only then arrive at a realistic fuel consumption figure of a car driven daily in city traffic. The statements we make here is substantiated by the Car magazine, and you can read about it here.
Become a researcher
So, do your research. Do not just accept any claim willy-nilly, verify it. Rely on reputable bodies and read the tests they perform. Keep in mind the fuel calculation, and you will have a fair idea of what to expect from your car. You should by no means pay attention to hotshots. The barroom brawler claims that he won the race against an Italian supercar with his city runabout. He did this after driving halfway across the continent on a cup and a half of fuel. Come on, be realistic. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is too good to be true.
Unichip tuning
Lastly, ensure that you optimise your car for the best performance and economy. This option is entirely in your own hands. You can do this by fitting a Unichip. Our piggyback computer connects to your car’s engine control unit (ECU). It then optimises its full potential. What is great is that you can remove it afterwards, leaving your car completely standard. What is even greater is that we will refund you within three months if the Unichip does not satisfy you. You have nothing to lose! Do not miss out on the benefits of a Unichip. Click here to contact us and have our technicians fit your Unichip today.