i always think diesel engines are better if they are driven hard (not abused) when they new (after the first few hundred miles) - they seem to open up better. i have a 2.0 170 tdi and when it was new it was doing about 35 mpg. between 7000 and 8000 miles there was a noticable improvement in performance and consumption and now it does about 45mpg which is what i got out of a 1.9 tdi . i think if you are getting between 45 and 50 maybe that is about its mark . maybe because you drive it steady it will just take a bit longer to open up. the other thing is that driving 'steady' may not be the most ecanomical way of driving - you need to be using the engine in its most efficient rev range and not changing up gear to early.
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