I suppose it's fair to say that all the EU fuel efficiency tests are carried out in the way described on the car fuel data glossary at www.directgov.co.uk - a rolling road, simulated drag, no gradients and no traffic - so the disparity between theory and actual could suggest that some manufacturers need to be named and shamed, if the difference is more than say 10 per cent. However, your under-performing correspondents could examine their own driving styles.

I know by what amount I improved my mpg once the company car went and I had to pay for fuel myself, and it was achieved by engaging a bit more brain. Your own Honestjohn website does much to set the picture straight showing up some big discrepancies, not only from the manufacturer's claim but also from driver to driver within the same model and spec. For my part, I can't complain. We have a Renault Modus quickshift, and a Grand Modus manual, both with 1.5 Dci 86 engines. Renault claims 62.8 mpg and the records I keep vary from 60 to 65 mpg. That said, I don't need to drive in the rush hour and, except on unrestricted dual carriageways, try to keep below 2000rpm which is neither difficult nor embarrassing. Getting out of first gear sharpish helps too as is the aim to be in third by 20mph.

My first car, a 100E Ford in the mid '60s, delivered 25mpg no matter how it was driven, and I see that our 1.3 Escort in the '80s gave 35, and our 1.25 Fiesta in the '90s was just able to do 45 mpg. Half a century of progress.