I know that this post is very old but needless to say that it is because of this I am here. I too was suffering the same issue. Great mileage 55mpg was the norm and easily going from Calasis to the South of France on a full tank. Bliss.... but then it all changed and I was only getting half that at best.
I went through the list:
1. Tyres - Under inflated slightly but pumped them up.
2. Checked the tracking - Toe-ing in on the left and slightly out on the right. Not by huge amounts but enough. Needless to say it needed to be done as the full suspension had been replaced (struts, springs, bushes and ball joint).
3. Filters - needed a service any way so they were changed but they have been annually anyway.
4. Clogged exhaust/inlet - no to both. A new exhaust was fitted so I could discount that part.
5. Brake binding! Now there is where it gets interesting especially on the rear!
Jacking up the car, taking all the usual precautions, and spinning the back wheel would normally free wheel with the slightest bit of rubbing if your brake shoes were ok. But there is where the problem was as the rubbing was not the brake shoes after all. Upon removing the disc I noticed that there was a fair bit of rust build up on the inner edge with a slight shine to it. Upon inspecting the back plate of the said side there were two very distinctive rubbing marks! BINGO! To top that the opposite side was the same too.
I have attached a link to the video I made so you can see what I am refering too but included in there is a good instruction guide to how to change the brakes yourselves!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=psObQwmg_4s
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