Sticking with a fun petrol, despite mega miles. Who's with me?

Sticking with a fun petrol, despite mega miles. Who's with me?

Author
Discussion

TroubledSoul

Original Poster:

4,589 posts

193 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Just a bit of fun really, but since selling my 535d and getting back into an Impreza, albeit a WRX as I wanted a Wagon, I've done 10k. In 6 months.

So, it looks like I really should be driving a diesel from a cost perspective. Unfortunately, having tried that, I just can't see myself ever being able to go back.

Anybody else saying to hell with the costs and ploughing on regardless? I did almost convince myself that a nice diesel was a great car, but I never quite got there. I've now got the modifying/refreshing bug again and will soon fit some big Brembos to the car and refresh the suspension. Happy days!

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Get a cheap diesel to run into the ground on the motorway miles and keep the petrol for fun?

luckystrike

536 posts

180 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I quite enjoy the driving dynamics of both petrols and diesels so preference in that case isn't really relevant, but even at 15k miles a year all it would take would be a typical modernish diesel repair bill such as injectors, DMF, turbo failure etc. to completely negate the fuel savings over the equivalent petrol. Given the purchase price of the petrol car in the first place it's hard to justify diesel.

750turbo

6,164 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I am with you here, I really should be driving some sort of generic VAG diesel, but I just cannot bring myself to do it.

I can eek out 42mpg on a long run though, it is a bit boring!!!!

chrisb92

1,051 posts

123 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Yes! When looking for a new car recently i very nearly convinced myself a 120d/GTD was the way to go for my 20k a year. But, when I started thinking about it, i thought there's no way i'm going to part with upwards of 20 grand on something i don't want. So, opted for a petrol!

TroubledSoul

Original Poster:

4,589 posts

193 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
Phew! I don't so much mind being mad if I'm not alone laugh

I know there are more fun cars than an old Impreza of course, but in a relatively speaking sense, it's fantastic as a daily.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Better to buy an older car that is depreciating £100 a month less and go petrol imho. You will still be better off doing 20k miles a year.


nct001

733 posts

132 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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In the 80s, 90s and early 00s busy sales execs and company chaps were more than happy with 34mpg... cruising about at 75 to 85 think BMW 523i or BMW 528i, A6 petrol etc I think my dad even ran an e46 m3 over 3 years and 100k miles and averaged 32 mpg... the lease company / fleet manager was more bothered about cost of tyres than fuel cost.

Yet now we have these headline diesel mpg figures, which in the real world for many cars are non sense unless you drive at 60 with air con off.


jep

1,183 posts

208 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Yup, ran 3.0i X5 for 3 years with a 100mile round trip commute over the Peak District. Average mpg over 60k was 21.4, so I guess that makes me certifiable...

alpha channel

1,386 posts

161 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Kind of have to agree, I'm running a diesel -159Ti- and petrol -Rover 200 Coupe- (the Rover is for those days that are dry) and I'm finding that, despite the age disparity between my two cars (eleven years), I'm always leaning towards the Rover (thirsty little devil that she is, 30mpg if I'm careful and two trips to the station a week if used all week for the 300 mile-ish weekly commute, dinky petrol tank only takes thirty quid to brim it). I prefer the sound, the throttle response and the delivery of the Rover's little NA 1.8VVC four pot engine as opposed to the clattery heavy number in the nose of the Alfa, when the Alfa is moved on it's back to petrol and to hell with the fuel bill.

226bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Buy a new fun and frugal petrol motor, the margin between the two isn't much anymore.

PomBstard

6,729 posts

241 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I've not driven a diesel car for nearly 12 years. Back in the UK we had 2 diesels at the same time - one from PSA and one from VAG. Both were competent and the PSA was also fun, both did >20,000 miles a year. However, having only had petrols since, I can't see why I'd go back to diesel. I probably don't do the kms to warrant any sort of long-distance saving - a diesel would probably halve my fuel costs, but that would still be wiped out by depreciation. Besides, I've really grown attached to a redline over 7000rpm.

StuntmanMike

11,671 posts

150 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I'm with you OP.
3.0 petrol here, yesterday I stood in a car park and saw a 530d E39 parking, I really couldn't live with the noise it made, and that's a 6 pot.

HorneyMX5

5,308 posts

149 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I've done 21K in 11 months in my FN2 Civic Type R. In that time all I've replaced is the rear pads, 2 pairs of tyres and a service. I worked out that even with the fuel difference it's been very slightly cheaper to run so far than my old MG ZT CDTI I had before.

delmatt

506 posts

190 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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nct001 said:
In the 80s, 90s and early 00s busy sales execs and company chaps were more than happy with 34mpg... cruising about at 75 to 85 think BMW 523i or BMW 528i, A6 petrol etc I think my dad even ran an e46 m3 over 3 years and 100k miles and averaged 32 mpg... the lease company / fleet manager was more bothered about cost of tyres than fuel cost.

Yet now we have these headline diesel mpg figures, which in the real world for many cars are non sense unless you drive at 60 with air con off.
Yes but unfortunately now petrol is way more expensive than it was then. There were also no real viable alternatives that were remotely decent.

vanordinaire

3,701 posts

161 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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We have a diesel Passat (60mpg), a diesel Ibiza (55mpg), a petrol Fiesta (45mpg), a diesel Ranger pickup (30mpg), a petrol type 2 camper(25mpg) and a petrol MX5 (35mpg)as a choice of cars to jump into every morning. I travel at least 30000miles per year and almost always find a reason to take the MX5 or the pickup if I can't take the bike. I have to admit I have had mental health issues but I wouldn't say I was mad.

skyrover

12,668 posts

203 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I run my Jeep with a petrol motor...

Wouldn't touch the diesel with a barge pole. (and not just because the diesel is a turkey) smile

zeduffman

4,054 posts

150 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I drive a Golf R32 for a 62 mile round trip commute every day. Nice bit of noise to cheer me up after a long day.

hacksaw

748 posts

116 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I drive around 25 - 30k a year, split between my mitsi lancer ralliart and my recently acquired V70 T5. Neither of which are particularly frugal, however, both put a smile of my face.

TheAllSeeingPie

865 posts

134 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I ran a supercharged FFRR for 35k miles over nearly 2 years and got 20mpg at best. It was so deliciously smooth but with plenty of power when needed I ended up selling the S320 cdi I'd bought to try and save miles on the FFRR. After the FFRR got written off I tried a few diesels, including the big fancy A6 with the special turbos and ended up pocketing the cash, buying an E55 and tuning it up. I get 25mpg on a run or 13 around town but I look forward to every journey even if it's a 4am start and 300+ miles.