Sell up for a diesel or convert to Lpg?
Discussion
Not sure about LPG anymore. I was a big advocate of it and my last 2 RR Vogues (2002 -2005) were LPG. At 49p/Ltr where I am in west London the tank fills in approx £35 (70L) which gives 150 miles. Recently I drove a TDV6 2009 RR Vogue which filled up on £90 but gave approx 450 miles. So the TDV6 gave approx 5 miles per £1 of driving and the LPG RR gives approx 4.4 miles per £1 of gas. The caveat is with the TDV6 I was doing some motorway driving hence I think it would realistically give 375-400 miles on a full tank which then is equivalent to the LPG RR, i.e. 4.5 miles per £1 of fuel.
Am I missing something??? I assume the age of the LPG car accounts for the slightly less economy compared to a newer more efficient '09 TDV6 but in my case it seems the TDV6 is the same economy or better than the LPG so why bother with the extra hassle?
Thoughts?
Am I missing something??? I assume the age of the LPG car accounts for the slightly less economy compared to a newer more efficient '09 TDV6 but in my case it seems the TDV6 is the same economy or better than the LPG so why bother with the extra hassle?
Thoughts?
The big question is have you the LPG filling stations nearby in a convenient location?
If yes then gas it.
The comments about specialist servicing are rubbish. You can do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined.
In terms of working on an LPG car they are no different to a non-LPG car unless you are dealing specifically with the LPG system.
Insurance will depend on the insurer. Some will charge (because they can) and others will not (because they want the business).
Eurotunnel is no biggy in my eyes as I hate the damn thing. I'd rather the nice leisurely crossing on a ferry and avoid the s
t tip that is Calais/northern France (we go via Cherbourg/St Malo or Le Havre) but then we do have a holiday home an hour north of Bordeaux and a boat on the Canal du Midi so why would we add three boring hours motorway driving by going anywhere near Calais?
The only real downsides to LPG are loss of boot space and much reduced range between fills. I had a Land Cruiser V6 which would do 200 miles to an 80 litre tank of LPG so needed regular filling which got to be a pain. That said with the (reduced size) petrol tank as well the overall range was over 400 miles. Its important to ensure the installation meets the regs and is properly certified (for obvious reasons). Also use a 4 hole tank as they are much faster to fill than the older (cheaper) single hole variants.
I would expect LPG to become more favoured in future as the emissions are so much lower than diesel or petrol. The French have developed a bio-LPG infrastructure which is exceptionally clean.
If yes then gas it.
The comments about specialist servicing are rubbish. You can do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined.
In terms of working on an LPG car they are no different to a non-LPG car unless you are dealing specifically with the LPG system.
Insurance will depend on the insurer. Some will charge (because they can) and others will not (because they want the business).
Eurotunnel is no biggy in my eyes as I hate the damn thing. I'd rather the nice leisurely crossing on a ferry and avoid the s
t tip that is Calais/northern France (we go via Cherbourg/St Malo or Le Havre) but then we do have a holiday home an hour north of Bordeaux and a boat on the Canal du Midi so why would we add three boring hours motorway driving by going anywhere near Calais?The only real downsides to LPG are loss of boot space and much reduced range between fills. I had a Land Cruiser V6 which would do 200 miles to an 80 litre tank of LPG so needed regular filling which got to be a pain. That said with the (reduced size) petrol tank as well the overall range was over 400 miles. Its important to ensure the installation meets the regs and is properly certified (for obvious reasons). Also use a 4 hole tank as they are much faster to fill than the older (cheaper) single hole variants.
I would expect LPG to become more favoured in future as the emissions are so much lower than diesel or petrol. The French have developed a bio-LPG infrastructure which is exceptionally clean.
JiggyJaggy said:
Not sure about LPG anymore. I was a big advocate of it and my last 2 RR Vogues (2002 -2005) were LPG. At 49p/Ltr where I am in west London the tank fills in approx £35 (70L) which gives 150 miles. Recently I drove a TDV6 2009 RR Vogue which filled up on £90 but gave approx 450 miles. So the TDV6 gave approx 5 miles per £1 of driving and the LPG RR gives approx 4.4 miles per £1 of gas. The caveat is with the TDV6 I was doing some motorway driving hence I think it would realistically give 375-400 miles on a full tank which then is equivalent to the LPG RR, i.e. 4.5 miles per £1 of fuel.
Am I missing something??? I assume the age of the LPG car accounts for the slightly less economy compared to a newer more efficient '09 TDV6 but in my case it seems the TDV6 is the same economy or better than the LPG so why bother with the extra hassle?
Thoughts?
This is why my V70 went in favour of a 220 CDi Merc.Am I missing something??? I assume the age of the LPG car accounts for the slightly less economy compared to a newer more efficient '09 TDV6 but in my case it seems the TDV6 is the same economy or better than the LPG so why bother with the extra hassle?
Thoughts?
I still have an LPG Astra, Factory fitted, but I doubt i would pay the upfront install costs now, id happily buy a car with it already installed though.
I get why the OP is thinking of doing it, spent money on car & has made it more interesting than it was with the manual box, think i would too.
My other reason for not staying LPG is that as I wanted a Merc & the petrol engine is also Common Rail. My understanding was that because of heat issues in combustion they run a mix of LPG & petrol all the time thereby increasing the overall running costs per mile over the V70 & to be fair my Merc has averaged 39 MPG in the 3 years ive owned it, so like yourself there is little reason to do it with the improved tech in the Diesel. I was also slightly concerned the new systems were so new they may be a bit unreliable & nobody seemed to know, or want to tell me, what % of petrol id be using!
Then again, if i spent more than 50% of my time driving in London I could have a different view because the CDi is not that brilliant MPG wise in congested traffic!
JiggyJaggy said:
but in my case it seems the TDV6 is the same economy or better than the LPG so why bother with the extra hassle?
Sorry for the selective quote, I read that as why would you bother with a diesel if you can get the same economy from a lovely petrol engine. Your priorities (and I guess the performance and refinement of modern diesels) has changed but it works both ways IMO.Jim AK said:
nottyash said:
So how many of us have a hire/ reward policy? Admiral will put your insurance up 50%, which is crazy.
What are you on about, part rubbish? You have just endorsed what I said. Thats additional service costs.
Semi valid?
I have heard some total rubbish here.
A Hire/Reward policy is usually viewed by insurers as a licence to print & is not available through all providers & I made 100% sure I was not going to have an increase in costs. If Admiral choose to up a policy 50%, something I don't see as at all reasonable, then you move to another provider surely. I still have an LPG shed & pay no extra on that with esure.What are you on about, part rubbish? You have just endorsed what I said. Thats additional service costs.
Semi valid?
I have heard some total rubbish here.
Your second point is part rubbish because it is only filters every 12 to 15k & if you diy, as my installer kept suggesting, the cost/time sacrifice is minimal, you imply otherwise.
I'm assuming you are one of the posters here that is solely relying on anecdotal evidence ie rubbish!
Come back when you have run LPG for over 150k & have some first hand experience.
When one developed a fault he had to travel 80 miles to the nearest authorised dealer.
Obviously if you live next door then that's great but all things to consider.
He was insured with admiral (god knows why) but to stop the policy to switch insurance worked out costly, again something to think about.
I can't understand why idiots on here think because they have something, they are experts and become all defensive.
You know best of course, because your an expert. Enjoy your many miles to the gallon, of trouble free cheap motoring
nottyash said:
My friend has 2 which he bought with it already fitted.
When one developed a fault he had to travel 80 miles to the nearest authorised dealer.
Obviously if you live next door then that's great but all things to consider.
He was insured with admiral (god knows why) but to stop the policy to switch insurance worked out costly, again something to think about.
I can't understand why idiots on here think because they have something, they are experts and become all defensive.
You know best of course, because your an expert. Enjoy your many miles to the gallon, of trouble free cheap motoring
As I can't understand idiots who post anecdotal rubbish about someone who obviously did no homework before purchase, credit the OP as at least he's asking.When one developed a fault he had to travel 80 miles to the nearest authorised dealer.
Obviously if you live next door then that's great but all things to consider.
He was insured with admiral (god knows why) but to stop the policy to switch insurance worked out costly, again something to think about.
I can't understand why idiots on here think because they have something, they are experts and become all defensive.
You know best of course, because your an expert. Enjoy your many miles to the gallon, of trouble free cheap motoring
I also consider 150k over the years with no issues makes me slightly more knowledgeable than some!
My installer wasn't next door either but was a not entirely inconvenient 25 miles away & near a Train station.
When doing 30k + PA it was the only common sense answer as petrol/diesel was probably £1.30 a litre.a
Jim AK said:
As I can't understand idiots who post anecdotal rubbish about someone who obviously did no homework before purchase, credit the OP as at least he's asking.
I also consider 150k over the years with no issues makes me slightly more knowledgeable than some!
My installer wasn't next door either but was a not entirely inconvenient 25 miles away & near a Train station.
When doing 30k + PA it was the only common sense answer as petrol/diesel was probably £1.30 a litre.a
I would hate to be that poor.I also consider 150k over the years with no issues makes me slightly more knowledgeable than some!
My installer wasn't next door either but was a not entirely inconvenient 25 miles away & near a Train station.
When doing 30k + PA it was the only common sense answer as petrol/diesel was probably £1.30 a litre.a
Enjoy your mpg
nottyash said:
I would hate to be that poor.
You're just making yourself sound like a tosser now Ash.30k a year, at £1.30/l, in a 30 mpg car = ~£6000?
In this scenario, lpg could save you (very roughly) half your fuel bill. £3k a year.
I don't know many people who would consider 3 grand as disposable pocket change, do you?
I'd like to add to the general approval of LPG. I converted to keep 20k+ miles/year a sensible financial proposition. If you have a car which you like & would use all the time if it weren't for the fuel bills it really is a no brainier, assuming you regularly pass a filling station obviously. If you are doing big mileage you more than likely do though.
One further point : LPG comes into its own economy wise at high speed.
At a constant 95mph my fuel costs are roughly the same as a diesel doing 55mpg. Can any diesels achieve 55mpg @ 95mph? Last time I checked there were none.
One further point : LPG comes into its own economy wise at high speed.
At a constant 95mph my fuel costs are roughly the same as a diesel doing 55mpg. Can any diesels achieve 55mpg @ 95mph? Last time I checked there were none.
mrtwisty said:
You're just making yourself sound like a tosser now Ash.
30k a year, at £1.30/l, in a 30 mpg car = ~£6000?
In this scenario, lpg could save you (very roughly) half your fuel bill. £3k a year.
I don't know many people who would consider 3 grand as disposable pocket change, do you?
I would rather eat beans on toast and drive something I enjoy driving but then I'm no expert, you are.30k a year, at £1.30/l, in a 30 mpg car = ~£6000?
In this scenario, lpg could save you (very roughly) half your fuel bill. £3k a year.
I don't know many people who would consider 3 grand as disposable pocket change, do you?
As I say, enjoy your. Cheap motoring.
nottyash said:
I would rather eat beans on toast and drive something I enjoy driving but then I'm no expert, you are.
As I say, enjoy your. Cheap motoring.
I'm certainly not an expert, just have the ability to read things and process them beyond a very basic level. Also, I do not have an lpg'd car, but I'm considering it and bave done my homework.As I say, enjoy your. Cheap motoring.
I'm unsure how converting a car to gas would mean you have a car you don't enjoy driving? Surely the opposite is true - i.e. wafting around in a V8 Lexus for 40k miles a year, for the same price as a smoke spewing, clattery, 4 pot diesel.
mrtwisty said:
I'm certainly not an expert, just have the ability to read things and process them beyond a very basic level. Also, I do not have an lpg'd car, but I'm considering it and bave done my homework.
I'm unsure how converting a car to gas would mean you have a car you don't enjoy driving? Surely the opposite is true - i.e. wafting around in a V8 Lexus for 40k miles a year, for the same price as a smoke spewing, clattery, 4 pot diesel.
But Jim AK has an LPG Astra, now are you going to tell me thats a nice car to drive? Nice place to sit? Its certainly no V8.I'm unsure how converting a car to gas would mean you have a car you don't enjoy driving? Surely the opposite is true - i.e. wafting around in a V8 Lexus for 40k miles a year, for the same price as a smoke spewing, clattery, 4 pot diesel.
Dont get me wrong I prefer petrol to diesel and see the point of LPG on a big engined car, ive thought about it myself.
All I was pointing out was there can be more to it that simply slapping an LPG kit on a car and saving money, but the expert told me I am wrong.
Oh well.
The Astra is our shed.
I don't care about it not being a nice place to sit or it not being a 'barge' got a Jag for that!
It was bought because it was cheap, I had known history from day 1, it had almost a years MOT & tax, I've owned it that long, plus a recent clutch & until such times as it fails another test or whatever il keep it.
I don't care about it not being a nice place to sit or it not being a 'barge' got a Jag for that!
It was bought because it was cheap, I had known history from day 1, it had almost a years MOT & tax, I've owned it that long, plus a recent clutch & until such times as it fails another test or whatever il keep it.
Edited by Jim AK on Thursday 25th August 10:16
Sorry for the late reply! I completely forgotten I posted this!
Decision has been made to go for Lpg. The car already has the tank installed and the manifold modified already so needs very little work to finish it off. Was all done by my friend (previous owner) who is very knowledgeable on this stuff and only never finished it as his work picked up his fuel bill.
Thanks for everyone's input and I'll be sure to throw a load of photos up and a video of some 11s when it's all finished next month!
Decision has been made to go for Lpg. The car already has the tank installed and the manifold modified already so needs very little work to finish it off. Was all done by my friend (previous owner) who is very knowledgeable on this stuff and only never finished it as his work picked up his fuel bill.
Thanks for everyone's input and I'll be sure to throw a load of photos up and a video of some 11s when it's all finished next month!
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