Is fuel economy blown way out of proportion?
Discussion
One solution of course is to run several,modes of transport. For most of the summer months I commute on a motorbike which is not only lots of fun but returns about 40mpg on regular unleaded. It's a 1200 so you can do lots better than that on a 500cc commuter bike. It also costs £120 in insurance and £70 for 12m tax. Ok, it needs to be serviced more often but I've been looking at the new Triumph Explorer which has shaft drive and 10k service intervals. A bit like a 2 wheeled car..sort of.
David87 said:
I think people fail to take into account the price differential between petrol and diesel cars and how long it will take to make up the difference.
A case in point is my Granddad, whom I helped buy a new car earlier this month. I managed to steer him away from a lightly used E92 320d and into an E92 320i, which was a good bit cheaper, doesn't sound like a tractor and is much more suited to the 5,000 miles he does per annum.
Good man. Really winds me up when people tell me of poor fuel consumption from their diesel, then proceed to tell you they only do 4000 miles a year etc.A case in point is my Granddad, whom I helped buy a new car earlier this month. I managed to steer him away from a lightly used E92 320d and into an E92 320i, which was a good bit cheaper, doesn't sound like a tractor and is much more suited to the 5,000 miles he does per annum.
Edited by David87 on Friday 29th March 23:54
Also, are you saying your 5 litre jeep does 24mpg? My M5 would never do that and it had no auto gearbox or 4WD transmission loss to eat into its ecconomy. You sure that £2711 a year isn't more like £3500...or £4000?
What about tyres?
Also, 51mpg from a blue motion? It must do alot better than that as I certainly do in a larger, heavier car with the same engine.
What about tyres?
Also, 51mpg from a blue motion? It must do alot better than that as I certainly do in a larger, heavier car with the same engine.
ATTAK Z said:
bp1000 said:
................ Depreciation eclipses the extra cost in fuel by quite some margin.
This ^^^^ is trueI've just bought a Seat Ibiza Ecomotive because the repair costs on my current car are too high, I suspect it's hit the run of repairs and replacement parts, its 9 years old and doen 114k miles so is in need of a change.
I opted for the eco model as the mpg is high enough that it should save atleast a tank a month if not 2 and these should help fund the cost to change.
tbc said:
what kind of Sky subscription costs £200 a month, does it come with it's own satellite
It might do if you sign up for all the adult channels...........allegedlyThe OP mentioned £64 per month which is only £10 more than my subscription, and I guarantee he gets more pleasure from his V8.
There's more than one way to skin a cat, or to get pleasure out of driving.
Since swapping my very expensive/thirsty car for a Euro eco wheezebox, I get real pleasure in trying to keep my average mpg between fill ups at over 60 on the on board computer. Not easy in and around London, even though the maker claims 74mpg extra urban.
Plus not paying congestion charge gives me a real buzz. Sometimes I wonder into the zone out of spite.
Since swapping my very expensive/thirsty car for a Euro eco wheezebox, I get real pleasure in trying to keep my average mpg between fill ups at over 60 on the on board computer. Not easy in and around London, even though the maker claims 74mpg extra urban.
Plus not paying congestion charge gives me a real buzz. Sometimes I wonder into the zone out of spite.
What about all those hypermiling a diesel, saving a fortune on fuel, that then get hit by needing a new dmf, dpf, injectors etc that wipes out thre years of saving ?
I think a Boggo jap 1.8 petrol is the best combination for cost, not too bad on fuel, they don't break and if they do a whole new engine from a breakers is cheaper than a set of fuel injectors for a diesel, not the last word in fun but that's my theory.
I just try to plan journeys to do more than one task, I cycle to work or work from home.
I think a Boggo jap 1.8 petrol is the best combination for cost, not too bad on fuel, they don't break and if they do a whole new engine from a breakers is cheaper than a set of fuel injectors for a diesel, not the last word in fun but that's my theory.
I just try to plan journeys to do more than one task, I cycle to work or work from home.
Cemesis said:
Also, are you saying your 5 litre jeep does 24mpg? My M5 would never do that and it had no auto gearbox or 4WD transmission loss to eat into its ecconomy. You sure that £2711 a year isn't more like £3500...or £4000?
What about tyres?
Also, 51mpg from a blue motion? It must do alot better than that as I certainly do in a larger, heavier car with the same engine.
My 750iL does 24 mpg (on a run), and about 21 mpg round town, so I could see him doing 25 mpg.What about tyres?
Also, 51mpg from a blue motion? It must do alot better than that as I certainly do in a larger, heavier car with the same engine.
I'm surprised your M5 didn't do better than that tbh, or was it just too much fun to stay off the load pedal
Engineer1 said:
ATTAK Z said:
bp1000 said:
................ Depreciation eclipses the extra cost in fuel by quite some margin.
This ^^^^ is trueI've just bought a Seat Ibiza Ecomotive because the repair costs on my current car are too high, I suspect it's hit the run of repairs and replacement parts, its 9 years old and doen 114k miles so is in need of a change.
I opted for the eco model as the mpg is high enough that it should save atleast a tank a month if not 2 and these should help fund the cost to change.
Depreciation IS a weekly payment, or a payment you don't see every time you drive.
Even your second hand seat Ibiza has it.
But of course you are right depreciation won't affect you providing this is the last car between now and death.
If you decide to swap it for a car of equivelant value in 10 years time the money has to come from somewhere.
That's the point you can finance a new car and will pay the full screen price - that money is now tied up till you sell. The running costs will be seen regularly you must put fuel in to make it run.
I suppose because up till now I've bought older cars and only when the previous one is worn out the total purchase price is depreciated. Changing a car for a more fuel efficient one without any external driving reason is where depreciation matters, changing because you must means depreciation is something you have to accept, some people have age limits on their cars or find the repair bill is too high.
I suppose because up till now I've bought older cars and only when the previous one is worn out the total purchase price is depreciated. Changing a car for a more fuel efficient one without any external driving reason is where depreciation matters, changing because you must means depreciation is something you have to accept, some people have age limits on their cars or find the repair bill is too high.
In response to the OP, the £64 a month difference you quote is nearly £2500 over three years of ownership. That's 50% of a £10k car's depreciation so I do think it's significant compared with depreciation. Also, depreciation is related to mileage, but not hugely so, it's essentially a fixed cost per year. Fuel cost is a very real cost. If I want to drive to the coast now in my 320d to go kayaking, it'll cost me £16. If I'd bought the M3 I was also considering, it'd be £40. If most of my mileage was on B roads, it'd be worth it, but at a steady 70 on the motorway, I'll take the £23 saving I think!! Pays for my weekend toy, which has an mpg in single figures - it only gets driven on race tracks and twisty roads, so it's worth it.
Wise said:
Yeah I would say it is. You would be stupid to pay the premium for a diesel if your only doing 'average' mileage of up to about 12k a year or so imo.
Found these charts online. Petrol is £1.34 and Diesel is £1.42
Whilst I agree totally with what you're saying, and think it's an important point that many people miss, you must remember that not everyone buys diesels to save money. I traded in a petrol car for a diesel one because I was fed up with the way the petrol drove and preferred the diesel.Found these charts online. Petrol is £1.34 and Diesel is £1.42
RobM77 said:
Whilst I agree totally with what you're saying, and think it's an important point that many people miss, you must remember that not everyone buys diesels to save money. I traded in a petrol car for a diesel one because I was fed up with the way the petrol drove and preferred the diesel.
I do understand that but about 90% of the people buying diesels will be because they think they are going to save loads of money. I also understand it's better for company cars etc. But if it's your own personal car I don't see the point, also depends what diesel you go for as well as they can throw up some big bills especially if you are doing low mileage town driving imo. Also taxi company's where I stay are looking into running petrol cars now as they workout cheaper in the long run, not 100% if it's true but what I have heard.
Best compromise would be a turbo petrol car. My 1.8T golf was a lot better to drive day to day then my 182 that I have just now, you really need to rev it out to get it going. One of the reasons why am trying to get rid of it just now.
Some of the maths and decisions in this thread are eyebrow raising. The concept of paying for (or paying off) a brand new car to save on fuel is crazy to me. The depreciation will be savage, thus wiping out any savings. If you really care about saving money buy a used car of at least four years old with sensible or ideally rather low miles on. The only reason I can understand people buying brand new is if they cannot afford to buy used. By that I mean people who cannot lay their hands on at least £5k in cash. I understand they get trapped into a cycle of putting next to nothing down, forced to become wage slaves to their debt every month, then have zero capital left after years of paying it off, then start all over again for another new numberplate. Madness to me, but each to their own.
Art0ir said:
Willy Nilly said:
Art0ir said:
It's needs serviced once a year at a cost of £90 (£130 every second with plugs).
A 9 year old, 4wd SUV only needs 90 quids worth of maintenance a year? b
ks. brake pads
tyres
clutch fluid
transmission fluid
PAS fluid (if applicable)
brake fluid
diff fluid
coolant
fuel filter
engine timing belt
Surely that lot can't come into the £90 or £130 services? There must be a more expensive one at some interval?
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