Should I be Changing Cars?

[Hodgie]

Hi Everyone,

I could do with some PH advice.

Over the last 4 months I have started commuting to a new job, the commute is a 60 mile round trip 5 days per week. I am currently doing this in my EP3 Civic Type R which is returning on average 32mpg, which I think is pretty good!

I am being told by countless people this is crap and I should be looking at a more fuel efficient car. This is probably a fair point as I am currently saving for a house deposit.

So my question is, is this a silly car to be commuting this sort of mileage? If so what the hell should I get? All the reviews on diesels I have read have been fairly shocking. The Type R has been very reliable over the last 2 years which is something I value almost more than mpg.

If I was to change cars my budget would be anywhere between 3-6k.

I do 3-4 track days per year and an annual ring' trip so would still need a toy!

Cheers!

[sleep envy]

calculate the cost to change against your fuel saving and how long it would take to recoup before listening to the mpg merchants

[jdw1234]

Maybe the people telling you this don't put any value on the track days and Rong trip you do which necessitate a car that does slightly worse MPG.

32mpg average seems good for a track usable car.

Also, selling cars privately is the worse thing ever and should be avoided at all costs.

[chrisw666]

If YOU are happy with the car you have, are happy with the running costs and can afford to keep it maintained at the mileage you're doing them IGNORE the opinions of others.

You'd have to shop really carefully to save money by buying a new and unknown to you car and I'm pretty sure if you like the Type R you'll struggle to find a diesel that will better it. Try modifying your driving style a bit to see if you can gain a few extra miles to each gallon or just lie to anyone who asks about the amount of fuel you're using to shut them up.

[Myc]

The other half has an 07 Golf TDI 105BHP. On a country lane commute that see's my Audi S3 return 32mpg hers gets nearer 60mpg, on the motorway however hers only has doesn't have a 6th Gear so only gets mid 40's at a speedo indicated 80mph.

If you really want a diesel I'd be looking at a Seat Leon 1.9Tdi 150BHP I test drove one before buying the S3 and was very impressed.

Just don't believe the figures quoted by manufacturers and remember diesel costs more at the pump.

[RichwiththeS2000]

32mpg isn't bad at all. You could switch to a diesel, lose all the fun from driving and save 1-2p per mile.

Assuming some kind of DPF or turbo doesn't st itself in the derv, then you're going to be in the red

I'd say stick to what you have, sounds fine to me and the Honda should eat the miles with no probs.

[kiethton]

Keep the EP3, I got one (mainly for just one trip) for the purposes of being fuel efficient and fun:

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I moved mine on and am now back in 4.4 litres of fuel drinking V8 glory (I'm also saving for a house deposit). I only do 100 - 160 miles a week though.

[Hodgie]

Cheers guys I appreciate the advice, the type r stays!

[Lowtimer]

I'm quite surprised a small light hatchback with a pretty modern injected four-cylinder 2.0 N/A engine only does 32 mpg on a 60 mile commute, but if you have a lot of urban stop-start at one end of it I guess that could account for it.

However, it's not like running a 16 mpg AMG Merc, and I agree with everyone else that in your shoes the cost of changing cars, and the risk of ending up with something you don't like, would outweigh the benefit of any fuel saving getting rid of a car that suits you. As for mileage: it's a Honda Civic, it will do a zillion miles commuting.

Incidentally, not that it should affect your decision to keep your Honda, I suspect you've read a very unrepresentative sample of diesel reviews if they've all been 'fairly shocking'.

[Exige77]

It's a very high performance engine and probably more than 10 years old.

That's pretty good mpg on a commute.

Ex77

[_Al_]

Do the "Eco-driving" thing. I once managed to extract 47mpg from a 1600honda CRX engine. Boring, but was still keeping up with the traffic.

Your engine and car are both larger but also more modern. You should probably be able to beat 32mpg (road permitting).

[JimmyTheHand]

assuming 48 weeks at 300 miles a week = 14400 a year
at 32 mpg that is 450 gallons
at 50 mpg that is 288 gallons

difference of 162 gallons or about £950 a year

take off extra £150/£200 for VED on second car - down to £800
Insurance as you might get cheaper just using second car at weekends, but probably have two policies that will workout dearer.
You might gain on tyres but loose on maintenance

then you have two cars loosing money

[pilchardthecat]

I do a 60 mile round trip every day at 24mpg

Man up!

[Hub]

If minimising your fuel costs was your only concern, then yes you should get a diesel - but it isn't!

[vikingaero]

Hodgie said:

I am being told by countless people this is crap and I should be looking at a more fuel efficient car. This is probably a fair point as I am currently saving for a house deposit.

These are the sort of people who will spend £20k on a car on finance just to get zero VED and 50-60mpg. Buy a car if you want a new one but don't justify the VED/mpg with a tens of thousands of pounds spend.

[Tribal Chestnut]

I went from getting the train to a 100 mile R/T earlier this year and swapped my 40mpg daily bore mobile for something that gives me 25mpg.

Sell the Honda and get something with a V8.

[Allanv]

pilchardthecat said:

I do a 60 mile round trip every day at 24mpg

Man up!

I do 100 miles per day round trip @ 34mpg in a 3.0 130I 6 days a week but hey it fun, what do you drive for 24mpg?

Just curious and yes MTFU.

[pilchardthecat]

Allanv said:

pilchardthecat said:

I do a 60 mile round trip every day at 24mpg

Man up!

I do 100 miles per day round trip @ 34mpg in a 3.0 130I 6 days a week but hey it fun, what do you drive for 24mpg?

Just curious and yes MTFU.

A z4m... Think i've spent something like 14 grand on super unleaded in the last 3 years!!!
Not many people can claim to enjoy commuting though so its probably worth it :-)

[My Evil Twin]

JimmyTheHand said:

difference of 162 gallons or about £950 a year

This... and remember that this single grand a year assumes that your new car cost same or less than the vale of your current cat and is just as reliable.

If you want a house then think hard about the cash you are throwing at track days n Ring laps, takeouts etc... live without for 1 year n get the extra few grand in the bank.
chasing savings by changing cars is a loosing game.

[pilchardthecat]

My Evil Twin said:

This... and remember that this single grand a year assumes that your new car cost same or less than the vale of your current cat and is just as reliable.

If you want a house then think hard about the cash you are throwing at track days n Ring laps, takeouts etc... live without for 1 year n get the extra few grand in the bank.
chasing savings by changing cars is a loosing game.

This is excellent advice. The most economical car is often the one you've got.