Changing to a "cheaper to run" motor...is it really cheaper?
Discussion
Now then.
My Mrs keeps moaning that our 2 cars cost us far too much money but I can't [be arrised] figure out if actually getting rid of one, or both, would actually end up costing us more in the long term.
Presently we have the folowing:-
X reg Ford Focus, 3dr 2.0 Zetec
Cost: £500 - bought it off my dad who bought it new
MPG: approx 28-30
Tax: £215
Miles: 90k
Significant costs in last 12 months: Approx £200 - exhaust, abs sensor, MOT.
52 reg Volvo V70 D5 auto
Cost: £5000 (approx 1 year ago)
MPG: 38 (according to computer - I think it's a tad optomistic)
Tax: £260
Miles: 116k
Significant costs in last 12 months: Approx £900 (tyres, big service, failed MOT on front suspension bits)
It's the day to day running costs that hurt, filling up the Volvo is painful at >£85 a pop and the Ford aint that frugal and makes all sorts of knocks and bangs that may end up costing money. Spent a fair wedge on the Volvo though and it is a brilliantly capable car that is in remarkable condition and it's the perfect family car, so that's staying!
To be honest I think my Mrs just want something a bit newer and more shiney than the Focus, that has a few parking dings (to say the least) and looks a bit $hit in the works car park when she pulls up next to her colleauges that all have new cars.
What the fvk was the question again....I'm not even sure what I'm asking.....oh yeah, shall I scrap the Focus and get something new(er), just to shut her up? What sort of car can you get for a couple of hundred a month that costs peanuts to run?
My Mrs keeps moaning that our 2 cars cost us far too much money but I can't [be arrised] figure out if actually getting rid of one, or both, would actually end up costing us more in the long term.
Presently we have the folowing:-
X reg Ford Focus, 3dr 2.0 Zetec
Cost: £500 - bought it off my dad who bought it new
MPG: approx 28-30
Tax: £215
Miles: 90k
Significant costs in last 12 months: Approx £200 - exhaust, abs sensor, MOT.
52 reg Volvo V70 D5 auto
Cost: £5000 (approx 1 year ago)
MPG: 38 (according to computer - I think it's a tad optomistic)
Tax: £260
Miles: 116k
Significant costs in last 12 months: Approx £900 (tyres, big service, failed MOT on front suspension bits)
It's the day to day running costs that hurt, filling up the Volvo is painful at >£85 a pop and the Ford aint that frugal and makes all sorts of knocks and bangs that may end up costing money. Spent a fair wedge on the Volvo though and it is a brilliantly capable car that is in remarkable condition and it's the perfect family car, so that's staying!
To be honest I think my Mrs just want something a bit newer and more shiney than the Focus, that has a few parking dings (to say the least) and looks a bit $hit in the works car park when she pulls up next to her colleauges that all have new cars.
What the fvk was the question again....I'm not even sure what I'm asking.....oh yeah, shall I scrap the Focus and get something new(er), just to shut her up? What sort of car can you get for a couple of hundred a month that costs peanuts to run?
From where you are at the moment you'll spend a fair bit replacing the Focus and I can't imagine it being any cheaper to run.
What you need is an honest wife who admits she wants something nicer to drive & look at and understands that this will actually cost money rather than saving money.
Do either of you cover enough miles to make improved economy a significant consideration?
Could you just swap cars so that she can park something different in the car park? Get one of those scratch removal firms to tidy the Focus up a bit? Get it valeted so it's all fresh inside again?
What you need is an honest wife who admits she wants something nicer to drive & look at and understands that this will actually cost money rather than saving money.
Do either of you cover enough miles to make improved economy a significant consideration?
Could you just swap cars so that she can park something different in the car park? Get one of those scratch removal firms to tidy the Focus up a bit? Get it valeted so it's all fresh inside again?
+ 1
I have to say, if her colleagues cars are anything like the cars I see in car parks a DentMagicChipsAway session a long with a proper good clean / wax / detail might do the trick. If the car is gleaming then it might save a lot more cash than trying to step into something newer that might throw up some bills as it is an unknown entity?
I have to say, if her colleagues cars are anything like the cars I see in car parks a DentMagicChipsAway session a long with a proper good clean / wax / detail might do the trick. If the car is gleaming then it might save a lot more cash than trying to step into something newer that might throw up some bills as it is an unknown entity?
If its economy reasons she is claiming then offer her one of these and see what she says:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2734971.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2734971.htm
Only way you'll get significant cheaper motoring will be a smaller car with a smaller engine than the focus. IF you don't need 2 decent sized cars then I suggest first you do as oldcynic suggests and get her to admit she just wants something newer and shiny looking. That done maybe look at getting some small hatchback like a Fiesta,Corsa,Aygo,Yaris,Micra,etc and naff all to go wrong. But obviously this will cost more money in total unless you do a reasonable mileage so you need to get her to understand that its gonna be more expensive to get something newer and shinier, at least to start with, as otherwise you just know you'll get it in the neck for getting her a new car which is costing (her) more...
It seems you could get lower day-to-day costs with a newer motor, but of course you have to factor in the additional costs of getting this car, the depreciation costs etc etc.
I'd go brand new, as you'd get a warranty that way, plus likelihood of a servicing plan. Remember all those cars under 101g/km are free road tax.
If its shinier and newer that's really the motivation... spend some cash on the Focus tarting it up?
I'd go brand new, as you'd get a warranty that way, plus likelihood of a servicing plan. Remember all those cars under 101g/km are free road tax.
If its shinier and newer that's really the motivation... spend some cash on the Focus tarting it up?
Witness all the chattering classes buying Prius's and BMW *20d Efficient Dynamics at 18 to 30 grand and rattling on about how cheap they are to run, yep ok against a new 2.0 petrol the tax is lower and it uses less fuel but not enough to make a difference on the five thousand miles a year that most people who have then seem to do, might as well run an old 750i in my opinion if you are going to spend 25 grand to be economical !
These people really believe they are saving the planet as well....
These people really believe they are saving the planet as well....
I replaced my Mk2 Golf with 247,000 miles with a Mk4 with 100,000 (GT TDI PD 130) thinking it was a more sensible car.
Whilst the GT TDI beat the Mk2 on fuel consumption and comfort hands down it was far less entertaining to drive and the maintenance bills were so big that any benefits from the diesel engine were cancelled out.
IMHO, cheap motoring = Small normally aspirated petrol engine, small tyres, light car, simple drivetrain and suspension. My 2009 Panda 100hp fits most of those criteria, just a shame about the initial purchase cost!
Whilst the GT TDI beat the Mk2 on fuel consumption and comfort hands down it was far less entertaining to drive and the maintenance bills were so big that any benefits from the diesel engine were cancelled out.
IMHO, cheap motoring = Small normally aspirated petrol engine, small tyres, light car, simple drivetrain and suspension. My 2009 Panda 100hp fits most of those criteria, just a shame about the initial purchase cost!
J4CKO said:
Witness all the chattering classes buying Prius's and BMW *20d Efficient Dynamics at 18 to 30 grand and rattling on about how cheap they are to run, yep ok against a new 2.0 petrol the tax is lower and it uses less fuel but not enough to make a difference on the five thousand miles a year that most people who have then seem to do, might as well run an old 750i in my opinion if you are going to spend 25 grand to be economical !
These people really believe they are saving the planet as well....
I am sure when we looked up the figures of the Prius one bored lunchbreak about 6 years ago, we saw that it got roughly the same MPG as my old 2.0l Mondeo.These people really believe they are saving the planet as well....
Add in to that battery replacement costs after 6 or so years (predicted), and the rest of it = one hideously expensive runner!
Carrot said:
I am sure when we looked up the figures of the Prius one bored lunchbreak about 6 years ago, we saw that it got roughly the same MPG as my old 2.0l Mondeo.
Add in to that battery replacement costs after 6 or so years (predicted), and the rest of it = one hideously expensive runner!
You didn't do much research did you? Battery replacement every 6 years? Predicted by who?Add in to that battery replacement costs after 6 or so years (predicted), and the rest of it = one hideously expensive runner!
AnotherClarkey said:
Carrot said:
I am sure when we looked up the figures of the Prius one bored lunchbreak about 6 years ago, we saw that it got roughly the same MPG as my old 2.0l Mondeo.
Add in to that battery replacement costs after 6 or so years (predicted), and the rest of it = one hideously expensive runner!
You didn't do much research did you? Battery replacement every 6 years? Predicted by who?Add in to that battery replacement costs after 6 or so years (predicted), and the rest of it = one hideously expensive runner!
Popular science magazine I think.
Used to own a Vectrix as well. Specifics use to claim a rough 5-6 year battery life based on the above cycles.
Do you know any prius owners with 6+ year old cars still operating at new efficiency, that have used the batteries during its life?
Carrot said:
Rough lifecycle of the batteries based on a charge/discharge rate of roughly 70% to 30% over 6 years.
Popular science magazine I think.
Used to own a Vectrix as well. Specifics use to claim a rough 5-6 year battery life based on the above cycles.
Do you know any prius owners with 6+ year old cars still operating at new efficiency, that have used the batteries during its life?
You just have to look at ebay to see how many folk are offering refurbished battery packs as the prius has been for sale to the general public for ten years and ebay is stuffed full of battery packs for the prius. It such a big business changing out battery packs there is literally one battery pack for sale. Popular science magazine I think.
Used to own a Vectrix as well. Specifics use to claim a rough 5-6 year battery life based on the above cycles.
Do you know any prius owners with 6+ year old cars still operating at new efficiency, that have used the batteries during its life?
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p519...
Carrot said:
Rough lifecycle of the batteries based on a charge/discharge rate of roughly 70% to 30% over 6 years.
Popular science magazine I think.
Used to own a Vectrix as well. Specifics use to claim a rough 5-6 year battery life based on the above cycles.
Do you know any prius owners with 6+ year old cars still operating at new efficiency, that have used the batteries during its life?
A hybrid battery does not get stressed in the same way as a fully electric car battery. Where is this rash of Prius owners replacing batteries at 6 years? Do you replace all car components the moment they cease to function at 100% efficiency?Popular science magazine I think.
Used to own a Vectrix as well. Specifics use to claim a rough 5-6 year battery life based on the above cycles.
Do you know any prius owners with 6+ year old cars still operating at new efficiency, that have used the batteries during its life?
Just looked up some real world economy figures - Mondeo 2.0 2000 on average mpg = 30.6, Prius 2000 on average mpg 53.9 (source www.spritmonitor.de)
AnotherClarkey said:
Carrot said:
Rough lifecycle of the batteries based on a charge/discharge rate of roughly 70% to 30% over 6 years.
Popular science magazine I think.
Used to own a Vectrix as well. Specifics use to claim a rough 5-6 year battery life based on the above cycles.
Do you know any prius owners with 6+ year old cars still operating at new efficiency, that have used the batteries during its life?
A hybrid battery does not get stressed in the same way as a fully electric car battery. Where is this rash of Prius owners replacing batteries at 6 years? Do you replace all car components the moment they cease to function at 100% efficiency?Popular science magazine I think.
Used to own a Vectrix as well. Specifics use to claim a rough 5-6 year battery life based on the above cycles.
Do you know any prius owners with 6+ year old cars still operating at new efficiency, that have used the batteries during its life?
Just looked up some real world economy figures - Mondeo 2.0 2000 on average mpg = 30.6, Prius 2000 on average mpg 53.9 (source www.spritmonitor.de)
Ive never understood this.
Some people overlook loss from selling a car and focus purley on MPG.
My brother sold his Leon Cupra R 210 a few year ago for a new Suzuki Swift Sport to save money.
The dealer gave him £8100 for the Cupra, and no discount on the £11500 new car price.
Crazy as his car was worth almost the same as the Swift at the time, and I got him a deal on a new Swift for £10800 on the net, but there was no PX.
Sometimes the logic baffles me
Some people overlook loss from selling a car and focus purley on MPG.
My brother sold his Leon Cupra R 210 a few year ago for a new Suzuki Swift Sport to save money.
The dealer gave him £8100 for the Cupra, and no discount on the £11500 new car price.
Crazy as his car was worth almost the same as the Swift at the time, and I got him a deal on a new Swift for £10800 on the net, but there was no PX.
Sometimes the logic baffles me
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