Long Journey - Big car or small car?
Discussion
I have picked up a little driving job for my day off to take some items from WInchester to Newcastle for my OH's employer. I am being paid a set amount, out of which I must pay for my own fuel. I have two main choices of chariot for the journey.
1) '06 Toyota Aygo -
2) '97 BMW 323is Coupe
I'm assuming that even though the Gaygo's little one litre, 3 cyl powerhouse would be revving it's heart out for 500 solid miles, it would probably be somewhat more efficient than my 14 yr old, 2.5 litre six cylinder lump in the Bee Em. The question is, would it be significantly more efficient to encourage me to put up with its billy basic interior, hard seats, crap stereo and thrumming engine over the relative oppulance of its german counterpart?
For reference, I managed to coach a OBC indicated 41.9 MPG over a 200 mile trip through hilly Dorset and Devon countryside from the aging coupe, and frankly my girlfriend has absolutely no idea how many miles she could coax out of a full tank in the Gaygo.
Thoughts?
1) '06 Toyota Aygo -
2) '97 BMW 323is Coupe
I'm assuming that even though the Gaygo's little one litre, 3 cyl powerhouse would be revving it's heart out for 500 solid miles, it would probably be somewhat more efficient than my 14 yr old, 2.5 litre six cylinder lump in the Bee Em. The question is, would it be significantly more efficient to encourage me to put up with its billy basic interior, hard seats, crap stereo and thrumming engine over the relative oppulance of its german counterpart?
For reference, I managed to coach a OBC indicated 41.9 MPG over a 200 mile trip through hilly Dorset and Devon countryside from the aging coupe, and frankly my girlfriend has absolutely no idea how many miles she could coax out of a full tank in the Gaygo.
Thoughts?
randlemarcus said:
Parcel2go? 
Aygo will drive you scatty over that distance, but has the advantage of putting the strain on someone elses car, which is nice.
Enough profit in it to hire a diseasel?
There is, but I'm not sure there would be enough benefit. A Mondeo or something would probably cost upwards of £40 for the day, I very much doubt there would be a £40 differential in fuel costs between 40mpg odd in the BMW and a hideous Mondeo diesel. I have the option of a 2006 330d but the economy in that isn't signifantly better than the 323i driven carefully, especially if you use any of its shove. You're also saying about putting ther miles on someone elses car, but it's my girlfriends, so I'm the first port of call if it 'starts making funny noises'.Aygo will drive you scatty over that distance, but has the advantage of putting the strain on someone elses car, which is nice.
Enough profit in it to hire a diseasel?
Edited by Boobonman on Monday 23 May 23:19
Swoxy said:
You're doing it for money. Take the Toyota and make more money. It's only for a day.
Yeah, but bearing in mind if we swing by a Moto M+S we are going to be relieved of the best part of a fiver for a Club sandwich (I'm not sating it's not worth it!) then I need to put things in perspective. City to city on AA Route Planner is 620 miles. If the difference is £10's worth of fuel then I'll take the comfy coupe. If it is £50 then I'll put up with the Aygo.I must make it clear that I'm firmly in the 'take the comfy BMW' camp. My girlfriend is adamant that we ought to take the Gaygo as perception would indicate one is a modern, eco friendly fuel sipper and one is an aging coupe with a big (ish) 'Gas guzzling' engine, I'm, not so sure the reality would reflect this. Lets not forget also, thjat I reckon I would be able to catch 40 winks in far more comfort in the passenger seat of the German contender.
Edited by Boobonman on Monday 23 May 23:28
I drove an Aygo for a little while when I got my VXT serviced (yeah, fair trade etc). Surprisingly competant on the motorway, was able to cruise at 85 (er, 70 officer) without much trouble, and the aux input combined with the good quality speakers meant it wasn't a bad place to be. I even gave my missus and two of her mates into town, would have thought the little Aygo would have conked out with an extra ~200kg on board but it was great. My personal favourite aspect was the way you could rag it through first, second, and third, and only be doing 55 at the end of it - and the engine sounded great!
Definitely worth giving it a go, at worst you'll hate it and long for your BMW back, at best you'll love it and see what this mental poster sees in it.
Definitely worth giving it a go, at worst you'll hate it and long for your BMW back, at best you'll love it and see what this mental poster sees in it.
The BMW is the easy choice. Comfortable coupes and saloons were made for cruising long distances with easy. Just don't rush your drive and you should find the fuel costs aren't too bad. It would be a miserable day in the Aygo. I have a Volvo S60 2.0L Turbo, and if I had to drive to Winchester (I live in Newcastle) I'd easily choose that over the Aygo.
Done this, both options. (Small car and big car).
Take the BM. The tiddler will be, as you've guessed, thrashing its little heart out and struggle to top 40mpg unless you drive it like a grandmother. The larger car with taller gearing will be getting close to that anyway.
Plus you're talking a few hundred miles in small car seats, with small car sound insulation, and small car reactions to crosswinds. You can do it, and you might even save some money, but every services past the halfway mark will represent almost unbearable temptation to pull off the motorway and stop.
Take the BM. The tiddler will be, as you've guessed, thrashing its little heart out and struggle to top 40mpg unless you drive it like a grandmother. The larger car with taller gearing will be getting close to that anyway.
Plus you're talking a few hundred miles in small car seats, with small car sound insulation, and small car reactions to crosswinds. You can do it, and you might even save some money, but every services past the halfway mark will represent almost unbearable temptation to pull off the motorway and stop.
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