Economical Petrol? Convince me not to go the diesel route..
Economical Petrol? Convince me not to go the diesel route..
Author
Discussion

Woody3

Original Poster:

748 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
I've been looking for an economical car for a few weeks now and had decided that a S60/V70 D5 was for me, but I'm starting to have doubts now with regards to a diesel, due to the amount of miles I do (around 10k-12k/annum). Basically, my criteria is:

> Up to £3k
> Must be able to seat 4 adults and a dog (occasionally) in comfort (no 2 seater sports cars tongue out)
> Daily trips to and from work will be a 14 mile round trip along A and B roads
> Odd case of motorway driving along with a 50 mile trip around the Peak District once a week
> 35mpg+ on the short journey to and from work
> Reliable
> Ideally not French (been there already)

I'm not really that clued up on economical petrol cars, as all my past petrol cars have been purchased because I liked the car and wasn't worried about the economy!

Or should I stick with buying a Volvo D5?


Edited by Woody3 on Thursday 10th November 14:52

StottyZr

6,860 posts

184 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Economical scratchchin

Criteria: Over 35mpg.

I think we may have different definiations of economical laugh

Edited by StottyZr on Thursday 10th November 14:43

twazzock

1,930 posts

190 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Octavia VRS?

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Ford focus

toon10

6,929 posts

178 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
I hate diesels, I've only ever owned one, a V70 D5. It was a really good all rounder actually, but I would have had a T5 if I were doing lower miles. 10k miles might not justify the extra costs for a diesel anyway.
I've driven many diesels over the years and have hated every single one... except for a V70. The one I drove was well specced and very comfy. Fairly refined too for a tractor ;-)

I'd still choose a decent petrol car over one as the power delivery isn't something I could live with but if you really need to watch the mpg, then this gets my vote.

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

266 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
9-5 Aero - 420nm torque, 250bhp, 36mpg on a run. Space for all the family and then some.

theboss

7,345 posts

240 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
If the 35mpg can be relaxed slightly then an E39 530i touring should be on your list

Woody3

Original Poster:

748 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Argh...I should have said "35mpg+ on the short journey to and from work"

Apologies (edited first post now)

Some interesting ideas though smile.

What engines are we talking about in the models mentioned (Focus & VRS)?



Edited by Woody3 on Thursday 10th November 14:56


Edited by Woody3 on Thursday 10th November 14:57

Woody3

Original Poster:

748 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Hmmm...

Saying that the majority of PH'ers are pro Petrol and anti diesel and jump on the "don't buy a diesel, buy a petrol because they are just as cost effective" bandwagon, I'm disappointed in the amount of car suggestions given frown...

Surely there are more? No?

smile

Jandywa

1,099 posts

172 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
No car suggestions, just going to blast diesels a bit thumbup
They sound AWFUL, no matter what people say with 335d's saying they dont sound bad....they do. Especially on tickover.
The economy may be good on a motorway, cruise etc but when you have some 'fun' in it, it will do no more mpg's than a petrol.
They sound st.
Black smoke from exhaust everytime you floor it (mostly older diesels but still)
Did i mention they sound st?

(i realise im probably going to get some hammer by for this)

calibrax

4,788 posts

232 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Diesels are great.

BUT having said that... if you only do 12k miles a year and your journey to work is SHORT, then you simply won't get the benefits of a diesel. Car won't get up to temperature on the drive to work, and that means DPF problems as well as poor economy. And diesel is 6p-8p a litre more than petrol.

Buy a small engined petrol car.

Matthen

1,409 posts

172 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
4 Adults? Could be an issue... But Fiat Panda 100 HP? 4 Seats, should achieve 40 mpg if you aren't regularly redlining and suprisingly funt o drive...

Tunku

7,703 posts

249 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
I've run two diesels and I dreaded filling them up. The smell of diesel makes me feel queasy. I have to turn recirc on when I'm behind one. I run a nice smelling petrol V70 - does about 35mpg when being grannied.

Woody3

Original Poster:

748 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
calibrax said:
Diesels are great.

BUT having said that... if you only do 12k miles a year and your journey to work is SHORT, then you simply won't get the benefits of a diesel. Car won't get up to temperature on the drive to work, and that means DPF problems as well as poor economy. And diesel is 6p-8p a litre more than petrol.
There will be no problem with the DPF as the D5's I'm looking at are to EuroIII, so they don't have the DPF.

Woody3

Original Poster:

748 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Matthen said:
4 Adults? Could be an issue... But Fiat Panda 100 HP? 4 Seats, should achieve 40 mpg if you aren't regularly redlining and suprisingly funt o drive...
Interesting...but unfortunately out of my budget frown

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Jandywa said:
No car suggestions, just going to blast diesels a bit thumbup
They sound AWFUL, no matter what people say with 335d's saying they dont sound bad....they do. Especially on tickover.
The economy may be good on a motorway, cruise etc but when you have some 'fun' in it, it will do no more mpg's than a petrol.
They sound st.
Where as all Petrols sound fantastic


Oh no i forgot 90% of them sound st as well


if you wish to argue this point I have a Nissan Micra and a microphone and i'm not afraid to use it

Petrolhead_Rich

4,659 posts

213 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Petrol is between 4 and 10p cheaper per litre!

Factor this into your MPG requirements thumbup

Diesel? Really? Don't swear at me!!!

Although D5's are good thumbup

ETA:

Had a C30 D3 the other day as a courtesy car from Volvo, went back showing an average of 27.5MPG

I get over that however I drive my S60, and that has a lovely sounding 5 cylinder Turbocharged Petrol Engine!! cloud9

Edited by Petrolhead_Rich on Thursday 10th November 18:53

sparkythecat

8,055 posts

276 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Ford Fusion 1.4 should fit the bill.

As a car that mainly appeals to the older generation, you'll get more value for money than one with better street cred

ZeeTacoe

5,444 posts

243 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Jandywa said:
No car suggestions, just going to blast diesels a bit thumbup
They sound AWFUL, no matter what people say with 335d's saying they dont sound bad....they do. Especially on tickover.
The economy may be good on a motorway, cruise etc but when you have some 'fun' in it, it will do no more mpg's than a petrol.
They sound st.
Black smoke from exhaust everytime you floor it (mostly older diesels but still)
Did i mention they sound st?

(i realise im probably going to get some hammer by for this)
Only the old ones? My 11 year old xud9 smokes less than a "modern" diesel.

OP toyota avensis? Dull but cheap and efficient

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

276 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
if you wish to argue this point I have a Nissan Micra and a microphone and i'm not afraid to use it
If it sounds worse than a 4 pot diesel then it's probably broken.