One Huge Mistake

Kilty_2

staceydaisy wrote: »

well maybe im seeing it as poor in comparison to the diesel version

The 1.8 engine in the Astra isn't fantastic - I get better fuel economy from a 2.0 in a bigger car, but it's well publicised what the economy is like.

Given the extra a diesel version costs you'd be better off just bearing the cost - it's also far more reliable than a 1.9 diesel.

LandyAndy

staceydaisy wrote: »

well maybe im seeing it as poor in comparison to the diesel version

But the idea that petrol engines use considerably more fuel than diesels can't be a surprise to you, surely?

Strider590

You'd have paid more for a Diesel, so much more in fact that it would negate any fuel savings.
The VX diesels can get VERY expensive to run in later life. A DMF (dual mass flywheel) for example would probably set you back £1500+, a DPF (Diesel particulate filter) even more than that.

The 1.8 is VX's most reliable engine.... Provided you look after it!

motorguy

staceydaisy wrote: »

We find we are putting £40 a week in the car and not really going anywhere with that

You'd probably be saving about £10 a week by having a diesel then.

I'd stick with the petrol version, rather than take the massive hit to change now.

harveybobbles

...and spending about £2000 a year when it goes wrong... Stick with the petrol...!

staceydaisy

thanks guys you have made me feel better bout my lil petrol car now thanks

bigjl

The cdti Astra has it's faults, if you are really concerned then get it converted to LPG, that will be cheaper in the long run.

Kilty_2

bigjl wrote: »

The cdti Astra has it's faults, if you are really concerned then get it converted to LPG, that will be cheaper in the long run.

How much does a decent conversion cost these days? Surely you'd need to be a pretty high mileage driver to see the benefit?

thescouselander

Billy-no-Money wrote: »

I hired a car for a week in the summer - was given a 1.6 Focus. Not only was it sluggish with brakes made out of wood, I barely got 30mpg out of it even on a decent run. It seems that while diesels have become highly efficient (my wife's Kia returns 55mpg+ with no effort), efficiency of petrol-engined cars hasn't moved on since the 80s - or maybe the engines are more efficient but cars are so much heavier now.

I wonder what a modern diesel would return in a typical car of the early 80s?

Not all petrol engines are equal - my petrol A4 can manage 44MPG on a run which isn't too bad at all IMO. MY dads petrol Avensis can also manage close to that.

BenL

Kilty wrote: »

How much does a decent conversion cost these days? Surely you'd need to be a pretty high mileage driver to see the benefit?

£1600 for a 4 cylinder conversion to an Astra (1.6) using a quality PRINS kit. Cost only goes up if you have more cylinders.

I save 4p a mile (£0.12 down to £0.08) so it takes 40,000miles to pay back.

Using my real calculations it is less but the above is rough guide.

Ben