Corsa 1.2 Petrol or 1.3 Diesel

petrolhead89

Hi Everyone, I currently drive a 2.2l Vectra, I'm considering a downgrade to something a lot cheaper to run like a 1.2 petrol corsa or a 1.3 diesel (preferably a 1.3 diesel) as the road tax is only £30 compared to the £200 I'm paying at the moment. I would like something perhaps around the 2003-2005 mark.

Can anyone comment on the 1.3 diesel? Does anyone own one?

clever_username

The missus has a 2004 CDTI. It's fantastic. Genuinely.

Strider590

Unless your going to buy something for the same price or less than you sell your current car for, you won't save a penny.

motorguy

I've a 1.2 corsa at the minute and i'd say i'm getting high 30's at best out of it. quite a willing little engine though.

clever_username

petrolhead89 wrote: »

(preferably a 1.3 diesel) as the road tax is only £30 compared to the £200 I'm paying at the moment. I would like something perhaps around the 2003-2005 mark.

The tax on the older model CDTI Corsa isn't as cheap as you think. It's £120 odd quid a year as the CO2 is 122 and not 120 or below. The newer model may be £30 a year.

The fuel economy on the one we've got is fantastic. Even around town the car returns 45mpg. On a run it'll do 65mpg or higher.

petrolhead89

Yea im considering one of the newer models, I'm currently getting on average 34.4mpg in the vectra (54 plate).

I'm 21 and have had the car since I was 18 so think I would save a handfull on insurance and tax. MPG figure is 67 on the diesle and less on the petrol.

I also pay about £80 per tyre for my vectra (maxxis mid range). I assume being 15" the corsa tyres will be at least half that.

hubert_cumberdale

the 1.3 tdi has bags of torque and is a much more lively car than the 1.2. These corsas a pretty big and heavy nowadays for a small petrol engine and you could end up using more fuel in the 1.2 than you did in your vectra. Obviously this depends on what sort of driving you do

MX5huggy

How far are you driving? How old? how many miles on the Vectra? Whats is worth? How much will the Corsa be? Basically I am getting at the fact that changing cars does not really save money when you consider depreciation. Check the insurance saving is there surprised a 21 year old can afford insurance on a 2.2 but presume its not a popular car with young hoons (not that I think you are one) but the Corsa is a young hoons car so policy might cost the same as the Vectra.

mcjordi

agreed with mx5huggy.. i can isure a 2.5v6 mondeo st24 for 30 quid more than my 1.3 fiesta..
check insurance costs before buying/swapping

Mr_Thrifty

More details please.

Lum

Personally I would rather take the bus or train than drive either of those.

This is based on the assumption that you drive a reasonable distance, given that you own a Vectra. A Corsa may well be fine for bodding around town and/or doing a 20 minute commute but I wouldn't want to do long trips in it.

And yes I do speak from experience, I've had several of them as courtesy cars, with the most ridiculous example being the time I put 2500 miles on one in a week.

It's also worth noting that if you do do a lot of motorway work, the tiny little engine may actually get worse fuel economy than a larger lump.