Passat Bluemotion 'special' tyres?

TiTheRev

The Bluemotion technology will indeed be more the 'norm' in the next few years, with approx 90% of the range being 'Blue' and the ones that wont be 'Blue' will be Hybrid electric within the next 2/3years.

As previously stated, the parts will become more widespread, and the wrinkles ironed

Lum

pgilc1 wrote: »

I dont see how you can say that? DPF's are fitted to the 'regular' diesels in the range too. Most of the 'gadgets' on the bluemotion are now starting to come as standard to other models in the ranges. The more cars have them the cheaper the parts.

A fair point. I wouldn't buy a modern "standard" diesel for exactly the reason you describe either.

There was no difference at all in driving the Passat Bluemotion over a regular Passat TDI (other than the lack of noise at tickover in mine) AND i got an easy 10mpg extra.

I guess you do a lot of town driving. To me stop start would provide minimal benefit and is something else to go wrong down the line.

I would go as far as to say that if you are otherwise buying a boggo Golf or Passat, you would be as well to get the Bluemotion and benefit from the extra economy too.

Its the standard cars i can no longer see the sense of - not the 'eco muppet' variants.

I'd just buy an older Passat for a grand or two. It will still have aircon, cruise control and electric windows which is about all I care about in that sort of car. It will likely come with the boring but bulletproof Umwelt diesel engine that will pretty much last forever. Sure it'll cost me a little more to run, but I'll be saving a 5 figure sum on the purchase price, not to mention saving the planet by not causing a new car to be constructed.

motorguy

Lum wrote: »

A fair point. I wouldn't buy a modern "standard" diesel for exactly the reason you describe either.



I guess you do a lot of town driving. To me stop start would provide minimal benefit and is something else to go wrong down the line.



I'd just buy an older Passat for a grand or two. It will still have aircon, cruise control and electric windows which is about all I care about in that sort of car. It will likely come with the boring but bulletproof Umwelt diesel engine that will pretty much last forever. Sure it'll cost me a little more to run, but I'll be saving a 5 figure sum on the purchase price, not to mention saving the planet by not causing a new car to be constructed.

I did very little town driving, and there were only certain parameters that stop / start works within, so it might not have have saved me much, but as tesco say 'every little helps'. Plus, ultimately, if stop/start stops working, well it just doesnt do it anymore - not the end of anyones world.

You're not really comparing like with like then RE: comparing a new / nearly new car to a 10 year old one are you? Of course depreciation will be less on a very used one, but thats how it works. I was at the time doing 35K+ a year - something i didnt fancy doing in a 10 year old car - not that any of us have to justify our choices

When you do actually compare apples with apples here, the bluemotion models stack up extremely well. The main differences are gearing, remodelled ECU, lower ride height, some aerodynamic aids, different tyres, an electric alternator and cruise control. All of those things have been around for years so i wouldnt forsee increased running costs over a regular passat.

jase1

Lum wrote: »

Don't forget that when all the emissions lowering gadgetry, such as DPFs, eventually fails, it costs a lot more to repair, orften so much that it's cheaper to buy another car and scrap your old one. Not good for the environment.

The EcoMuppet cars are really only good for company car drivers as all they pay is tax and fuel.

EcoMuppet :rotfl::T Like it!

Couldn't agree more. The best way to minimise the adverse ecological effect of a car is to keep it running as long as possible.

There's no reason whatsoever why a car can't be built that lasts 30 or 40 years, and contains components that are cheap and easy to replace when they expire.

But that isn't in the interest of the manufacturers.

Go into any scrapyard and count the number of 6, 7 or 8 year old cars lying on the heap. Depressing. But that will just become more common as parts become more and more expensive to replace when they go bang.

You only have to look at the white goods mountain to see the problem. Even 20 years ago, the average lifespan of a washing machine was around 10 years. Now it's five, and many don't even make it that far.

Yes, they use less water and electricity. But is the huge pile of waste units really a price worth paying?

motorguy

TiTheRev wrote: »

The Bluemotion technology will indeed be more the 'norm' in the next few years, with approx 90% of the range being 'Blue' and the ones that wont be 'Blue' will be Hybrid electric within the next 2/3years.

As previously stated, the parts will become more widespread, and the wrinkles ironed

VW have moved that way already - pretty much every model has a 'bluemotion tech' option which introduces key bluemotion features to their regular models.

BMW probably lead the way with efficient dynamics technology throughout the range.

Merc do it extensively too.

johnnyroper

pgilc1 wrote: »

I did very little town driving, and there were only certain parameters that stop / start works within, so it might not have have saved me much, but as tesco say 'every little helps'. Plus, ultimately, if stop/start stops working, well it just doesnt do it anymore - not the end of anyones world.

You're not really comparing like with like then RE: comparing a new / nearly new car to a 10 year old one are you? Of course depreciation will be less on a very used one, but thats how it works. I was at the time doing 35K+ a year - something i didnt fancy doing in a 10 year old car - not that any of us have to justify our choices

When you do actually compare apples with apples here, the bluemotion models stack up extremely well. The main differences are gearing, remodelled ECU, lower ride height, some aerodynamic aids, different tyres, an electric alternator and cruise control. All of those things have been around for years so i wouldnt forsee increased running costs over a regular passat.

Hmmm an electric alternator??????

think you will find all alternators are electric driven mechanically off a belt.bluemotion is no different

smitchy73

I've got a Golf Bluemotion(full), it benefits from the stop/start technology, low rolling resistance tyres, lowered body, skirts etc, longer gearing. I came from a Chrysler Sebring 2.0l diesel to this, I already save on not paying any road tax, servicing is longer apart, insurance is slightly less and from a tank of fuel on my normal daily return journey of about 70miles, I can get about 65mpg, on the Sebring I was getting about 50mpg(if I was lucky), I have had up to 79mpg which was on a longer run, I also only fill up the Golf BM every two weeks(650miles) compared to every 8-10days on sebring.
The other side to the initial expensive cost is that I used to have a Toyota Aygo and was getting about 60mpg from that. But I needed a larger car too the Aygo just couldn't fit us all in, but would consider going down that lane again.

daveg72

Just had a look on Camskill's website and they list various Continental Premium Contact 2's including an Eco model. Whats the size of the tyre?

lollymc

I've got a golf bluemotion too, sadly its turning me into a fuel saving nutter. It is a little bit underpowered when coming onto motorways and you need to work the gears, however even really pushing hard it still returns amazing mpg. Mine definitely has smaller tyres as it can be a bit slippy at the back.

Andreg

Thanks for all the comments. It does seem from the comments that the tyres are not that special and I could replace them with Michelin Primacy or Energy or various other brands without a problem. However, as I've found out that the ContiPremiumContact2 tyres were 'Which' (sssh) best buy I think I'll get them again.

I have to admit I bought the Bluemotion because it looked good as much as for the fuel saving features. I like the lowered ride and aero shape. Only disappointment is lack of speakers in the back doors and lack of 12V socket in the back or boot.

I still don't know what is the best pressure for the tyres. The manual and fuel flap sticker says 36psi, but someone here said the standard passat pressure is 30psi. How can it be right to pump the tyres harder than standard - won't that make them wear in the middle more than on the shoulders? If I reduce the tyre pressure to the standard 30psi will that give better ride comfort and grip?