Advice on cutting motoring costs

gerretl

I know this may a bit vague, but I need help on minimising my motoring costs.
I am getting mileage (36p per mile) and do between 100 and 180 a day. I have just bought a 1.6 petrol VW Polo, and am filling up using premium fuel. cost is about £41 for a full (45 litre) tank.
Does anyone have any tips on reducing expenses on this car?
Thanks in advane

quidsin

albertross wrote:

cut out the premium fuel.

Also check tyre pressures, and no too much revving the engine with that heavy right foot of yours

mikey-mike_2

swap it for a diesel?

Hintza

albertross wrote:

cut out the premium fuel.

Do Shell not call normal unleaded Premium?

Had a quick look and What Car give the cost of running your car as beween 35.5p - 36.5p per mile so you seem to be getting a reasonable amount.

Use the gears efficiently and keep your speed down is really all yo can do. If you are due a new car soon put in a bit of research on running costs and remember although you might soend a bit more for some cars slower depreciation might save you in the longer term.

moonrakerz

Hintza wrote:

Had a quick look and What Car give the cost of running your car as beween 35.5p - 36.5p per mile so you seem to be getting a reasonable amount.

Before you set out to drive to the shops for a loaf of bread add the cost of the return trip at 36.5p/mile to the cost of the loaf - then say, is that loaf worth it !

eamon

gerretl

If I'm reading your post correctly are you getting paid 36p per mile for business journey's? Thats not too bad. On the other hand if you are are really averaging 140miles per day thats over 600miles per week or over approx 30000 miles per years. Thats a lot of mileage! You are driving a petrol VW Polo it will manage fine on bog standard unleaded, but your mileage if you are paying the fuel really justifies a diesel.

Whatever engine you have if you have a standard run of the mill car then bog standard normal fuel (petrol or diesel) is what you need. The other posters have suggested plenty of good tips for economic driving.

Lastly, is your journey a commute to work? If it is have you considered moving closer to work and benefit from not driving for 2+ hours every day and the resulting money saving (never mind the environmental benefits).

yours

Eamon

gerretl

eamon wrote:

gerretl

If I'm reading your post correctly are you getting paid 36p per mile for business journey's? Thats not too bad. On the other hand if you are are really averaging 140miles per day thats over 600miles per week or over approx 30000 miles per years. Thats a lot of mileage! You are driving a petrol VW Polo it will manage fine on bog standard unleaded, but your mileage if you are paying the fuel really justifies a diesel.

Whatever engine you have if you have a standard run of the mill car then bog standard normal fuel (petrol or diesel) is what you need. The other posters have suggested plenty of good tips for economic driving.

Lastly, is your journey a commute to work? If it is have you considered moving closer to work and benefit from not driving for 2+ hours every day and the resulting money saving (never mind the environmental benefits).

yours

Eamon

Thanks for the post Eamon.
I use the car to make between 2 and six calls a day in various parts of the southeast. I considered diesel, but the mileage I am doing is on the borderline of whether it is economical. I got this car for £2300, and I love it already. Really solid. I am doing 55-60 mph as a rule, but the car has the guts to do 70 or more (on an autobahn where there are no speed limits only of course) easily.
There is also the possibility of a company car, come the new financial year, so I got a car that wouldn't depreciate too much.
I will definately go for the regular fuel, and the tyre pressure is an easy one.
Thanks for the help guys

tomstickland

Do DIY oil and filter changes every few thousand miles (I bought 4 x cans + 4 x filters for £24 at motor factors). Also keep your eye on other basic servicing like spark plug condition.

Wig

Well your actual running costs in fuel alone will be somewhere about 9p - 10p per mile. Given your large mileage, I don't see the problem, you are IMO already making a profit.

Cut down your costs by all means where you can, but you are already in good shape.