I want a smaller, greener car

PabloNeruda

I think I will test drive the Aygo and the Auris, and also the Fiat Panda which a couple of friends have also recommended. Then make a choice. I must admit I like the look of the Aygo most, though.
What is the maximum engine size for the group B (£40) road tax? Is it 1.2 litre? Or does it go by emissions? I know the Aygo falls into this category but not sure about the others. I really want the lowest emissions possible.

sleepymy

ailuro2 wrote:

Short trips kill cars because the engine doesn't warm up properly, is not properly lubricated, the brakes don't heat up enough etc.

Low mileage cars in general go through more exhausts because there's more condensate sitting in the pipes where they didn't heat up.

Thanks for answering that for me :cool:

Not wanting to thread jack but just wondered if it would help if you took your car for a longer drive say once a week? Would this help compensate a bit & what constitutes a short journey 1/2 a mile 2 miles?

h4nym

Sleepmy...

A short journey isn't really about distance or time - it's more about the use. In effect, I'd say that a short journey is any journey where the temperature guage is lower than "normal" for more than half the journey, and the revs stay under about 1750 for more than half the time of the journey.

Onto the wider question - I also run an N-Reg Volvo - but a bigger one - a 3 litre 960 Estate. I've often considered replacing it, for much the same reason as the OP.

BUT... cars don't grow on trees! Cars take a massive amount of energy to build. Pressing the steel, welding, running the production lines, transporting them from factory to country of sale etc etc etc.

My instinct is that - at low usage (and mine is - I'm on a motorbike most of the time!) - it's probably kinder to the environment to keep this thing for as long as possible and lengthen the replacement cycle as long as possible. My guess is that the average replacement cycle is around 4 years. If I keep mine another year, it'll be 12 years old and I'll have saved 3 replacements!

Just my take...

H

sleepymy

Thanks very much for that h4nym, it's very helpful.

And I agree getting as much use out of one car may be better than changing.

PabloNeruda

Hmmm. Interesting angle I suppose. Jeez this is difficult!

cazrobinson

I had the same conumdrum.

I work 25 miles away from home. Too far to cycle, too far to walk, public transport will only deliver me 3 miles away from work and takes 3 hours!

I changed my 1.8 Mondeo to a second-hand Nissan Micra 1.1 (£2,500) in exchange with a dealer. If I had got a 1.0 it would be £50 tax, free into London, and cheaper car insurance. It was a very good deal as the car had been looked after as a run-around for clients by a dealer and was only 3 years old!!

I worked out that my old car cost £200 a month plus tax, insurance, MOT and servicing.

I decided not to get a converted car, because unless your an enthusiast it's hard to find a mechanic willing to look at them (mate has problems no-end).

I looked at cheap run arounds and on my wishlist was nissan micra 1.0, ford focus, peageuot 107. have a look at what car? magazine (on-line) for great advice and stats.

gromituk

To the OP: you could probably do an awful lot more good by using the car less. Can you tell us your pattern of usage? Think outside the car.

ailuro2

Taking a car for a long run once a week would still mean it was running cold for the first part of the journey. Better imho to try to plan the trip to the shops in with the doctors appointment and the trip to Homebase if they are all across the other side of town.

katiep_2

http://www.whatgreencar.com/greencarmodels.php

I've been using this site to help me decide what car to get (I'm possibly changing jobs so will need to move off my bike and into a car )

You can use it to look at the different aspects of "greeness" There is an overall impact score, which covers the life cycle impact, so includes the manufacturing process as well as the impact the car has in use, and then other factors like fuel consumption. You can also look by class (city car/super mini/small family). I've been looking at city cars, and the aygo, citroen C1, and peugoet 107 come out the best. The vauxhall corsa does well too. The C1 and 107 have been out longer than the aygo, so there's better deals to be had on used models.

I've found it useful to look at this site in conjunction with What car or Parkers, to get a more overall review of the car, for example What car doesn't rate the 107 5 door much.

HTH

gromituk

katiep wrote: »

(I'm possibly changing jobs so will need to move off my bike and into a car )

Assuming you mean bicycle, how about a scooter? Far less pollution and congestion than a car. As you already ride, you don't have the irrational fear of two wheels suffered by many car drivers.