Car Advice

slinkydonkey

Hello

Look im a bit thick when it comes to MPG and full efficiency just a warning.

I have a KIA Pro Ceed 1.6 Petrol 2009 model.
I paid about 5k for it, I mean it some ways its been good as it still had 2 years of its 7 year warranty left and the engine immobiliser failed and so did the rear suspension bearing which they replaced.

Before it I had an old Ford Focus 1.8 TD i and im sure they had better fuel economy that this car.

I am spending on average £200 a month just on petrol thats £2400 a year in petrol.

I drive two and from work 5 days a week so I estimate that is 115 miles a week. I guess I have been driving from work to Reading alot but even still its depressing they might as well put a £ sign on the petrol level in cars these days.


I know Diesels are supposed to be more fuel efficient but obviously it costs more than petrol. If I was to sell the car and buy a cheap Vaxhall corsa 1.2 and do the same mileage would I still be spending £200 a month on petrol?

Do smaller engines use less fuel is that how they work sorry told you i was a bit thick lol

Oh my KIA has a computer that says its doing about 35MPG which seems a bit rubbish.

JustinR1979

Try the corsa 1.3 cdti, mpg in the 60's without trying, and has a bit of torque unlike the 1.2 petrol

gilbert_and_sullivan

First of all don't spend money to save it, it seldom works unless you're running a 10mpg Range Rover and commuting 100 miles to work in the first place.

You can't trust the dash display, though usually the true brim to brim figure will be worse.

If you're getting a move on and spending a fair amount of time in heavy traffic then 35mpg is about right.

Generally smaller engines do use less fuel, but if you're present car is proving reliable then chances are that keeping it is the most cost effective till probably the warranty expires and then some, your right foot governs economy whatever you drive.

Keeping up with the servicing?

slinkydonkey

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

First of all don't spend money to save it, it seldom works unless you're running a 10mpg Range Rover and commuting 100 miles to work in the first place.

You can't trust the dash display, though usually the true brim to brim figure will be worse.

If you're getting a move on and spending a fair amount of time in heavy traffic then 35mpg is about right.

Generally smaller engines do use less fuel, but if you're present car is proving reliable then chances are that keeping it is the most cost effective till probably the warranty expires and then some, your right foot governs economy whatever you drive.

Keeping up with the servicing?

Ok thanks yeah that does kind of make sense well its due in December to get a service so ill make sure I get it done as I think it might effect the warranty.

gilbert_and_sullivan

slinkydonkey wrote: »

Ok thanks yeah that does kind of make sense well its due in December to get a service so ill make sure I get it done as I think it might effect the warranty.

Not just the warranty, a car not serviced correctly won't return the best fuel efficiency, and won't last.

jimjames

The only way to compare fuel economy is to actually measure it.

Just working on the amount you spend each month won't give an accurate picture as the price can vary as can your mileage.

As above record the miles you travel between filling up the car to the top each time, you'll then be able to work out how many miles per gallon.

If you don't do any routine checks like tyre pressures then that can also affect MPG and wear them out faster.

jbainbridge

I think you are underestimating the mileage you are doing. The 460 miles in 4 weeks you give could be almost achived with 1 tank. So about £65-70.

As has been said try doing a brim to brim calculation to get your actual mpg.

JustinR1979

+ work to Reading, or £200 a month would be about 12mpg.

Iceweasel

I suggest you get a diary - just for the car expenses.

Take note of the mileage at the start of every day.

Take a note of the mileage when you fill the tank to the brim.

I think that you may be in for a surprise - we all tend to under-estimate things.

Come back after a month with the results.

Good luck.

IanMSpencer

35mpg sounds fairly typical for a 1.6 driven in commuting conditions. You were probably getting over 45mpg in the diesel. Diesel costs just less than 10% extra, so the real question is whether the additional purchase price of a diesel was going to offset the saving in reduced consumption.

Having switched to diesel, the economy is significantly different, and a good diesel is just as nice to drive as a petrol. Take a Golf and the equivalent performance diesel is about 10% higher, roughly £2000. There will be a difference on the Kia price list to consider. You therefore need to decide whether the extra costs of a diesel are worth it for your mileage.

DUTR

Iceweasel wrote: »

I suggest you get a diary - just for the car expenses.

Take note of the mileage at the start of every day.

Take a note of the mileage when you fill the tank to the brim.

I think that you may be in for a surprise - we all tend to under-estimate things.

Come back after a month with the results.

Good luck.

Yes indeed, I have had my car 50 weeks tomorrow, my average mileage is just over 17 miles/day although my return commute is 12 miles, I'm putting in £75/month of super unleaded, I used to fill up once every 3 weeks, but put £35 or £40 in every 2.5 weeks.