Citreon Berlingo purchase -big mistake

force_ten

Carolinemjs wrote: »

I clearly need some advice about what I should have bought!
I have 4 dogs to transport, sometimes 5. Live on the top of a hill so there's always a climb. Do short trips between 5-10 miles ish, around 30-40 miles a day. Ideally would like the back to be long enough for me to sleep in, without dogs, for the odd night camping, which of course the Berlingo isn't.

that is probably true but sadly for you it is a little late now as to change now will cost you quite a lot of money

there are lots of people falling into the diesel trap and buying cars that really are not suitable for their needs, the high MPG quoted and the very low vehicle excise duty are a big draw but modern diesels are not suited to mainly town driving and lots of short trips

modern diesels are best suited to long trips and spending hours on end at 70mph on the motorway and if you buy one you really need to be doing mainly that sort of driving

you need to know if your car is fitted with a DPF as if it is then it may cause you problems at some stage in the future

motorguy

force_ten wrote: »

that is probably true but sadly for you it is a little late now as to change now will cost you quite a lot of money

there are lots of people falling into the diesel trap and buying cars that really are not suitable for their needs, the high MPG quoted and the very low vehicle excise duty are a big draw but modern diesels are not suited to mainly town driving and lots of short trips

modern diesels are best suited to long trips and spending hours on end at 70mph on the motorway and if you buy one you really need to be doing mainly that sort of driving

you need to know if your car is fitted with a DPF as if it is then it may cause you problems at some stage in the future

+1

And that 1.6HDI engine is a willfully bad engine for knackering DPFs and Turbos.

motorguy

force_ten wrote: »

that is probably true but sadly for you it is a little late now as to change now will cost you quite a lot of money

there are lots of people falling into the diesel trap and buying cars that really are not suitable for their needs, the high MPG quoted and the very low vehicle excise duty are a big draw but modern diesels are not suited to mainly town driving and lots of short trips

modern diesels are best suited to long trips and spending hours on end at 70mph on the motorway and if you buy one you really need to be doing mainly that sort of driving

you need to know if your car is fitted with a DPF as if it is then it may cause you problems at some stage in the future

+1

And that 1.6HDI engine is a willfully bad engine for knackering DPFs and Turbos.

Carolinemjs

motorguy wrote: »

He was absolutely right. 60mpg is possible, but highly likely to be achieved unless you're doing very long runs.

Depending on what engine yours is, 45-48mpg is much more likely.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/citroen/berlingo-multispace-2008

Perhaps I should have added to my post that he implied that "I" would achieve this, having discussed with him the type of driving I do, and clearly it isn't. That's the bottom line for me. We had a discussion about my needs and what was appropriate for me - taking into account where I live, what I do on a day to day basis etc, and my budget.

Marktheshark

I thought they only cost £9995 new for the petrol and £11195 for 1.6 diesel in 2012.

Carolinemjs

motorguy wrote: »

You're carrying 5 dogs in it, doing short runs fully laden, but expecting 60mpg? :eek:

So how about some useful advice then?
I'm well aware I've made a mistake, exclamations at my stupidity are a waste of time. So come on then, read the thread and offer something constructive about what I should have bought. Whats the big deal with the dogs, together they don't weigh any more than one big bloke!

DaveTheMus

force_ten wrote: »

the figures on the government website say that

Imperial Urban (cold) 46.3, Imperial Extra Urban 61.4, Imperial Combined (weighted) 54.3 and that is for the CITROEN Berlingo Multispace HDi 90 April 2012 onwards

so the official Imperial Extra Urban figure for that car is 61.4MPG so chances are the selling dealer was quoting that figure

I fully understand that you have taken the dealers word on this but I doubt that there is much that you can do about it now

Carolinemjs wrote: »

Thank you all for putting it into perspective, I take your point and had assumed I wouldn't be able to achieve anything but felt it was worth asking here first.
I will make the director/salesman very aware of how disappointed I am though. I can add my experience to the reviews on their website though I doubt it would last long.
In a rural area reputation counts or a lot more than in a city, I won't hesitate to share my lack of confidence in the word of this person.

It feels so much better for getting it off my chest:)

Another poster has already given you the Governments Official 'Extra Urban' figures of over 60 MPG, which if you live in a rural location it's understandable that you won't be doing much 'Urban' driving.

Yet you want to try to run down this 'family owned business' because you drive with a heavy right foot and have a spot of buyers remorse.

gilbert_and_sullivan

You dislike comments that you don't want to hear, thats a clue as to why you bought this car, the salesman told you what you wanted to hear, just as politicians do when an election is in the air, and millions of people soak it up like a sponge.

You won't get 60mpg on your sort of running with any car with the interior room and shape of a Berlingo, its isn't going to happen, you might get better out of a Prius Plus Plug in , but you'll be spending out near enough £30,000 buying one.

The Berlingo is a decent vehicle and its entirely possible that you're not getting the best out of it because you are not yet used to driving it, or driving it badly as most of us do.

Carolinemjs

DaveTheMus wrote: »

Another poster has already given you the Governments Official 'Extra Urban' figures of over 60 MPG, which if you live in a rural location it's understandable that you won't be doing much 'Urban' driving.

Yet you want to try to run down this 'family owned business' because you drive with a heavy right foot and have a spot of buyers remorse.

Where do I say that? I give credit where its due to any business. I actively seek to give my business to local traders of all kinds, always. When I get good service, service with a smile, helpful service, a good deal etc etc I always make it known that its appreciated. I do not take kindly to being mislead - you can quote official figures for all you are worth, I'm referring to the conversation I had at the time. And a heavy right foot?? for heavens sake post your petty comments somewhere else. Buyers remorse - yes I have buyers remorse, I've made it clear I made a mistake but that doesn't detract from the part played by the dealer.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

usefulmale

Carolinemjs wrote: »

So how about some useful advice then?
I'm well aware I've made a mistake, exclamations at my stupidity are a waste of time. So come on then, read the thread and offer something constructive about what I should have bought. Whats the big deal with the dogs, together they don't weigh any more than one big bloke!

You seemed happy with your old focus. Why didn't you buy another one?