Green Car Recommendations

nalibz

Hey guys,

I was just looking for some help and decided you were the best people to ask!

I'm looking for a large family vehicle in the price range of £15,000 and it has to be the "greenest" car available within that budget..ie. producing the lowest carbon emissions etc

I've looked on a few website and they all use different ratings with different meanings and im a bit confused with it all!

Would really appreciate any help you can provide..

thanks in advance!

nalibz:)

goldspanners

£15,000 would buy you a mini cooper diesel,it gives a fantastic 72 MPG with the lowest emissions in its class (and more probably).
i know its not a large family car,but gives an idea.

nalibz

goldspanners wrote: »

£15,000 would buy you a mini cooper diesel,it gives a fantastic 72 MPG with the lowest emissions in its class (and more probably).
i know its not a large family car,but gives an idea.

Thank you very much for your reply:)

Although I am looking for a large family car, its good to know the kind of emissions on offer so i can compare them

thanks again

MrSmartprice

The easiest way to compare cars is to see how much they cost in Road Tax.

Having a diesel is preferable as they use less fuel anyway. MrsS has just changed from a 1.4 petrol car to a 1.4 HDi, and her annual Road Tax has dropped from £115 to £35, simply due to emissions.

Incidentally, don't buy a green car as they are difficult to sell. Silver or blue keep their value much better.;)

nalibz

MrSmartprice wrote: »

The easiest way to compare cars is to see how much they cost in Road Tax.

Having a diesel is preferable as they use less fuel anyway. MrsS has just changed from a 1.4 petrol car to a 1.4 HDi, and her annual Road Tax has dropped from £115 to £35, simply due to emissions.

Incidentally, don't buy a green car as they are difficult to sell. Silver or blue keep their value much better.;)

ahh damn my heart was really set on lime green;)

thanks for that info, do you know any websites where I can search for what I need and find out info such as road tax?

thanks!

anewman

Save a car from the scrap. Scrapping a car emits Co2, and making a new car makes lots and lots of Co2. You are responsible for much more Co2 being emitted than your car will make in many years by buying a new car. The car a snobby person might think is fit for the scrap will emit more Co2 when burning petrol, but this will be more than offset by preventing a new car being made and an old one scrapped. Those old cars don't just vanish like magic!

You also save yourself wads of money. You take away money from the car dealer that he would spend on consuming things which would emit Co2, you take it away from the company itself. If you are eco-friendly, the money is better in your wallet than theirs if they're not.

Many people forget all the above - blinded by the desire for a new car - consumerism and the constant treadmill of people buying a new car every 3 years on credit is what's killing the environment! Not the emissions from the car itself. Certainly don't think the only Co2 a new car is responsible for is from when you drive it away for the first time.

There are just so many reasons getting a second-hand car for under £1000 is environmentally friendly, and it's good on your wallet too.

See http://bangernomics.tripod.com/intro.htm for more information.

I'm guessing you are set on a brand new car but thought I might try offer a different perspective on the wider effects on the environment than what the car manufacturers like you to know.

nalibz

anewman wrote: »

Save a car from the scrap. Scrapping a car emits Co2, and making a new car makes lots and lots of Co2. You are responsible for much more Co2 being emitted than your car will make in many years by buying a new car. The car a snobby person might think is fit for the scrap will emit more Co2 when burning petrol, but this will be more than offset by preventing a new car being made and an old one scrapped. Those old cars don't just vanish like magic!

You also save yourself wads of money. You take away money from the car dealer that he would spend on consuming things which would emit Co2, you take it away from the company itself. If you are eco-friendly, the money is better in your wallet than theirs if they're not.

Many people forget all the above - blinded by the desire for a new car - consumerism and the constant treadmill of people buying a new car every 3 years on credit is what's killing the environment! Not the emissions from the car itself. Certainly don't think the only Co2 a new car is responsible for is from when you drive it away for the first time.

There are just so many reasons getting a second-hand car for under £1000 is environmentally friendly, and it's good on your wallet too.

See http://bangernomics.tripod.com/intro.htm for more information.

I'm guessing you are set on a brand new car but thought I might try offer a different perspective on the wider effects on the environment than what the car manufacturers like you to know.

Thank you for the info!

I'm not completely set on a new car so I'll definately take that info into account..

Maybe I'll try buy a used "green" car instead.. Do you know the greenest large family car on the market?

I agree it probably is a better idea to get used!thanks

n:)

Parisien

Yes, agree.....buy a car that has been well looked after or restored.....or renovated....those are the greenest possible.....as regards a classic.......pre 1971 Citroen DS estate...huge....cheap, no road tax!!!

Or a little bit more modern....Citroen CX estate...familiale...1975-1989....bigger again.....diesel engines....go on....be a devil!!!

MrSmartprice

nalibz wrote: »

thanks for that info, do you know any websites where I can search for what I need and find out info such as road tax?

Try here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524

When you look at new cars they always display the emission figure. So it's easy to know what the tax will be.

Hintza

I must say I agree with anewman in principal. Over the last 20 years I have run old cars (still have a 19 year old Merc on its way out now) but there does come a time when you just want something that works well and there is no hassle.

However my main reason for moving to a new car is that in the old days I did a lot of the work myself when it went wrong. Nowdays I'm afraid I just haven't a clue!!

cyclonebri1

nalibz wrote: »

Hey guys,

I was just looking for some help and decided you were the best people to ask!

I'm looking for a large family vehicle in the price range of £15,000 and it has to be the "greenest" car available within that budget..ie. producing the lowest carbon emissions etc

I've looked on a few website and they all use different ratings with different meanings and im a bit confused with it all!

Would really appreciate any help you can provide..

thanks in advance!

nalibz:)

Well I went for a year old Renault Megane Sportstourer(estate), 1.5dci 106 diesel of course. 55plate, this was a year or so ago, paid £8200.
Certainly works for me, although I'm not saying its the best in class but in terms of standard equipment, economy etc it fits the bill. The early meganes were plagued with electrical problems, but touch wood mine has proved to be fine so far. Never less than 50mpg and often over 65. Can't believe how well it goes for a 1460cc td.

Of course there are others, but this may fit your requirements.

My final shortlist was the Focus, Astra and Megane , all estates. I didn't like the Astra, and the Focus seemed to be about £800 above the equivalent Megane. Pure economics;)

You could pay a premium and go for Audi, VW etc but I personally didn't feel the need to buy a badge.