Green Car Recommendations

jeannieblue

nalibz wrote: »

hahah eco-hottie eh?!! find me one of those and I'll buy a wind farm!:rotfl:

you say the greenest cars are french and i'd lose shed loads of money.. if you were to buy a large family car and medium family cars for 15k and selling on wasnt a worry, which would you get?

thanks for the help by the way!

Would think Japanese and German hold their prices better than others.

Put a deposit on the Airbus yet?

Come on tell us what you're up to................. we're all ears.................:kisses:

cepheus

You have to decide what aspect of 'green' you interested in, if it is purely reducing greenhouse gases (CO2) then buy a small Diesel. You could then consider blending in some Biodiesel made from used veg oil if there is a local supplier. Other UK sources from crops should provide reasonable reductions in CO2 but avoid imported Biodiesel. Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda engines between 96-04 are suitable for 100% Biodiesel (RME), although check the warranty conditions with the dealer.

A convenient list of low CO2 cars using conventional fuel is here

http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/information/how-to-use-the-data-tables.asp#petrol

There is also a CO2 emission calculator at the Dft for each class and configuration of vehicle

http://www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2/index.php?q=best_on_co2_rankings

There is far more to 'Green' than CO2 though, if you live in an air quality management area, I don't think you should buy a Diesel and should go for a small modern petrol that is also low on CO2 (eg. Aygo), they are far better on Particulate and usually better on NOx than Diesels. Overall I would think this option is far 'greener' and easier for most people who don't wan't the bother of finding and blending a suitable source of Biodiesel with the warranty complications.

All emissions are quoted on the VCA website, but it may be easier to get their booklet and glance through the pages.

A final word of warning however, the fuel consumption figures only apply to vehicles driven over a specific cycle and may not be accurate for your style of driving. Note also that the figures are calculated with all the ancilliaries switched off, and the use of air conditioning in particular increases CO2 and other emissions substantially.

polarbearit

Greenest 7seater - we have a 1.5dci Renault Grand Scenic, available new within budget CO2 emissions are 140 so its band C (£115 VED). I couldn't find anything better/lower emitting with 7 seats when we bought last year and big discounts are available new (though we bought a three years old with 15k miles for £7450 from dealer). We've never got worse the 46mpg in traffic and usually more like 50mpg/with 55-60mpg possible on a journey.

The emissions were much lower than Galaxy sized cars and if you are after something bigger with 7 seats at the moment you'll have to accept worse emissions.

nalibz

jeannieblue wrote: »

Would think Japanese and German hold their prices better than others.

Put a deposit on the Airbus yet?

Come on tell us what you're up to................. we're all ears.................:kisses:

yep, airbus said they'd deliver it to me ontime in 2012 which means it should arrive for the 2256 olympics.:D

nalibz

Thanks polar and ceph..im going to have a look at the websites and the grand scenic now!

n:)

ps. are there any 7 seaters in tax band b?£35?

polarbearit

nalibz wrote: »

Thanks polar and ceph..im going to have a look at the websites and the grand scenic now!

n:)

ps. are there any 7 seaters in tax band b?£35?

I looked and couldn't find any, but I'm sure they'll come in time (as cleaner versions of the 1.5 Renault/1.6 Peugeot/Citroen/Ford Diesel engine appear)!

I also found striking a balance between depreciation and green savings quite hard. (so the focus looks great as five seaters go, but will no doubt depreciate more than the prius in the short term and doesn't have much in the way of discounts to help offset that yet, in the way that say the Renaults do)!

cepheus

With regard to the life cycle of the whole vehicle of a Prius there is some information here

http://www.green-car-guide.com/news/are-green-cars-really-green.htm

cyclonebri1

Oh go on then, So what is the difference between, green, and cheapandeconomical?

At present I think there is a world of difference, infact the 2 cannot be viewed as the same. Cheap and economical everytime, green costs. This is my time on the planet, so I do have a choice, it gets personnel because I am not a martyr.

To buy a greencar what do you do? At best work a whole lot more hrs?
Charge more? Starve the wife and kids?

I'll stay a pale shad eof grey for a while.;)





Anyway, back to my beer

jeannieblue

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Oh go on then, So what is the difference between, green, and cheapandeconomical?

At present I think there is a world of difference, infact the 2 cannot be viewed as the same. Cheap and economical everytime, green costs. This is my time on the planet, so I do have a choice, it gets personnel because I am not a martyr.

To buy a greencar what do you do? At best work a whole lot more hrs?
Charge more? Starve the wife and kids?

I'll stay a pale shad eof grey for a while.;)





Anyway, back to my beer

Mines a glass of red...........

Buy something with a V8 in a nice colour...........??

And we're not gonna help you anymore (not that I ever did) if you don't say what you're up to...

cepheus

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Oh go on then, So what is the difference between, green, and cheapandeconomical?

At present I think there is a world of difference, infact the 2 cannot be viewed as the same. Cheap and economical everytime, green costs. This is my time on the planet, so I do have a choice, it gets personnel because I am not a martyr.

To buy a greencar what do you do? At best work a whole lot more hrs?
Charge more? Starve the wife and kids?

Not necessarily, it might be 'greener' to simply avoid unnecessary excess. Large engined vehicles do little more than small engined vehicles since you are usually limited by other factors than power. Most cars are designed to seat at least 4 people, 5 if children. Smaller and basic models are cheaper, use less fuel, cost less VED and are more green. Of course to take this one step further many people can live nearer to work, and bike or walk. The Prius is a technological trap, more applicable to those interested in appearing green, better to use the money for thickening the loft insulation, or filling cavity walls.

Cars are sold mainly on style over content and catering for the worst situation.