Old Car - False Economy?

Dee123_2

Hello

There are a few posts from people asking what car to buy but I can't find anyone asking exactly what I want to know.

I have had my Mark II Golf 1.3 for nine years now (and it's now 14 years old). Bit rusty looking and a few bits hanging off of it, but it's been a joy to drive and extremely reliable. People look at me with pity cos of the outer state of it but I would talk them down with my under £150 comprehensive insurance and how I'll always get a couple of hundred for spares. Still have under 100k on the clock.

All this changed when i went away for the weekend and hired a new shape 1.2 52 plate Fiesta. Amazed to find that I did nearly 200 miles on £18 of petrol, whereas I spend about £30 a week with the Golf to do maybe 130 miles.

Ok, seems obvious I should trade up now, but is there anyone who can comment on things not so obvious? Like a new car's fuel economy decreasing or things I may be overlooking with my old car?

Thanks

Dee

blue_haddock

The new car may be slightly more fuel efficient but by the time you have bought the car and lost a hell a lot of money on the depreciation any savings on fuel are quickly lost.

If your happy with the golf and it's running fine keep it for as long as you can!

Bangernomics is the way forward!

amateur_saver

Here Here blue_haddock.... here's to Bangernomics.
I have a 1996 Ford fiesta diesel, and it is fantastic.... it's great for fuel economy and only done 56k.
Ok, so I had to have a lot done for the MOT, and it cost me £200 to get it through, but I still think that it is worth is, as my insurance is now £150 fully comp as well.
I don't go for the look, (obviously), but I think I am doing the right thing by running it until it goes 'bang'.

Anyone else ?

A_S x

:A

vansboy

It's always been the way people look at how much their car costs to run, by thinking in MPG!!

They seem to forget soooooooooo many other things add up to their motoring expenses.

Depreciation, the amount of money invested(?) in a depreciating asset, loosing them potentially saved interest.....

However, if you had an old car that was constantly letting you down, late for work, missing appointments, even representing your appearence, if you needed it for work, it could well be FALSE economy.

So maybe, steer clear of REAL bangers - unless you like getting your hands oily, but certainly consider the vehicles with a heck of a lot of life in them, at the £1500-£2000 price range.

There ARE bargains out there, if you're not a newish registration letter, snob!!

VB

amateur_saver

my car (touch wood) has not let me down yet, the engine is still really good, it was the brakes that needed doing, and the suspension, but now it's done, it's back to bangereliabiltiy again.... i think its worth hanging on to - anyone ?!

A_S x

karen51_2

I love my M reg diesel escort..... I can go out shopping and if it gets a scratch... What the eck. I have friends with new cars and they are allways worrying where to park, will it be safe etc. The no worry for me sure outweighs the street cred, and with 2 little uns in the back what street cred do I have anyway. It keeps going and gives hubby a good excuse to go and visit the scrap yards at weekend. Give me a banger anytime.

Dee123_2

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Fair coments about depreciation, but I was thinking about getting a three or four year old Fiesta which will already have lost half it's value. Trust me, I'd do the same thing again and keep it for ten years or so (so long as its economically viable.)

As I have the cash put aside anyway, I figured buying a more fuel economical car would be better - saving £15-£20 a week, thats £780-£1040 a year. That just about outruns the depreciation, I think. Ok, then you have to factor in the interest I'd get if i left the money in the bank, etc. Insurance is about £30 a year more.

Otherwise, yep!, bangernomics is the way to go......I still don't understand the whole "my BMW is better than your BMW" thing....who cares when the speed limit is 70mph and they are likely to be stuck behind an old banger like mine pootling along at 60 anyway?

Cheers!

Cardew

Dee123 wrote:

Hello

There are a few posts from people asking what car to buy but I can't find anyone asking exactly what I want to know.

I have had my Mark II Golf 1.3 for nine years now (and it's now 14 years old). Bit rusty looking and a few bits hanging off of it, but it's been a joy to drive and extremely reliable. People look at me with pity cos of the outer state of it but I would talk them down with my under £150 comprehensive insurance and how I'll always get a couple of hundred for spares. Still have under 100k on the clock.

All this changed when i went away for the weekend and hired a new shape 1.2 52 plate Fiesta. Amazed to find that I did nearly 200 miles on £18 of petrol, whereas I spend about £30 a week with the Golf to do maybe 130 miles.

Ok, seems obvious I should trade up now, but is there anyone who can comment on things not so obvious? Like a new car's fuel economy decreasing or things I may be overlooking with my old car?

Thanks

Dee

I wonder if you are correct in your calculations of fuel consumption.

£30 a week for 130 miles equates to 16-17mpg and you should get at least double that; even allowing for the 1.3 Golf being old and heavy. My wife had one that averaged in the high 30's.

If you really are getting 16-17mpg you have a problem that is nothing to do with the car's age.

If you only do 130 miles a week your savings on fuel will nowhere near the £15-20 a week you state. Taking a car with an average of 30mpg and another with 40mpg your saving would be approx £4 a week.(on your annual mileage)

aardvark0

Mpg depends heavily on what 'sort' of miles you do. If you make lots of short journeys then most if not all of the miles you do are with a cold engine (high wear and tear), and the choke (most likely automatic) will be on constantly.

This will give a high mpg.

All other things being equal, the same car used for long journeys will have a much better mpg.

Cardew

aardvark0 wrote:

Mpg depends heavily on what 'sort' of miles you do. If you make lots of short journeys then most if not all of the miles you do are with a cold engine (high wear and tear), and the choke (most likely automatic) will be on constantly.

This will give a high mpg.

All other things being equal, the same car used for long journeys will have a much better mpg.

Whilst you are correct about short journeys using more fuel, most cars(all new cars) have fuel injection and hence no choke. I believe I am correct that a 14 year old Golf(1991) also had fuel injection.

No matter what type of journey, you would be hard pushed to get consumption of 16/17mpg from a 1.3 golf unless you had a faulty car.

Without doubt modern cars are more fuel efficient. However on a similar size car(to a 1991 1.3 Golf) on the same type of journey, you would be expect to get 20-30% more mpg at best.

Dee123_2

No choke on my car.

I'd say 85% of my journeys are straight motorway trips (my commuting) so yes, I would expect better fuel economy. Told by garage owner who serviced it that engine was in great nick for the year, and mpg was bad "simply because of the age".

Tempted to get it looked over by someone else after your posts, Cardew, thanks.