Old Car - False Economy?

Dave_G_5

I'd have to agree that you have a problem if you are only getting 16-17mpg. Are your brakes releasing ok? Might be worth checking if the engine is ok.

Dee123_2

Actually, I thought I noticed a difference (for the worse) in petrol consumption after I had the brake cable replaced six months ago. It was around the time of a job change and I put this down to rising petrol prices at the time. I still dont think the brake pedal returns to where it is supposed to.

Thanks! Will get it checked out.

Dave_G_5

The rear brake calipers on these are quite well known for sticking, some owners fit the rear calipers from the mk3 golf instead but I don't know how much better they are.

Rave

A Mk2 golf is no heavier than a modern Fiesta Cardew, if anything it's lighter! I agree with those who say get your current car checked out, but don't buy a new one. I'm still happily cruising about in a ratty old shed of a Toyota MR2 from 1988. It's cost me a fair bit to get it through MOTs since I've had it, but I couldn't have bought a newer car that's as much fun to drive for anything like what I paid for it:).

alanrowell

I kept a track of all my costs for a nearly new Fiesta I bought 10 years ago.

When I got rid of it last year it had cost me an average of £50 per week or about 30p per mile.

Cardew

alanrowell wrote:

I kept a track of all my costs for a nearly new Fiesta I bought 10 years ago.

When I got rid of it last year it had cost me an average of £50 per week or about 30p per mile.

How much was the average cost of fuel? about £10?

want2bmortgage3

i had a mk2 golf 1.3 engine and was guaranteed at least 40mpg no matter how i drove it.

i would also add the gti 8v 1.8 will match this on a longer journey although not so good around town

the gti has so many advantages over the 1.3 that unless you really dont care about enjoyment or driving/luxury then go for the gti

Conor_3

Cardew wrote: »

Whilst you are correct about short journeys using more fuel, most cars(all new cars) have fuel injection and hence no choke.

Yes they do, or at least an equivalent. It's called a cold start valve and its purpose is to put in more fuel for either a preset time or until a preset temperature is reached.

steveo3002

if its a mk2 it will be carb , they often suffer with choke problems

wont have rear calipers

i run old vw's myself ...id go for a proper service at a decent vw specialist and spend the weekend polishing it up a bit so its clean n tidy

Tahiti

When was the last time it was serviced, and how does it drive? Less than 20mpg seems very low for a 1300 VW even on stop start short journeys.

As for new car versus old, there are some obvious benefits (such as the way it looks, safety features, and at least in theory, the mpg you get) but there are more things to go wrong, as well as the dreaded depreciation (even on a three/four year old car).