Putting money where mouth is on fuel economy.

tomstickland

Now, I want to take my 1991 BMW off the road for a month or two whilst I rebuild the engine and have the shell resprayed.

For a long time I've been ranting about how weight and size of a car are the enemy of fuel consumption. So I'm going to buy an old and very light car such as 106 with a smallish engine and see what mpg I can coax out of it. I'm planning on spending around £500 on the car and selling it on at the end.

Keith

If you want to see high MPG go for the none turbo diesel a friend had one had got 50+mpg.

The petrol engines I doubt will return 40mpg

tomstickland

Are the Diesel 106s vegetable oil friendly?
http://motors.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/car-details.lml?car_id=15119951

harveybobbles

You're re-building the engine and having the shell re sprayed on your 17 year old BMW...?

There is logic in there somewhere...? Lol...

tomstickland

Yes, it's a hobby. There is a quite an enthusiast scene for the E30 BMW (1984-1991).

harveybobbles

Know anyone who wants a 1988 Audi 80?

tomstickland

I know someone who did actually buy one as a toy. There will be a market for one, find an Audi forum.

meester

tomstickland wrote: »

Now, I want to take my 1991 BMW off the road for a month or two whilst I rebuild the engine and have the shell resprayed.

For a long time I've been ranting about how weight and size of a car are the enemy of fuel consumption. So I'm going to buy an old and very light car such as 106 with a smallish engine and see what mpg I can coax out of it. I'm planning on spending around £500 on the car and selling it on at the end.

According to this,
http://www.metrompg.com/posts/98-firefly-review.htm
the smallest car on the Canadian market was the Suzuki Swift, 1-litre 3-cylinder. Should be available under £500. They report mileages above 100mpg in US gallons (i.e. more like 125mpg imperial) using specialised techniques.

As far as I can ascertain there aren't any other 3-cylinder cars around.

I'm not sure that driving one of these will be that much fun though.....

Keith

meester wrote: »

As far as I can ascertain there aren't any other 3-cylinder cars around.

Corsa 1.0 12V I think is another :rotfl:

balsingh

I have driven several Peugeot 106 1.0 and 1.1 car. Always got around 45mpg average from them and they were pretty nippy - even on the motorway. I cannot fault them and woudl wholeheartedly recommend them over Fiestas, Corsas, Micras etc.

... oh, and did I mention the handling?? Fantastic!!

by the way, keep the E30 going ... future classics. I am on the lookout for a late E30 325i sport but the prices seem to be going up, up, up

tomstickland

Oh yes, I'm keeping the BMW, it's a wonderful car to drive, even when being sensible.

I drove a 1.0 106 when I scrapped it for someone and was very entertained by the handling - lift off oversteer on T junctions etc.

I'm wondering about a Diesel and running it on a veg oil mix.