mondeo vs civic - To buy a new car or not

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Tue 29 Mar 2016 20:58
mondeo vs civic - To buy a new car or not - CMac

I currently own a 5yr old diesel Mondeo. I am considering buying a new car as I only do about 8 miles a day (to and from work with stop offs at nursery and childminders) I was considering buying a petrol Civic. My thinking was that it would have cheaer running costs due to the shot journeys that i do. Is it worth it? or is there another car that would be better in terms of cheaper running costs. (I need a family sized car due to having to small children)

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Tue 29 Mar 2016 21:44
mondeo vs civic - To buy a new car or not - RT

You'll lose far more money in the cost to change, ie depreciation, than ever you'll save in running costs.

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Wed 30 Mar 2016 10:05
mondeo vs civic - To buy a new car or not - Cyd

With that small daily mileage, driving a car that's hardly even getting warm, I'd ditch diesel and buy something petrol. Not for fuel economy gains (there won't be any) but to eliminate the risk of expensive problems with DPFs, DMFs etc. A petrol is much more suited to your typical drive cycle.

Consider an engine pre-heater. It will help economy a little and be good for the longevity of the engine. It'll also make for a more comfortable car on those cold mornings.

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Fri 1 Apr 2016 21:27
mondeo vs civic - To buy a new car or not - CMac

Thank you for advice. I know little about cars - whats an engine pe-heater?

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Fri 1 Apr 2016 23:22
mondeo vs civic - To buy a new car or not - focussed

Sometimes called a block heater it's a small mains powered immersion heater that heats the cooling water before the engine is started, so effectively you are starting on a cold morning with a warm engine.

Usually fitted on a circuit with a time clock so it switches on an hour or so before you need the car.

Heating and demisting are there straight away and fuel economy is improved.

The only downside is having to remember to switch off/and unplug the mains supply to it before you drive off - so no use if you are forced to park in the street.

An example here - www.enginepreheater.co.uk/

I have no idea how fitting one of these would affect the car maker's warranty however.

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