Having found that sad little Hyundai Santa Fe falls into the persecuted band G VED rating (must be lowest emissions car that does) I'm wondering at what point to take a big financial hit by changing to an older 4x4 (not G rated even if higher emissions) or perhaps get it converted to run on LPG.
Does anyone know if it could be done and roughly how much it would cost?
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get a 3.0 toyota hilux surf and run a 2 tank vegoil set up.
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The two options were exclusive. If I went for the older car then I wouldn't worry about converting. The Santa Fe should be convertable (presently a 2.4 petrol engine) and has a lot of kit that makes me like it a lot. It all depends on what is required in converting and how much it'd cost. If the Lib-Dem threat of £2000 per year for band G cars were to emerge as a reality then that'd make the sums easier. Trouble is that on a car like this that cost £12K new in 2006 the sums are not so obvious as if it was a £40K plus vehicle.
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It makes me laugh that people with 2006 cars with high emmissions are getting their knickers in a twist over an extra £20 a month in VED, when most of the vehicles in that band will burn £20 worth of fuel in 100 miles or so.
LPG is not without its disadvantages, namely slightly reduced performance and extra consumption compared to petrol.
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LPG seems to be going out of favour with the policymakers, and your case is a prime example. If you convert to LPG, and get a lower VED, what's to guarantee that you will actually use the kit (although obviously you would be mad not to, having spent the money on it).
I think this is why the forthcoming Congestion Charge changes are ending discounts for LPG cars. At present you can convert a gas-guzzler, get exemption, never use the LPG tank but save £8 per day.
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Similar to the people willing to drive 10 miles out of their way to save one tenth of a penny on their petrol...
O.K., when there's a difference of 1p plus: let's do the sums: 50 litre tank = 50p saved: at 90p per litre that's 0.56 litres. For the imperialists amongst us, one twelfth of a gallon. at 30 mpg, 2.5 miles.
Yet some people seem so obsessed with saving the 50p they're willing to spend a couple of pounds...
Tim{P}
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