Possibly looking at changing my Megane 225 for something more economical to run and insure/tax as I am likely to be increasing monthly mileage quite a lot from about 200 to around 700 miles a month just commuting.
I always owned the 225 on the basis of lowish mileage and mainly a 'fun' car.
If I look at economy figures from manufactureres what tend be the most accurate as to what I am likely to achieve?
I would like to get around 55mpg if possible - currently get about 26mpg!
Driving will likely be on A roads with 60-70mph limits but in rush hour so sometimes queues. Obviously considered diesel but several people have suggested a reasonable petrol may be just as cheap to run as the car may be cheaper to buy.
Possibly spent to £13000 but less if possible. One other thing. I have also seen the likes of the Focus 1.6TDCi has two versions of the same engine. How would I know which it was?
Andrew
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I can always relate my own mpg in a particular car to it's official combined mpg - I get 10-15% below that.
I use the official combined figure to compare cars.
Depending on driving style and average traffic conditions other drivers may find urban or extra-urban gives more consistent results but virtually all drivers will have to apply some sort of factor to it.
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There's a very useful site based in Germany www.spritmonitor.de/en/ where drivers input their actual fuel consumption (in litres per 100KM). This will be one way of getting an idea of fuel consumption before you buy.
You will probably want www.fastsaloons.com/convert.php if you're not familiar with l/100KM.
As an afterthought I don't know why a new measurement such as litres per 100miles or miles per litre hasn't become popular as it's been a long time since fuel was sold in gallons.
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If it's any help, my 56 plate, 1 litre (3 pot engine), Toyota Yaris, when driven sensably, returns an average MPG (according to the on-board computer) of 68 MPG on a run of 150 miles.
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Not sure the value of your current car, but if you do ALL the figures, you might just find that it'd be as cheap to keep it (assuming you like it) rather than swap for a 'more economocal' model.
VB
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700 miles a month really isn't all that much. You could still easily run a Megane 225.
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Factor in cost to change and any loss on the Megane 225 in calculations. You might be better of staying as you are.
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Stay away from the Focus 1.6 TDCi, the 110 is advertised as 58.9mpg on combined cycle, but you won't ever see it. Highest I've got mine to is 49.6 on a very gentle motorway drive. Latest tank was 44mpg. I have heard the 1.5 Dci 106 Megane/Qashqai/Clio engine is much better a proposition in fuel economy terms - perhaps due to the sixth gear?
TBH I have my doubts about all the mpg figures, and now i think i'll calculate it based on the lowest figure (urban). At least that way whatever you get ought to be higher and make it seem better!
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Autoexpress did a 'real-life' to official comparison report a while back - you might find it on their site. Some cars get pretty close to the official figures, others are 25% below.
Family hatchbacks did particularly poorly. best was citroen c4 1.6hdi (16% below), followed by bmw 118d and focus 1.6 tdci (both 19% below). Worst was Kia C'eed 1.6 crdi (31% below) and toyota prius (37% below).
y2k+4: It seems you have one of the better cars!
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Just re-read the article - the C'eed and prius weren't the worst - they were are places 9 and 10 for the sector when the sector is ranked on real-life fuel consumption. Both giving around 41.5 in real life. There are other cars which are worse!
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Back of the envelope calcualtion shows that the extra 500miles a month would cost about £30-£40 a month extra at 26mpg opposed to 55, assuming you even get that.
Not to be sneezed at, but then again even being generous with the figures that's less than £500 a year, so will it cost more than £500 to change the entire car?
Might not worth changing JUST to get better mpg I would have thought. If there are other reasons to change as well then fair enough.
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For real running costs see What Car? magazine. Anyone who only considers fuel costs has their head in the clouds.
--
L\'escargot.
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What Car running costs are very usefull if you buy new, sell at 3 years with 36,000 miles
BUT for everyone else who do more miles, less miles, keep their car longer, keep their car less time, buy secondhand - it's not helpful!
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700 miles a month commuting really is nothing, and is only 6,000 a year more than your current commute. You'd need to double or more your mpg to see any fuel saveing, and then you should factor in the change costs.
FWIW I've driven 700 miles in one day - quite often, which is why my car has done 188k miles.
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Stay away from the Focus 1.6 TDCi the 110 is advertised as 58.9mpg on combined cycle but you won't ever see it. Highest I've got mine to is 49.6 on a very gentle motorway drive. Latest tank was 44mpg.
That's not very good. I can easily get 44mpg in my 1.6 petrol (the older model though) in summer. The best I got was 45.6mpg.
I want to like the new focus but I think they've made it too heavy. The new 1.6 petrol seems a touch underpowered.
BTW the 2008 facelift model is on its way - www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/209415/...l
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Best economy/power ratio you are going to get is out of an older tech 1.9 V-AG diesel. 130bhp model is probably the sweet spot and you'll see mid 50's mpg out of one. Found in Leon, Octavia, Golf etc.
That said you'll probably lose so much on the 225 you may be better of staying put.
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Keep the awesome 225. Any diesel will be dire in comparison.
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It seems 12000 miles a year is the point to consider a diesel otherwise you don't benefit.
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Thank you to everyone who has replied here.
Some very helpful comments, links and feedback. Also to see the actual cost saving that I would (wouldn't) make in fuel is helpful as it gives me a more realistic idea of the point of the exercise.
Although if I did change I would intend to save on insurance, tax and other running costs where possible.
I suspect what I will do is keep the car until I have done a few months of the extended travel and then see just how much more it is costing me to run the vehicle. apart from anything it seems to eat tyres - but that is probably driving style. lol
Andrew
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