LPG - Buy or run away?

[Beren]

Hi

New to the motors side of things here so if I’m asking some thing dumb please don’t laugh at me too hard! Just looking for a bit of advice and maybe a suggestion or two on whether I am barking mad or making a sensible choice.

I am looking to buy a new (to me!) car. Have always ended up with more or less hand me down cars and this is the first time I am going to get to buy a car for me that I want.

Now it needs to still be at least a little bit economical but I would love something faster than the 1.8TD Mondeo I have just killed. So looking on a certain auction site I started looking at LPG converted cars.

I can happily get a 2.0litre or even a 3.0 V6 and if it’s converted to LPG it seems like I will get some more reasonable performance when I want it and better than diesel economy the rest of the time.

So any one know of a down side?

 

[Dogbreath]

I can happily get a 2.0litre or even a 3.0 V6 and if it’s converted to LPG it seems like I will get some more reasonable performance when I want it and better than diesel economy the rest of the time.

Depends on what you mean by economy. An engine running on LPG will consume approximately 20% more fuel to make the same power as it would on petrol, and total power will be down somewhat. These facts are irrefutable (based on the energy content of LPG) despite what some installers might tell you.

LPG is currently around half the price of unleaded, but you could use potentially 20% more so currently you could save around 40% on fuel costs. This does depend on whether the tax breaks for LPG remain similar in the future

 

[Beren]

I know I will see a little less power, but if I can always flick back to petrol if I want the rest of the power.

Curretly looking at a Saab 900 turbo, I would be getting a 185BHP car that effectively does 50mpg... I don't need the boot space so cant see a down side!

 

[Kitchster_uk]

Had been looking into this. You need one that's got an approved multi-point system fitted and that has been done at a specialist. Personally, I would be looking for a car with absolute full history that the current owner had gassed up a few years back and has all the certs to prove it. A ***** install will end up VERY expensive to run but gas does look a very atractive alternative.

 

[Jonny69]

If it's going to be down on power then look for a more powerful car in the first place and the performance will be back in the bracket you were originally looking at. Saab 900 turbos have plenty so can't see it being a problem