most economical car?

helpimcrap · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:21

my 1.4 focus is crap on fuel - only doing 35-40mpg! what's best to replace it with the fuel becoming a rare commodity?

performance isn't so much an issue just similar to the 1.4zetec engine.

would a 1.4tdci fiesta be the way to go?

i'm thinking overal economy. i.e. parts prices/servicing periods/economy.

Lopéz · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:27

35-40mpg is far from "crap" on fuel as far as I was aware. I'd be ecstatic if the Manta did that!
Remember published figures given by manufacturers are almost always unachievable in real life.

greengiant · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:28

That's not too bad for a petrol car.
How many miles do you do annually on average?
Also take into account the cost to change the car compared to whatever increase in mpg you may get by going diesel.

Howard · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:29

Fuel isn't a rare commodity? :confused:

35-40mpg sounds good to me.

iaind · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:29

Sounds fine, although a bit depressing given the performance, it's about right. Not worth changing to be honest

Moeks · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:46

Yep, sounds fine.

Dogbreath · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:49

You will likely never make up the difference in cost of buying a TDCi Fiesta unless you are doing huge mileages.

Nick1881 · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:54

Wish I could get 35-40 everyday.

Get a Honda Insight.

OpenToSuggestions · 10 Mar 2010 at 17:54

Is your Focus a mk1? As these were 75hp and as such you may be sticking your foot down a lot to 'get it going'.

Janesy B · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:03

You're kidding, right?

drak3 · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:07

40mpg is not "crap" ... hard to replace it with something better me thinks.

OllyM · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:13

I suggest a BMW 760Li.

I get around · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:14

35-40 isn't terrible, especially not for a petrol car, unless you're doing mega miles it's not really worth changing to a diesel.

Moeks · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:18

OllyM said:
I suggest a BMW 760Li.

Dang fiiine sugestion there 'old top' ...could'na said it bedder maself.

I wonder if it will run on propane ?

/ahem

Sorry about that.

iaind · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:35

Lets just do some sums.

35mpg in the focus, current national average for unleaded is 114.5p per litre, or £5.19 per gallon. 519/35 = 14.8p per mile

50mpg in the Fiesta at 115.5p per litre which is £5.24 per gallon. 524/50 = 10.5p per mile.

You're going to save 4.3p per mile. If you do 10k miles a year, you're going to save £35 per month in fuel. Hardly worth the hassle of swapping

Jonny69 · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:40

Will you even realistically get 50mpg out of the Fiesta though?

(genuine question - I wouldn't know)

iaind · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:47

Jonny69 said:
Will you even realistically get 50mpg out of the Fiesta though?

(genuine question - I wouldn't know)

It's probably do-able, my 2.0 Mondeo can get into the 50s on a run, so averaging 50 in a 1.4 diesel fiesta seems reasonable.

On a slightly unrealated note, I saw a new Ibiza liveried with advertising for the new econeticflextecmotive branding, claiming 94mpg! I wonder how many people will buy one expecting to actually get that

Moeks · 10 Mar 2010 at 18:50

Who knows, I might try and a spot of economical motoring next, perhaps a Corvette C5 or a Monaro ...you can crack 30mpg highway!

Matt82 · 10 Mar 2010 at 19:25

my brother recently got a 1.5 diesel megane that thing averaged 49.9 over the last 1600 miles

mjt · 10 Mar 2010 at 19:48

I'm currently averaging 35-40 mpg in my PD 150..

most economical car?

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