Am I mad? 80 miles per day in a 1.8 petrol

mattyprice4004

mattyprice4004

mattyprice4004

Soldato
Joined
24 Apr 2007
Posts
7,567
Location
Southport
As above really, does anyone else do a similar drive in a petrol car, when a diesel would make so much more sense?

Reason being, I could with changing the shocks and brakes on the 600, as well as some brake line work and other bits and bobs. As such I've bought a 1.8 petrol runabout for the time being, however I have a feeling my commute is going to be pretty expensive!

So, did you go for a petrol when diesel would have made more sense? My fuel bill will be around 25% of my income! :eek:
 
Let's face it, with any mileage you're going to save money purely based on MPG by buying a diesel over a petrol. It's whether all the other factors line up in its favour also :p
 
Well, overall running costs will be low as I stock all of the parts to fix engine and gearbox issues in my shop. It's also had all important bits done.

To be honest it was a bit of an impulse buy :o just know that the 600 would benefit greatly from shocks that aren't 165,000 miles old, a cambelt change, some new brake lines and a new clutch (also original). It's one of the last 620 GSDIs I'm aware of in good condition, so I'd like to save it and keep it running well.

The 1.8 will do around 36-38MPG, and the diesel does about 45MPG. Tax is lower, and I'm hold with insurance to find out how much it'll be.

I'm sure it can take my beatings for a while. :p
 
I used to do 40 miles each way in my Leon Cupra R.

I didn't find it that bad costs wise, however, this was 5 years ago!

I do similar annual mileage now, but it's mainly personal rather than commute.
 
I think the problem isn't so much "Will it bankrupt me" but more of a "Will I start to resent the cost just to fuel my trip to work" when it comes to 50+ mile daily commutes.

Depends on your mindset of course. To me a commute is just a commute. I do it pretty much on autopilot, I drive relatively economically, my pace is normally dictated by the car in front etc. As such I just want to do it as cheaply as possible. If I can fit comfortably in the car, the ride isn't bone shattering and it isn't difficult to drive then it counts as a suitable car. The flip side is that I can totally understand those that want to sit in leather clad luxury with cruise, climate, awesome sound system and an engine that makes overtaking a non event.

I may have to use the MX5 for commuting for 8 weeks and I can see me really not enjoying it.
 
Last edited:
That's probably it - but a variety of factors meant this was really the only realistic option.

I'm currently in the throes of developing a lot of aftermarket parts / repair kits for MG Rover vehicles - I already do a few (heater resistor repair kits, clutch pedal height adjustment kits, tensioner rebuild kits etc) and need to develop some more for the ZS, and quite specifically the K Series engine.
Buying a diesel to use for a couple of months was a good plan, but then factor in that all ZS diesels are £1000+ and I wouldn't be able to move on with my K Series work, and the 1.8 suddenly becomes a realistic prospect.

The plan is to run it for now, sort the 600 (or at least some of it) then use weekends to carry on with my work on the ZS / K Series engine while keeping the car on the road.
At the moment I'm developing a new clutch hydraulic system as the ZS system is pants, and need a car I can mess about with.

Yes, it's a K Series and yes, it'll probably blow up. But it's OK because I have 3x HGs in stock. :p

The details:
- ZS 120 Hatchback
- FSH, HG already done, running well
- Proper poverty spec, there are these handles you have to rotate to lower the windows? :rolleyes:
- Paid £580 for it with long tax and MOT
- 65k on the clock

...but none of that matters, as holy **** it's chuckable! :D
 
Last edited:
Far too many, but at least I'll be able to get a few new products tested and on the shelf with this one, rather than just chucking money at it then selling it for a loss! :p
 
I know everyone finds it funny how many Rovers you buy but surely by now you must see why you need to leave them alone?

Quite literally every few months your current Rover ends up 'off the road' and you are pretty much forced into buying another car to keep mobile. It's always another Rover and it always lasts no more than 2-3 months before exactly the same thing happens again. This must be what, the 7th or 8th time now? Surely this must tell you it's time to find a new brand. These cars are clearly not fit for whatever it is you do with them.

I'd also question your maths about fuel costs being a quarter of your income in a 1.8 litre petrol ZS. It's going to manage what, 40mpg on a long distance run like that. That's £11 a day in fuel to and from work, or £230 a month. So unless your take home pay is under £1k a month then a 1.8 ZS isn't going to suck a quarter of your income just on petrol (if your income *is* at that level then why are you commuting such a long distance to get to it? Surely it's not worth it).
 
I don't know why you just don't buy something a bit newer for an every day hack and then just buy something like a ZS180 on the side to arse around with.
 
Not as mad as a guy I used to work with who did similar daily mileage in an RX8 he has only on about £19K, I was suprised he could afford to eat.
 
Changing the shocks and brakes is a days work max, clutch and cambelt the same. Just have a fix it weekend, take advantage of the long days and keep using the one car.

One lot of insurance and tax to pay then too.
 
mattyprice4004 said:
just know that the 600 would benefit greatly from shocks that aren't 165,000 miles old, a cambelt change, some new brake lines and a new clutch (also original). It's one of the last 620 GSDIs I'm aware of in good condition, so I'd like to save it and keep it running well.
Click to expand...

.....It's got knackered suspension, brakes, clutch.......


On what planet does a 1.8zs make sense as a replacement daily driver when you knew you were going to be doing 80 miles per day? Either sort the scabby 600 out or buy something like a non turbo vag / 306 etc for similar money
 
I do a 60 mile a day commute in a 2.0T A3, about 20k a year. 3 years in and I've not broken and changed to a diesel yet. Apart from fuel and servicing I've not had any major bills so I'm happy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom