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

Squink · 30 May 2013 at 12:38

Some sums for you:

Your petrol car does 80 miles per day at 37mpg, petrol costing 129.9/l = £276/month

I've recently swapped to a 2l diesel. I take it easy and get 58mpg out of it, including my non-work driving. Your mileage and driving conditions may vary, but at 58mpg, diesel costing 135.9/l for 400 miles = £188/month.

A difference of £92/month or £1104 per year. On fuel costs alone. Stick the monthly difference in the bank for maintenance and repairs and hopefully you'll still profit nicely.

Let's say you do 425 miles overall per week (including personal driving) and you prefer to drive at 75mph, so get 52mpg out of a modern diesel. There's still a £900/year fuel saving to be had.

Tute · 30 May 2013 at 12:45

Janesy B said:
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.

This.

If you like Rovers then fair enough. But I really wouldn't want to be doing that kind of a commute in one.

And for the record, I do 25 miles a day commuting at 22MPG. Although I do take a "fun" route to work.

wingman · 30 May 2013 at 12:48

Threads like these make me appreciate my short commute.

4% of my wage goes on fuel for commuting

MacRS4 · 30 May 2013 at 12:54

mattyprice4004 said:
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!

I do more miles than that in a 4 litre V8

acemastr · 30 May 2013 at 12:58

80mile round trip for 17k? why not find a job 5 miles away for 15k and save yourself money?

mattyprice4004 · 30 May 2013 at 12:59

I appreciate all your comments guys, cheers.

There isn't much logic behind it, but I really, really like the 600 and just want to be able to potter about making it perfect in my own time. I hate spending a whole weekend working on one thing, I'd rather take the gearbox off on a lazy Sunday, check what else needs changing, order the bits then head off down to the pub for the evening.

I've always liked the 600 (had 4 or 5 now) but have struggled to find one in good condition that's well specified. Now I've found a well specced model with good bodywork, I want to make the oily bits 100% sound too.

To someone without my (rather ridiculous) mentality it won't make sense, but hopefully when the 600 is done and driving beautifully it'll seem a bit more logical.

Besides, it's a lot of fun spanking 7 shades of **** out of a 4 pot K Series down some back roads, and the ZS complements it really well. That's also another reason 'for'.

With regards to my wages, I also do a fair bit of social driving - I forgot to mention that, sorry.

I'll end up doing about 2,000 miles per month.

I'll get a better picture later, but this gives you an idea. It's an odd (factory) cyan / magenta flip:

FFD61027-2CDB-4EB3-8D15-0673881B8424-1877-0000005B11A62604_zps176de09f.jpg

TaKeN · 30 May 2013 at 13:40

I thought the Rovers were easy to work on?

As everything is basically a BMW. Layout etc,

paradigm · 30 May 2013 at 13:51

TaKeN said:
As everything is basically a BMW. Layout etc,

Sorry, what?

Most have far more in common with 90s Hondas. The 600 is pretty much an Accord platform is it not?

Other than the 75/ZT diesel which has a crippled variant of the BMW M47 2l diesel engine?

CaptainUnlikely · 30 May 2013 at 13:52

I have been in your exact situation - 40 miles each way in an MG ZS whilst earning, to use your word, a pittance

[TW]Fox · 30 May 2013 at 14:07

TaKeN said:
I thought the Rovers were easy to work on?

As everything is basically a BMW. Layout etc,

Nothing in a 600 or a ZS is BMW. The 600 is Accord based, the ZS is basically a Honda Civic with all the good Honda stuff taken out.

mattyprice4004 · 30 May 2013 at 15:43

[TW]Fox;24365836 said:
Nothing in a 600 or a ZS is BMW. The 600 is Accord based, the ZS is basically a Honda Civic with all the good Honda stuff taken out.

Not quite - Rover did use a lot of BMW connectors and small trim pieces. The new Mini wing mirrors are also a shared design with the 25/45/75. Nearly nothing though.

The ZS still uses a lot of Honda parts in useful places, for example the excellent PG1 gearbox. Lovely and smooth for what it is.

The 75 / ZT is very much BMW all over - the shell is Rover designed but most the rest was either derived from BMW designs, or just straight-fitted with BMW parts.
In some respects Rover 'fixed' the M47 engine - no crap VNT turbo to implode, and no swirl flaps to be eaten. I know which I'd rather have!
It's also not like the Rover M47 was limited too badly - I nudged 180BHP in my 75 Tourer.

Howard · 30 May 2013 at 16:02

I don't think I've ever driven a Honda with a gearbox that I'd describe as "lovely and smooth"!

mattyprice4004 · 30 May 2013 at 16:03

Driving a good example with fresh transmission oil the PG1 is quite a nice box. Likewise, with old oil and a knackered linkage it's terrible. Luckily this ZS has the former!

Tesla · 30 May 2013 at 16:34

I would have fixed the 600 Diesel and not bought a second car.

Why didn't you?

Jonnycoupe · 30 May 2013 at 16:50

mattyprice4004 said:
Not quite - Rover did use a lot of BMW connectors and small trim pieces. The new Mini wing mirrors are also a shared design with the 25/45/75. Nearly nothing though.

The ZS still uses a lot of Honda parts in useful places, for example the excellent PG1 gearbox. Lovely and smooth for what it is..

A mirrored Honda Y1 gearbox so essentially the bearings are working in reverse to how they were designed without a bolted intermediate shaft. Limited development budget was evident. Didn't develop too much for 'PG2' other than the hydraulic clutch

The Mini was design by the Rover lot mainly anyway then adopted by BMW.

[TW]Fox · 30 May 2013 at 16:57

mattyprice4004 said:
Not quite - Rover did use a lot of BMW connectors and small trim pieces.

Oh, wow

mattyprice4004 · 30 May 2013 at 17:05

[TW]Fox;24366859 said:
Oh, wow

I know, right?

BMW items cause all manner of issues on the 75 - the weak underbonnet pumps being a big one, as is the BMW designed master cylinder for the clutch.

Tesla said:
I would have fixed the 600 Diesel and not bought a second car.

Why didn't you?

I am doing, the 600 is a fantastic car and I feel happy to own one of the high spec models in good condition. It's not going anywhere.

I just want to spend a lot of time getting it right.

Jonnycoupe · 30 May 2013 at 17:05

mattyprice4004 said:
Not quite - Rover did use a lot of BMW connectors and small trim pieces.

From Tyco, Leoni or Lear....?

Hardly BMW. :rolleyes:

Clarkey · 30 May 2013 at 17:07

Jonnycoupe said:
From Tyco, Leoni or Lear....?

Hardly BMW.

How many parts on a BMW are actually made in house by BMW? I suspect not many at all.

Jonnycoupe · 30 May 2013 at 17:17

Clarkey said:
How many parts on a BMW are actually made in house by BMW? I suspect not many at all.

I suspect you have the onus of proof on your claim rather than I?

Engines at their engine plant, ie Hams Hall for the I4 JV Prince engine, gearbox at ZF but the casing is their own priority part they pay the supplier D&D and tooling for, body panels at their own press shop.

28% of the F10 has BMW stampings on the actual parts, and they are the parts than can carry a stamping or moulding emboss. Supply chain is much smaller fragments (less than 1% for each supplier and the bulk not assigned.

No OEM will have their 'own' connector for normal automotive/infotainment stuff.