crazy people. their money. car choices

commited said:
Out of interest, how many miles/year do you do and what repairs did the Clio need?
Click to expand...

I did 12K on my Clio but that's with a couple of road trips after uni/summer holiday, so I work it out to be 10K per year. I do a lot of short distance, a moderate amount of between 100miles return (Pontefract-Beverley/Hull) and about a half a dozen return to London and the same with visiting Portsmouth (500/600miles return) to see the parents.

On my Clio, the coil packs was knackered on the first couple of months. Fixed and it returned again 2 months after. There was a change in sensor (can't remember which exactly, cost me £75) but that took forever to find what was at fault when the car refuse to start on turn of key everytime after a short drive. It was infuriating, each time I start th car, I needed to cox it and hope for the best.

The brake disc(or is it drum?) in the back had to be replace when the pads cracked 7 months in, that's a few weeks after MOT giving it all clear. And before I shopped it, the brakes was draggy and making what sounds like trapped sand grinding in the front.

I probably got a lemon, and I thought, I might as well invest in a new car, save some of petrol, insurance, no road tax and free drive into London on a Friday when I knock off early to have a catch up with my little brother. The fuel works out cheaper than my missus and I taking an advance booked trains to London.
 
Last edited:
scott212 said:
I really wish diesel didn't even exist. If there's one thing that does my head in like nothing else it's people who won't shut up about diesel and seem to be completely retarded at basic economics/maths. They also fail to see why people are willing to pay more (and lets face it, usually as you've just pointed it it's only a small amount more) to have a real engine that puts a smile on your face and not a common vibrating repmobile.

It's almost tragic. I drove to the other end of the country this weekend and there are thousands of 320Ds, 520Ds, 2.0 VAG TDIs. I couldn't think of owning anything worse. They're ubiquitous and there's absolutely nothing unique or special about them. It's such a relief to see even something like a 330i. BMW's new petrol engines are extremely fast and highly economical but as Fox reminds us time and time again, it won't matter because virtually everyone opts for the diesel.

Oh and one last rant. Anyone who buys something like a Mini Cooper D or SD must have the IQ of a bedpan.
Click to expand...
Sir, i salute you !
 
He has a point but don't forget loads of them will be company cars, so are bought more for tax reasons than anything else over the petrol models. Hopefully the new small turbo ones will bring thing back away from the shaky dash diesels.
 
scott212 said:
I really wish diesel didn't even exist.
Click to expand...
I think you'd soon change your mind were that true....
Given 99% of things we all use, from Bog roll to BMW's are delivered by truck - and that delivery is factored into the end price, can you imagine the costs involved were the UK's trucks powered by petrol, not diesel?

An average artic returns ballpark 8mpg ish, that's with a high torque low rev diesel lump rumbling away, any takers on the size of petrol engine required to generate enough torque to pull 44t? And, what it's average mpg would be? (As an example, my Scania has a 12 litre diesel, 440bhp, 2200nm torque )

Many years ago, we had petrol engined trucks, increased weight carrying capacity and lack of relative torque quickly killed them off......
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
I think you'd soon change your mind were that true....
Given 99% of things we all use, from Bog roll to BMW's are delivered by truck - and that delivery is factored into the end price, can you imagine the costs involved were the UK's trucks powered by petrol, not diesel?

An average artic returns ballpark 8mpg ish, that's with a high torque low rev diesel lump rumbling away, any takers on the size of petrol engine required to generate enough torque to pull 44t? And, what it's average mpg would be? (As an example, my Scania has a 12 litre diesel, 440bhp, 2200nm torque )

Many years ago, we had petrol engined trucks, increased weight carrying capacity and lack of relative torque quickly killed them off......
Click to expand...

Very good point, didn't think of that :p
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
I think you'd soon change your mind were that true....
Given 99% of things we all use, from Bog roll to BMW's are delivered by truck - and that delivery is factored into the end price, can you imagine the costs involved were the UK's trucks powered by petrol, not diesel?

An average artic returns ballpark 8mpg ish, that's with a high torque low rev diesel lump rumbling away, any takers on the size of petrol engine required to generate enough torque to pull 44t? And, what it's average mpg would be? (As an example, my Scania has a 12 litre diesel, 440bhp, 2200nm torque )

Many years ago, we had petrol engined trucks, increased weight carrying capacity and lack of relative torque quickly killed them off......
Click to expand...

It might provide the correct model and factors for more use of the railways though....

America seems to manage okay anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom