Saving fuel

[James1470]

Well Im older than most people on here so probably have a few more quid spare as a result, but that makes it all the more surprising that you feel that fuel economy is so irrelevant, where you say if you had to do a 1000 miles a day you would waste the extra money to do it in your car for example, you would be bankrupt very quickly even if you and your mrs lived in a hostel and put all your money into fuel, lol.
Obviously that was a silly figure in the first place you came up with of 1000 miles a day, but even at a few hundred miles a day which some of us on here do end up doing quite often, you would quickly find I suspect based on what you say about your wages that you had no choice but to start considering economy pretty seriously, as otherwise you would end up using your car at the expense of all the other things you say matter to you with you having such a modest amount of money in the first place each month, its surprising how quickly it dissapears when you are doing thousands of miles a month in an uneconomical car.
My mrs new job is a 80-90 mile round trip every day, and her wages arent great (she works as a manager in halfords) if she had a car doing really poor economy like the 15-18 mentioned in this thread, she'd effectively have to work for free 2 days a week just to cover the fuel costs!

Its surprising that I'm 23 and don't care about mpg? But it's not surprising that people go spend 15k getting a 2k car race spec then drive it like a tit and break it?

 

[Sargara]

I don't see the point in this thread, why buy a 2.0 hot hatch and moan about fuel economy ...

Pretty much this. The 1*2 is already better on MPGs than it should be so id be concerned about your maintenance budget if fueling the thing is difficult....

 

[Alan]

Its surprising that I'm 23 and don't care about mpg? But it's not surprising that people go spend 15k getting a 2k car race spec then drive it like a tit and break it?

Have you hurt your head today?

 

[James1470]

No, I don't see how I have too much money? and it's surprising that I don't care what mpg I get?

When people spend a fortune on there cars getting boost and massive bhp then bounce them off the limiter til they collapse, and that's not surprising ..

 

[Poopensharten]

More suprising that geordies have money TBH.

 

[James1470]

Says the Glaswegian have you been fingering chickens with AK? sounds like his crack lol

 

[Poopensharten]

AK's glaswegian?

 

[Alan]

AK's glaswegian?

SN.

 

[Poopensharten]

SN.

I actually love your face.

 

[James1470]

No I said you are. he's from Aberdeen isn't he? North of the border, all the same to me!

 

[MarkCup]

What does not caring about fuel consumption give you in return?

I drive the same roads day in day out.

In my 200 I could get 40mpg or I could get 30mpg depending on my approach - but both driving 'styles' would get me to work in the same amount of time.

So the extra £20 a week from getting 30mpg has bought me what exactly? Not speed that's for sure.

This is the point I think most of you are missing, getting better mpg doesn't have to mean driving like Miss Daisy...you can still make progress and leave £20 in your wallet at the end of the week.

 

[madcarl27]

It's kicking off now. The scots love to fight. Well the army highlanders anyway. Good lads

 

[Adamm.]

Yeah stay out of Dannys way he will f**k you up.

 

[Stu-]

More suprising that geordies have money TBH.

:clap:

 

[James1470]

What does not caring about fuel consumption give you in return?

I drive the same roads day in day out.

In my 200 I could get 40mpg or I could get 30mpg depending on my approach - but both driving 'styles' would get me to work in the same amount of time.

So the extra £20 a week from getting 30mpg has bought me what exactly? Not speed that's for sure.

This is the point I think most of you are missing, getting better mpg doesn't have to mean driving like Miss Daisy...you can still make progress and leave £20 in your wallet at the end of the week.

What my point is mate, I get in my car and drive it, I don't even look at the mpg, I fill it up. Drive it, it runs out.. That's it, I don't drive with my right foot pressed to the floor, but I don't tottle around either I just enjoy myself, and if that means driving at 50 for 10 miles on the inside lane taking my time or pelting down a country road in 2nd/3rd .. I don't take notice of my mpg at all, couldn't care less what it says. Not going to panic over a few extra miles or a few extra quid.

 

[James1470]

Yeah stay out of Dannys way he will f**k you up.

Lol he knows I'm playing. It's impossible to be sensible and mention AK at the same time...

 

[Chip-mk1]

What my point is mate, I get in my car and drive it, I don't even look at the mpg, I fill it up. Drive it, it runs out.. That's it, I don't drive with my right foot pressed to the floor, but I don't tottle around either I just enjoy myself, and if that means driving at 50 for 10 miles on the inside lane taking my time or pelting down a country road in 2nd/3rd .. I don't take notice of my mpg at all, couldn't care less what it says. Not going to panic over a few extra miles or a few extra quid.

Thats cause you dont drive it very far.

If you were filling up your car a few times a week, you would be far more likely to start caring about mpg.

Many times in this thread when mpg has been discussed its been with a caveat that "its important if you do a lot of miles" and as you dont its therefore not an issue to you. You say if you did lots of miles you still wouldnt care, but I suspect if one day you do start needing to do a lot of miles you will realise you are talking rubbish about TBH, or at least if it doesnt bother you at that stage it might your mrs if she cant have the house she otherwise could etc.

Cars are great fun, but there is more to life than them and spend on them needs to be proportionate to earnings and spare money etc, when only doing less than a tank of fuel a week anyway that is easily achieved, when doing a lot more miles then unless you are rich it starts meaning mpg matters.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Its surprising that I'm 23 and don't care about mpg? But it's not surprising that people go spend 15k getting a 2k car race spec then drive it like a tit and break it?

Its even more idiotic when someone is saving for a house and a wedding and spends 15K on a car and blows it up instead IMHO, not sure where you would have got the impression I felt otherwise.

House is more important than car.

 

[James1470]

Right but IF your bothered about it.... then why not just buy something that does 70mpg and get on with ? my whole point is -

you look for a car - see what mpg it gets? Everyone notices it on the ads
work out if that car is practical for your needs / if its affordable ?
Decide it is and buy it
Decide it isn't, don't...

See what I mean? it's not hard to work it out before you buy it what it'll cost to run.

I know everyone's circumstances are different, that's why you check before you buy?

I'm not disagreeing with your living within your means point, I'm just saying you know what your letting yourself in for.
Also it's probably more appropriate for the older guys look out for it, but fuel has always been over £1 a litre whilst I've been driving anyway, cars have never been cheap to run for me, but I don't expect them to be either.

 

[plymcl172]

What my point is mate, I get in my car and drive it, I don't even look at the mpg, I fill it up. Drive it, it runs out.. That's it, I don't drive with my right foot pressed to the floor, but I don't tottle around either I just enjoy myself, and if that means driving at 50 for 10 miles on the inside lane taking my time or pelting down a country road in 2nd/3rd .. I don't take notice of my mpg at all, couldn't care less what it says. Not going to panic over a few extra miles or a few extra quid.

Sounds like the type of guy that puts £20 a week fuel in and the fuel rise doesn't affect him. Well he puts the same in every week

 

[James1470]

Its even more idiotic when someone is saving for a house and a wedding and spends 15K on a car and blows it up instead IMHO, not sure where you would have got the impression I felt otherwise.

House is more important than car.

Off topic but in reply -

Im saving for a house now - reasons, firstly, we already have 10k + in the pot for deposit and want more
secondly, getting married next year, don't want to start looking til we've done that (our choice)
Also, we are still undecided where we want to live, and if we want to buy land and build our own home or not, we want to buy a house that will be big enough to be our long term home, not just a stepping stone. we know what we want, just not rushing into something that isnt perfect.

I'm not going to spend 15k on a car and blow it up, but I'm certainly not going to mooch around worrying about £20 hear and there, what's the point, life's for living not for worrying!

 

[James1470]

Sounds like the type of guy that puts £20 a week fuel in and the fuel rise doesn't affect him. Well he puts the same in every week

£50 per week vpower on the way home on a Friday every week mate.

 

[madcarl27]

£50 per week vpower on the way home on a Friday every week mate.

That's half my wages lol

 

[James1470]

How old are you mate? In fairness though, rather have a nice car than waste it on drink etc

 

[madcarl27]

27 dude

 

[madcarl27]

Yea dont drink so much now I left army. Slowly getting there with the Clio

 

[Alan]

Sooo many utter satchels on here of late.. My days!

 

[James1470]

Sooo many utter satchels on here of late.. My days!

I don't see what the problem is If I'm not arsed about my mpg

 

[Chip-mk1]

Right but IF your bothered about it.... then why not just buy something that does 70mpg and get on with ?

I should think that is what the people buying a clio dci do, they arent likely to be doing trackdays so wouldnt want (or couldnt afford) a compromise like a 172.

you look for a car - see what mpg it gets? Everyone notices it on the ads
work out if that car is practical for your needs / if its affordable ?
Decide it is and buy it
Decide it isn't, don't...

See what I mean? it's not hard to work it out before you buy it what it'll cost to run.

Im trying to work out who that post is aimed at, as there doesnt seem to be anyone in this thread that has said anything to hint they wouldnt already do that?

I know everyone's circumstances are different, that's why you check before you buy?

Indeed everyone with any sense who does enough miles to care about fuel economy will check what the mpg is before they buy a car.

I'm not disagreeing with your living within your means point, I'm just saying you know what your letting yourself in for.
Also it's probably more appropriate for the older guys look out for it, but fuel has always been over £1 a litre whilst I've been driving anyway, cars have never been cheap to run for me, but I don't expect them to be either.

The fact fuel isnt cheap these days makes it more likely that even a relatively small percentage change in mpg is enough to be a worthwhile saving.

 

[madcarl27]

I remember paying 70p a litre for my valver. I ripped her about everywhere. Still the best seats to sit in. f**k I want another 1.

 

[James1470]

I remember paying 70p a litre for my valver. I ripped her about everywhere. Still the best seats to sit in. f**k I want another 1.

id love one! I can't remember fuel being Less that £1 ha ..

aye but chip, even if you worry about it and get the extra 1-2 mpg they'll only shove petrol up a other 3p and wipe out the effort.

Stand by my point - pointless worrying about it.

 

[MarkCup]

Maximum baller, right there ^^^

I'd love to be able to say that a £40-£80 a month saving from a slight change in driving style is pointless, but I can't as it isn't pointless to me.

 

[madcarl27]

I remember a good 6 years ago u could get xr2, valver 205 gti etc Eric under 500 bucks. Now there no chance

 

[James1470]

Maximum baller, right there ^^^

I'd love to be able to say that a £40-£80 a month saving from a slight change in driving style is pointless, but I can't as it isn't pointless to me.

In my 200 it would take me a hour sitting at 50 on a flat motorway to get it up to 30mpg! The extra mpg would save me £8 a week, £32 a month. I'm really not going to get upset about £32.

 

[madcarl27]

It's ok lads. Most ur tax goes to wasters that spend 7pound a day on fags.

 

[James1470]

Lol yup! that's more worrying than mpg - it would be totally irrelevant if we didn't get taxed so much!

 

[madcarl27]

Pisses me I worked out after tax I'm on £6.20 a hour. Although my job is easy but not the point I'd be better off on the doll lol

 

[James1470]

Lol yup! should just scrap all this benefit lark for lazy people and tax us less. Atleast we can be bothered to get off our arse and work

 

[Adam.P]

In my 200 it would take me a hour sitting at 50 on a flat motorway to get it up to 30mpg! The extra mpg would save me £8 a week, £32 a month. I'm really not going to get upset about £32.

Flol, euro road trip, my main achievement was reaching 30mpg!

 

[Alan]

I don't see what the problem is If I'm not arsed about my mpg

It wasn't aimed at you mate.