Buying a new(ish) car

ILoveShoez

Hi all.

We are looking to buy a newish car that has good MPG as we travel to Dublin from Waterford 3 days a week.

We are looking at a 08 1.2 Fiat Punto Grande.

Can anyone recommend anything?

si_guru

Should be good for 45-50mpg if you drive steady... maybe more!

ShaneMc2012

I know that the Mini Cooper 1.6 Diesel has the best MPG, (better than a Prius!) but even an 07 one is pretty expensive
http://www.carzone.ie/search/MINI/Cooper/Diesel/201208207032641/advert?channel=CARS
A cheaper option would be a 1.2 Renault Clio as you can get 2 year old ones for around €7,000
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Clio/3-1.2-16/201206206930979/advert?channel=CARS
This Clio is 2 years older again but has one of the best MPG you can get (64)
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Clio/1.5-DCI-/113212922643930/advert?channel=CARS

ILoveShoez

Thanks a million for the links!

We are actually looking at Renault Clio's.

colm_mcm

There was another poster here who bought a 1.2 grande punto and was very disappointed with the fuel economy, it's a heavy enough car for that engine

MuppetCheck

What's the budget?

The thought of using a small car as a motorway tool is not a good option if you ask me. They don't have the comfort of cars a class or two up. At 120kph a 1.2 Punto will not return in excess of 45mpg.

What you need is a diesel, and preferably six speed.

colm_mcm

I'd get a punto 1.3 multijet

MuppetCheck

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'd get a punto 1.3 multijet

Nothing wrong with that car, but I'd rather spend the same money on a Bravo or even Croma diesel. Cheap and relatively reliable. For comfort alone it's worth the extra motor tax with the 1.6 and 1.9s.

questionquick

I get 47mpg no problem doing 120kmph in a 1.1l ..if I was driving Waterford to Dublin 3 days a week though I'd want a bigger comfier car. Once you start going above 120kmph in any car the MPG will decrease at an ever accelerating rate. So I hear anyway.

ILoveShoez

We are open to suggestions.

Budget is about 6 to 7K.

MuppetCheck

questionquick wrote: »

I get 47mpg no problem doing 120kmph in a 1.1l ..

I call complete and utter bullcrap on that.

questionquick

MuppetCheck wrote: »

questionquick wrote: »

I get 47mpg no problem doing 120kmph in a 1.1l ..

I call complete and utter bullcrap on that.

I record my MPG on a spreadsheet for the last 6000 miles. I know my MPG. I call Muppet check on you.

MuppetCheck

So at 120kph a 1.1 litre gives 47mpg? While it's possible to do that on average in a 1 litre petrol I'm sure, I sincerely doubt it would return those figures at 120kph.

ILoveShoez

I need recommendations, not fights on this thread.

questionquick

MuppetCheck wrote: »

So at 120kph a 1.1 litre gives 47mpg? While it's possible to do that on average in a 1 litre petrol I'm sure, I sincerely doubt it would return those figures at 120kph.

Well about 70% of my mileage is motorway at 120kmph.and I got 46.89mpg on last check. I thought that urban MPG would bring the average down ... on a trip to Waterford and back I got 51mpg although for half of that twas 110kmph.

It Is 1.124litre If that makes any difference to you!

questionquick

ILoveShoez wrote: »

I need recommendations, not fights on this thread.

Your right. I would reccomend somethin bigger than a supermini for such long journeys ..focus..Mazda 3 kind of size. . MPG will be fine at motorway speeds if don't go too fast

questionquick

Check out Parkers.co.uk for reviews of the cars mentioned ..seems to be a good car review site

MuppetCheck

ILoveShoez wrote: »

I need recommendations, not fights on this thread.

The questioning of the mpg was not with the intention of derailing the thread. I find it incredibly hard to believe that a small capacity petrol is so light on fuel at a relatively high speed for the engine. I still believe that 120kph will not give those figures however the poster has clarified their statement somewhat.

I think a diesel would suit you best, preferably one without a dpf to cut out potential problems. A 1.9 tdi Volkswagen group car without a particle filter and a new dual mass flywheel may be a suitable option. I have noticed the most recent Seat Toledo is good value too. It is not a good looking car but should be capable on the motorway.

questionquick

MuppetCheck wrote: »

The questioning of the mpg was not with the intention of derailing the thread. I find it incredibly hard to believe that a small capacity petrol is so light on fuel at a relatively high speed for the engine. I still believe that 120kph will not give those figures however the poster has clarified their statement somewhat.

Im goin to upload photo of the spreadsheet to clarify... you will see when the mpg goes down it is urban... and note the dates, in winter it is lower. And when the car goes faster the mpg goes down. Ok so its mainly 45 - 46mpg during the winter.

mitsubishi colt 2005 3door 1.1litre

Foxhole Norman

On a 100km/h stretch I got 5.0l/100km (according to the computer) in a 2011 Clio 1.2. I don't think that question quick's MPG is unreasonable.

MuppetCheck

Yes, I'm sure it is possible to achieve those figures on average and do not doubt them in the slightest. I think it is quite interesting to see what different cars can achieve in different conditions. However, at mainly 120kph I am of the belief that 47mpg is wishful thinking as an overall average. At around 100kph it makes more sense.

questionquick

Should be attached to this post

MuppetCheck

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

On a 100km/h stretch I got 5.0l/100km (according to the computer) in a 2011 Clio 1.2. I don't think that question quick's MPG is unreasonable

Yes, I'm sure that is possible. If you reset the trip computer at that speed and leave it like that for the duration of the journey. But an average figure includes getting to that speed, a run or two to the shops etc and that is extremely unlikely as an average figure.

johnos1984

questionquick wrote: »

Should be attached to this post

How do people have the time or patience to make a spreadsheet like that out :eek:

questionquick

johnos1984 wrote: »

How do people have the time or patience to make a spreadsheet like that out :eek:

Its easy and quick when you`ve used spreadsheets for 7 years!

MuppetCheck

johnos1984 wrote: »

How do people have the time or patience to make a spreadsheet like that out :eek:

I think that's good work. You can also get mobile phone applications to do similar these days.

johnos1984

questionquick wrote: »

Its easy and quick when you`ve used spreadsheets for 7 years!

I'm well used to spreadsheet but having the patience to remember to sit down and fill it all in and keep it up to date amazes me. My receipts get put in the ashtray and the bin when that gets full

questionquick

johnos1984 wrote: »

I'm well used to spreadsheet but having the patience to remember to sit down and fill it all in and keep it up to date amazes me. My receipts get put in the ashtray and the bin when that gets full

Well when your a poor student like me petrol is a big expense so want to keep track of it!!

MuppetCheck

johnos1984 wrote: »

I'm well used to spreadsheet but having the patience to remember to sit down and fill it all in and keep it up to date amazes me. My receipts get put in the ashtray and the bin when that gets full

Keep a pen in the car and update the spreadsheet periodically. Note the mileage at the same time and it's very easy.

johnos1984

questionquick wrote: »

Well when your a poor student like me petrol is a big expense so want to keep track of it!!

When I was a poor student I tended to be drunk or hungover

Fair play for doing it, I'm jealous as I've always meant to keep one.

@MuppetCheck......I have about 40 pens in the car and loads of receipts to use as paper

johnos1984

johnos1984 wrote: »

I'm well used to spreadsheet but having the patience to remember to sit down and fill it all in and keep it up to date amazes me. My receipts get put in the ashtray and the bin when that gets full

I'm doing it since I packed up the job with the company car
Used to record mpg and all other motoring costs in a notebook for my first two cars

johnos1984

RoverJames wrote: »

I'm doing it since I packed up the job with the company car
Used to record mpg and all other motoring costs in a notebook for my first two cars

I did sit down one night and work out my motoring costs roughly for 12 months. I then took a stiff drink and swore I'd never do it again

johnos1984

johnos1984 wrote: »

I did sit down one night and work out my motoring costs roughly for 12 months. I then took a stiff drink and swore I'd never do it again

I've just autosummed the fuel cost for the ZT since Aug 2010, €5476.83

johnos1984

RoverJames wrote: »

I've just autosummed the fuel cost for the ZT since Aug 2010, €5476.83

10 days in the Mazda and I've put €240 in petrol into it, think I'm getting about 33mpg

questionquick

This thread has gone slightly off topic. Ha

Merch

questionquick wrote: »

Should be attached to this post

And I thought I was a bit pedantic just for monitoring my usage
I guess it'd be no harm to stick it on a spreadsheet, but then I might look back and suffer from shock!