1.5l or 2.0l

allancar

I'm looking for a family car, possibly a Volvo S40 or Skoda Octavia, something along those lines. We do a fair bit of driving 15 to 20k a year, so economy is important.

What would the day to day running costs be of the 1.5/1.6 versions of those cars versus the 1.9/2.0 versions?

I know there's a difference in tax, and possibly insurance, but by far our biggest expense is fuel - so how would the fuel costs differ?

thanks

MetzgerMeister

I'm not sure if that milage warrants a diesel but IMO, it wouldn't.

In my opinion, you would be better off with the 2 ltr in each car. If you think about it, a 1.6 octavia would struggle to pull around the car with 5 people in it whereas the 2.0 would be better able to cope and therefore, not necessarily less economical but more likely, more economical.

blindside88

I dt know about the 1.5/1.6 but I had the 1.9 Octavia for a year and it was fantastic, doing easily over 60 mpg with a heavy foot, I did replace the sump 3 times in a year however (that was more my fault than the cars)

pred racer

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I'm not sure if that milage warrants a diesel but IMO, it wouldn't.

In my opinion, you would be better off with the 2 ltr in each car. If you think about it, a 1.6 octavia would struggle to pull around the car with 5 people in it whereas the 2.0 would be better able to cope and therefore, not necessarily less economical but more likely, more economical.

As above. My sister has a 1.6 c5 and up until recently I had a 2L.
Horsepower is quoted as exactly the same, but my car was much better when loaded.
Real world fuel economy was the same (mine was actually better but I did more long journeys, motorway etc)

allancar

Thanks for the replies-
A little more information might help. There are only four of us, 2 adults and two small kids (under 10) and 80% of the journeys are lone drives to work, so it never gets too crowded. We're just back from driving around France and felt that our current car didn't quite cut it (especially on the motorways).

Any other advise/suggestions would be very welcome.

Thanks again

carbon nanotube

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I'm not sure if that milage warrants a diesel but IMO, it wouldn't.

In my opinion, you would be better off with the 2 ltr in each car. If you think about it, a 1.6 octavia would struggle to pull around the car with 5 people in it whereas the 2.0 would be better able to cope and therefore, not necessarily less economical but more likely, more economical.

What he said, the biggest false economy in ireland are people buying 1.6 litre family cars thinking they are economical..

I'm getting more miles on a full tank of a 2.4 than an older 1.8

MetzgerMeister

allancar wrote: »

Thanks for the replies-
A little more information might help. There are only four of us, 2 adults and two small kids (under 10) and 80% of the journeys are lone drives to work, so it never gets too crowded. We're just back from driving around France and felt that our current car didn't quite cut it (especially on the motorways).

Any other advise/suggestions would be very welcome.

Thanks again

It's still relative to the weight of the car. A smaller engine is going to use more fuel to move a car compared to a bigger one.

A bigger engine doesn't always mean less mpg.

dgt

Family car suggests large car (unless you are like us with just 3 in the family, a 1.2 does us :pac:) so I'd be inclined to go for the bigger engine. Less stress on the engine, better economy etc

miller50841

Hi OP & all. Everyone is giving good advice.
Best car to suit would be a 5door this helps out a lot some think saloon be fine boot so much more room to put larger items.
A 2ltr diesel 2008 year onwards to avail of the cheaper tax would be best option if you have the money to spend.
Octavia or Superb
Mondeo
Avensis
Passat or Golf
Just a few to mention and all come with good diesel engines.