Economy

RidleyRider

So I'm going to step out from underneath my parents insurance and go out on my own- car wise.

As a young driver an economical car is really what I'm after. So I ask you, what MPG are you getting from your car? Preferably, I'd like answers from people who drive 1.4 litre and down cars (for insurance and tax reasons), although I'm willing to take opinions from other people of course.

Thanks again.

CiniO

01 Fiat Bravo 1.2
Used nearly entirely on country roads in mountain regions

Average over last 4.5 years and 70k kilometres is 6.91 l/100km (40.9MPG)

RidleyRider

So roughly 10e per 100km? And I presume mountain regions would cause more fuel consumption going up hills and that?

Elfinknight

Gen 2 Toyota Prius 2008. Engine size 1.5L with electric motor. The current average MPG is 55 MPG, But you have to learn to drive in a manner that suits the car and it's automatic.

IncognitoMan

Is a diesel car out of the question. Tax would be higher alright but you should get somewhere between 50-60 mpg

RidleyRider

Elfinknight wrote: »

Gen 2 Toyota Prius 2008. Engine size 1.5L with electric motor. The current average MPG is 55 MPG, But you have to learn to drive in a manner that suits the car and it's automatic.

Understandable really. Just a side question, are auto's more economic than manuals?

CiniO

RidleyRider wrote: »

So roughly 10e per 100km?

At todays prices nearly 11 euro per 100km.
In 2009 when petrol was under 1 euro it was about 6.5 per 100km.

And I presume mountain regions would cause more fuel consumption going up hills and that?

They would, but on the other hand after climbing up the hill, you are going down the hill, and might not use any fuel at all during this.
Generally mountains in Ireland are not that big, to make any significent difference.

Also other factors matter.
I told you average over last 4.5 years.
During the summer it's usually bit better, while during the winter when it takes longer for the car to warm up, MPG is worse.

Also when my wife drives it she car go easily below 6 l/100km while myself once managed to go above 9 l/100km in this car between fillups

So it all varies a lot.

CiniO

RidleyRider wrote: »

Understandable really. Just a side question, are auto's more economic than manuals?

In general they are not.
Obviously there are automatics that are better than other when it comes to economy (f.e. CVT) as well as bad driving technique in manual can lower MPG as well, but in general - NO - automatics are not more economical than manuals.

Elfinknight

RidleyRider wrote: »

Understandable really. Just a side question, are auto's more economic than manuals?

From experience, not really when it comes to non hybrids and we've owned several,since my OH is restricted to them. But the Prius is beating my old almera manual hands down.

RidleyRider

IncognitoMan wrote: »

Is a diesel car out of the question. Tax would be higher alright but you should get somewhere between 50-60 mpg

No not at all, I was thinking diesel a bit but passed it off to be honest. What have you in mind?

IncognitoMan

RidleyRider wrote: »

No not at all, I was thinking diesel a bit but passed it off to be honest. What have you in mind?

Nothing in mind really just that you would get better mpg of a diesel. You could look at vw polo/golf, seat ibiza/leon. Depends on budget really.

I have a 1.9 diesel, 12 years old and tax is 170 every 3 months. That might not suit.

If you are going for a newer car the tax will be less. Somebody else might know the tax for them

Idbatterim

how many miles p/a will you be doing roughly and what kind of driving, town, motorway or a mix etc?

RidleyRider

Idbatterim wrote: »

how many miles p/a will you be doing roughly and what kind of driving, town, motorway or a mix etc?

Looking at about 12-15,000 miles per/annum. It'll be a mix of country roads and N roads- may have a slight bit of motorway.

650Ginge

RidleyRider wrote: »

Understandable really. Just a side question, are auto's more economic than manuals?

There is more than one type of automatic. Some like the VW DSG claim to be more efficient, need to do your research as lot is model specific.

I get 59.9 average over two year and 25,000miles in 2nd gen 2006 toyota Prius.

I recommend you use spritmonitor.de or fuelly to research mpg as you will get nothing but misleading figures from 90% of car drivers who don't calculate it correctly. The more data you have the less effect inaccuracies have.

markoire

OP, something like a clio 1.5 diesel would do the trick I'd say.
Heres a 08 one for €4,900 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4213817
Should easily see 55mpg plus and its on the cheap tax.

If your budget is a bit lower heres a 2004 one. http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4205271

Peugeot 206, Vw Polo, Seat ibiza also have diesel variants which should cost very little to run!!

RidleyRider

markoire wrote: »

OP, something like a clio 1.5 diesel would do the trick I'd say.
Heres a 08 one for €4,900 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4213817
Should easily see 55mpg plus and its on the cheap tax.

If your budget is a bit lower heres a 2004 one. http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4205271

Peugeot 206, Vw Polo, Seat ibiza also have diesel variants which should cost very little to run!!

Cheers for that, I'll keep on the look out!