1L car for motorway driving?

Amica

Hi all,

my question is: would a 1.0L engine car break down quicker if you were to drive it on the motorway everyday (at 100kmph for 40 mins every day)?

Would really appreciate some advice as looking at buying at 1L Toyota Yaris. Want to keep costs down but down want to have to repair it etc

Diego Murphy

Amica wrote: »

Hi all,

my question is: would a 1.0L engine car break down quicker if you were to drive it on the motorway everyday (at 100kmph for 40 mins every day)?

Would really appreciate some advice as looking at buying at 1L Toyota Yaris. Want to keep costs down but down want to have to repair it etc

I've got a 1litre 2007 Yaris and it cruises along nicely on main roads and motorways. Great car and very reliable

sean1141

I don't know if you have a full licence or not but as this is in learning to drive I guess not so you should not be driving on the motorway without a full licence..

A 1 liter car will be grand doing 100kph on a motorway. You should have on extra issues with it but if you were to drive at the motorway speed limit of 120kph it would put extra stress on a small car.

tuxy

A yaris will be happy to sit at 120kmh. There will be more engine noise and it will be less comfortable than a bigger car but reliability is not a issue.
If your unlucky enough to have problems with it it won't be because of driving it on the motorway.

Sam Kade

A yaris will motor away nicely on the motorway @ 100-110 kph just keep to the left and if you are overtaking slower moving vehicles make sure there is nothing in the overtaking lane as far back as you can see. My second car is a Yaris I got 55mpg on the motorway on one journey soon after buying it

Sam Kade

tuxy wrote: »

A yaris will be happy to sit at 120kmh. There will be more engine noise and it will be less comfortable than a bigger car but reliability is not a issue.
If your unlucky enough to have problems with it it won't be because of driving it on the motorway.

She'll drink petrol at 120kph.

Amica

thanks for the replies. Car is for the hubby who has a full licence by the way. One more question - we're looking to buy a car so we've gone to see a few in the last few days. My husband says the cars he's seen (several 2003-2005 Yaris) feel "heavy" in comparison to my 2000 Yaris - is that something to worry about? Or does anybody know what that means?

cantdecide

Reliability won't be a particular issue if the car is maintained and run properly. However, not trying to start WW3 but....

On the other hand, it's one thing to start out with a Yaris and something happens that you need it for that kind of usage but it's another to pursue a car like that in advance, IMO. I think that for a long motorway commute like that specifically looking for a Yaris to do it is needless flagellation for a minuscule saving. I say work out the annual cost of ownership for a few different cars based on hard data- compared to something more suitable to your usage like a Corolla/ Focus/ Golf/ Astra/ 323/ Civic with a 1.3+ engine would be a much more suitable tool for the job for virtually no extra commitment.

IME, any small car is not very economical at speeds approaching 100km/h. A lot of these cars are intended for city use at slower speeds. I think all things considered, you will save very marginally for a car that's less suitable, less comfortable, less safe and will often have less features. That's just my tuppence worth. Here's an example of a cheap, practical, comfortable, safe, reliable family car that probably costs less than cars you've been looking at.

That's all I have to say on the subject. I don't believe it's worth compromising every other element of the driving experience for the sake of feeling more money is being saved than actually is.

Sam Kade

Amica wrote: »

thanks for the replies. Car is for the hubby who has a full licence by the way. One more question - we're looking to buy a car so we've gone to see a few in the last few days. My husband says the cars he's seen (several 2003-2005 Yaris) feel "heavy" in comparison to my 2000 Yaris - is that something to worry about? Or does anybody know what that means?

I've a 2000 yaris seems a heavy solid car and should be same as yaris up to 05.

Sam Kade

cantdecide wrote: »

Reliability won't be a particular issue if the car is maintained and run properly. However, not trying to start WW3 but....

On the other hand, it's one thing to start out with a Yaris and something happens that you need it for that kind of usage but it's another to pursue a car like that in advance, IMO. I think that for a long motorway commute like that specifically looking for a Yaris to do it is needless flagellation for a minuscule saving. I say work out the annual cost of ownership for a few different cars based on hard data- compared to something more suitable to your usage like a Corolla/ Focus/ Golf/ Astra/ 323/ Civic with a 1.3+ engine would be a much more suitable tool for the job for virtually no extra commitment.

IME, any small car is not very economical at speeds approaching 100km/h. A lot of these cars are intended for city use at slower speeds. I think all things considered, you will save very marginally for a car that's less suitable, less comfortable, less safe and will often have less features. That's just my tuppence worth. Here's an example of a cheap, practical, comfortable, safe, reliable family car that probably costs less than cars you've been looking at.

That's all I have to say on the subject. I don't believe it's worth compromising every other element of the driving experience for the sake of feeling more money is being saved than actually is.

Nonsense my 2000 Yaris does 55mpg average on the motorway going 100-110kph

cantdecide

Sam Kade wrote: »

A yaris will motor away nicely on the motorway @ 100-110 kph just keep to the left and if you are overtaking slower moving vehicles make sure there is nothing in the overtaking lane as far back as you can see. My second car is a Yaris I got 55mpg on the motorway on one journey soon after buying it

Sam Kade wrote: »

Nonsense my 2000 Yaris does 55mpg average on the motorway going 100-110kph

Care to share your data and calculations?

MarkAnthony

100Kmh for the love of God stay left, pretty please!

Also I guarantee he's not gonna do 100 :P

Have to agree with the above. I love my little Fiat 500 but it's a 1.2 and I wouldn't want it on the motorway every day. It drinks petrol at higher speeds but then I drive like an idiot on the motorway it'd be grand at 100/110.

cantdecide

MarkAnthony wrote: »

100Kmh for the love of God stay left, pretty please!

Also I guarantee he's not gonna do 100 :P

Have to agree with the above. I love my little Fiat 500 but it's a 1.2 and I wouldn't want it on the motorway every day. It drinks petrol at higher speeds but then I drive like an idiot on the motorway it'd be grand at 100/110.

I had a 1.2 Stilo and the best I ever got was about 49mpg (from raw data) but that was driving like a vicar as an outright exercise in economical driving. When I was zipping around at 110km-120km, the best I would get is a consistent 43-45 mpg which I thought was pretty good.

thierry14

Sam Kade wrote: »

Nonsense my 2000 Yaris does 55mpg average on the motorway going 100-110kph

1.4d4d maybe

Not a chance your petrol car does it.

Even modern petrols will struggle to do that mpg at that speed.

ComfortKid

cantdecide wrote:

of a cheap, practical, comfortable, safe, reliable family car that probably costs less than cars you've been looking at.

Ironic how that corolla ad you posted, the owner will swap for a 1 litre :-)

zarquon

Sam Kade wrote: »

Nonsense my 2000 Yaris does 55mpg average on the motorway going 100-110kph

Sorry, but that's absolutely nonsense if you are driving a 1L as per the OPs question. No way will a 1 litre petrol Yaris achieve 55mpg at 110kph.

Sam Kade

cantdecide wrote: »

Care to share your data and calculations?

I calculate the same way as I've always done, fill to the brim reset trip meter at the next fill take mileage reading. Divide litres by 4.545 to convert to gallons divide miles by gallons. I always get 48-52 mpg driving on R and L roads.

thierry14 wrote: »

1.4d4d maybe

Not a chance your petrol car does it.

Even modern petrols will struggle to do that mpg at that speed.

A lot depends on how you drive them.

zarquon wrote: »

Sorry, but that's absolutely nonsense if you are driving a 1L as per the OPs question. No way will a 1 litre petrol Yaris achieve 55mpg at 110kph.

It would be mostly 100 kph and increasing to 110 when overtaking slower moving vehicles. High gear low revs and use coasting where you use very little petrol.

Pov06

zarquon wrote: »

Sorry, but that's absolutely nonsense if you are driving a 1L as per the OPs question. No way will a 1 litre petrol Yaris achieve 55mpg at 110kph.

I get about 50 MPG in my 1999 Yaris 1.0 whilst doing 120 km/h.

Driving a 1.0 car on the motorway will do zero harm. Engines are designed to be revved hard. Even if the engine was running at 6000 RPM there would be no damage (assuming the engine actually has oil and coolant above minimum levels).

cantdecide

ComfortKid wrote: »

Ironic how that corolla ad you posted, the owner will swap for a 1 litre :-)

The seller will save virtually nothing but will feel great about it. I say take advantage of their ignorance.

ComfortKid

cantdecide wrote:

The seller will save virtually nothing but will feel great about it. I say take advantage of their ignorance.

I think a 1 litre is more economical on fuel than a 1.4. Plus there is big savings on tax too. Saying that I prefer the cmfort of a 1.6 at least.

cantdecide

ComfortKid wrote: »

I think a 1 litre is more economical on fuel than a 1.4. Plus there is big savings on tax too. Saying that I prefer the cmfort of a 1.6 at least.

Compared to the total cost of owning a car for a year, the difference is negligible. I'm not saying 1.0's aren't cheaper to run [if used correctly] but you might save a few of hundred in real terms. It's like preferring potato sacks because they're 10% cheaper than trousers.

Sam Kade

cantdecide wrote: »

Compared to the total cost of owning a car for a year, the difference is negligible. I'm not saying 1.0's aren't cheaper to run [if used correctly] but you might save a few of hundred in real terms. It's like preferring potato sacks because they're 10% cheaper than trousers.

Exactly, people seem to think if they get 50 mpg from a 1 litre car and only get 38 mpg from a 1.6 litre that they will make huge savings. In reality the saving is the difference in mpg.

Pov06

Sam Kade wrote: »

Exactly, people seem to think if they get 50 mpg from a 1 litre car and only get 38 mpg from a 1.6 litre that they will make huge savings. In reality the saving is the difference in mpg.

Add that to tax and insurance for an inexperienced driver then it results in quite a huge saving.

Sam Kade

Pov06 wrote: »

Add that to tax and insurance for an inexperienced driver then it results in quite a huge saving.

The tax difference between 1 litre and 1.6 is €315 not exactly huge. Obviously if you're an inexperienced driver you start off with a small car but for car owners in general the insurance will be the same.

Pov06

Sam Kade wrote: »

The tax difference between 1 litre and 1.6 is €315 not exactly huge.

Well actually it kind of is because you can tax two 1.0 cars for less than one 1.6 car.

Sam Kade

Pov06 wrote: »

Well actually it kind of is because you can tax two 1.0 cars for less than one 1.6 car.

Like I said €315 less which isn't a huge saving anyway I'm off as it's silly having a petty argument :rolleyes:

ComfortKid

Sam Kade wrote:

The tax difference between 1 litre and 1.6 is €315 not exactly huge. Obviously if you're an inexperienced driver you start off with a small car but for car owners in general the insurance will be the same.

315 euros is a huge saving! How many tanks of petrol would that get ya.

cantdecide

ComfortKid wrote: »

315 euros is a huge saving! How many tanks of petrol would that get ya.

1.0 to 1.6 is a needless stretch. Compare a 1.0 Micra and a 1.4 Focus based on cc motor tax rate is €199> €385.

Let's go mad...

1.0 Micra @12k/yr
Fuel @ 48mpg combined & €1.41/l = €1,600
Tax €199
Insurance for a learner - €1,350
Maintentance, Tyres/ belt allowance, NCT and unexpected repairs - €1,000



1.4 Focus @12k/yr
Fuel @ 42mpg combined & €1.41/l = €1,829
Tax €385
Insurance for a learner - €1,500
Maintentance, Tyres/ belt allowance, NCT and unexpected repairs - €1,000

=€4,714/yr or €91/week
=€4,150/yr or €80/week

€11/week- not much more than a pack of cigs is hardly a massive difference considering the extra utility, safety, comfort and spec you get. Also, find examples of Micras and Focuses that are the same year, mileage, condition and spec and compare prices- you'll save every penny extra.

Sam Kade

ComfortKid wrote: »

315 euros is a huge saving! How many tanks of petrol would that get ya.

The original point that I was referring to was people who change their mid size car for a smaller car because they believe it will save them money. If you are just buying your first car or buying a second car the smaller car will work out cheaper but paying for a trade in to get a smaller car doesn't make much sense.