Everyone seems to want a 1 litre car !

celticbest · 31-03-2011 09:18AM

Shane732 wrote: »

In relation to the Citroen poster - did you purchase this as an additional car? From you post I assume so as you only said you only use the car for travel to and from work (I'm open to correction on this). If you did then you had the initial outlay of purchasing the car, the annual service costs of the car (which even if only €100 or €200 significantly effects your "saving" calculations) and motor tax. If you don't use the car for anything else - then you have purchased an additional car to save €633 a year. To me that doesn't make any sense as your additional outlay on the C1 is going to far outweigh the €633 saving on you achieve by driving the C1. Now maybe the C4 is used by your wife etc... and if so then that's different.

I bought the C1 as an additional car as I needed something to get me in and out of work, I looked around before I bought it & worked out that it was cheaper for me to Insure, tax & run than buying another bigger engine car, it was also the most environmentally friendly petrol car on sale at the time.

Yes my wife uses the C4 during the week for doing her bit'n'pieces, (getting the kids to school on bad days, shopping etc....)

Caliden · 31-03-2011 07:10PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

Im thinking dead on the inside or denial. On the plus side your future motoring looks to be cheap and frugal. How very financially sensible that will be.

1300 per year for insurance, 640 for tax and 30mpg.
Not worth having it on the roads when you can only go as fast as the speed limits.
It's like fitting engine mods, strut braces and racing harnesses and never tracking the car. You'll impress your mates alright but it isn't worth it.

Shane732 · 31-03-2011 09:15PM

Caliden wrote: »

1300 per year for insurance, 640 for tax and 30mpg.
Not worth having it on the roads when you can only go as fast as the speed limits.
It's like fitting engine mods, strut braces and racing harnesses and never tracking the car. You'll impress your mates alright but it isn't worth it.

What is "worth" it then?

Having the money sitting in a bank account or in property or in shares??

Enjoy life.

Matt Simis · 31-03-2011 09:31PM

Caliden wrote: »

1300 per year for insurance, 640 for tax and 30mpg.
Not worth having it on the roads when you can only go as fast as the speed limits.
It's like fitting engine mods, strut braces and racing harnesses and never tracking the car. You'll impress your mates alright but it isn't worth it.

It would be worth it if you were a car enthusiast. And thats not a slight against you, but you are almost presenting yourself as an enthusiast thats came to their senses... which is an oxymoron. There is little sensible about liking cars.

31-03-2011 09:42PM

Shane732 wrote: »

What is "worth" it then?

Having the money sitting in a bank account or in property or in shares??

Enjoy life.

Matt Simis wrote: »

It would be worth it if you were a car enthusiast. And thats not a slight against you, but you are almost presenting yourself as an enthusiast thats came to their senses... which is an oxymoron. There is little sensible about liking cars.

Lads, the chap has mentioned he is back in college for the year. I would presume if he is in college he is no longer working full time so running a car he isn't getting use of may not be on his list of financial must haves

Manies the car enthusiast didn't have a car when not in full time employment.

Matt Simis · 31-03-2011 10:09PM

RoverJames wrote: »

Lads, the chap has mentioned he is back in college for the year. I would presume if he is in college he is no longer working full time so running a car he isn't getting use of may not be on his list of financial must haves Manies the car enthusiast didn't have a car when not in full time employment.

Except for this:

Caliden wrote: »

Going from a 2 litre integra dc5 to a 1.2 corsa and it doesnt bother me in the slightest.
..
Pointless having a 215bhp car capable of 150mph when there's so many speed vans and lower speed limits nowadays.

31-03-2011 10:12PM

Fair enough, his justification was still to save money as he is back in college though.

BostonB · 31-03-2011 11:31PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

It would be worth it if you were a car enthusiast. And thats not a slight against you, but you are almost presenting yourself as an enthusiast thats came to their senses... which is an oxymoron. There is little sensible about liking cars.

It it would be worth it if you are an enthusiast with the budget to do it, AND you get to use it.

Evo had an article recent about a someone who got a mortgage out to run a new F360. At the exclusion of almost everything else. Thats an enthusiast. Everyone else is making compromises of some sort.

So you can be an enthusiast and still be practical. Those are not mutually exclusive like you are suggesting.

Caliden · 01-04-2011 02:36PM

So to be a car enthusiast you have to drive your modified car on the roads to qualift?
First I've heard of it.

And the comment I made "Going from a 2 litre integra dc5 to a 1.2 corsa and it doesnt bother me in the slightest" was in relation to the OP and the first few replies where people said they wouldnt be caught dead in a 1 litre car.
As a run-around there's nothing wrong with having a 1 litre and considering any driving I do is pure in around town at 50 kmh then that's fine by me.

I guess if you can afford to pay the max tax bracket for a 5 litre car then money isn't really an issue for you whereas it is for me at the moment. Still doesn't stop me from making plans when I'm back working after college.

Matt Simis · 01-04-2011 02:46PM

Caliden wrote: »

I guess if you can afford to pay the max tax bracket for a 5 litre car then money isn't really an issue for you whereas it is for me at the moment. Still doesn't stop me from making plans when I'm back working after college.

Its 5.6litre and I also have a 4.2 but ill be honest here and admit they regularly run out of tax (one or the other) and no Im not prompt with paying it (though it does get done).

However I would not entertain the idea of putting about in something woefully small (though I commute 700km weekly, 1litre not suitable anyhow IMO) purely to save money on Tax. The saving while not being significant is IMO not worth it while in your opinion you still dont really seem to care that much.. which is why I was drawing attention to different "levels" (at the least) of enthusiasm.

Im not for a second saying you should be in the DC5 over a Corsa, but nothing you have said changes my opinion that you are either in denial or not an enthusiast. It would bother an enthusiast no matter how practical and logical (which it is).

BostonB wrote: »

Evo had an article recent about a someone who got a mortgage out to run a new F360. At the exclusion of almost everything else. Thats an enthusiast. Everyone else is making compromises of some sort.
So you can be an enthusiast and still be practical. Those are not mutually exclusive like you are suggesting.

Im not for a second saying they are mutually exclusive, infact that would be the polar opposite of what Im saying. An honest enthusiast would say "I gave up my DC5 for a Corsa because right now I must put my practical hat on, but its awful".. they would not however massively downgrade their car then go about proclaiming they dont really notice and sure all cars have to stick to speed limits.
Also someone taking out a "car mortgage" at the cost of everything else in their life is not "an enthusiast", its not even an idiot, its someone with deep seated mental problems. If thats your definition of an enthusiast then we are talking about entirely different things.

BostonB · 01-04-2011 03:25PM

its simply you are looking at your narrow definition, which suits you. Its a pretty wide range....

Enthusiasm originally meant inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of a god. Johnson's Dictionary, the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language, defines enthusiasm as "a vain belief of private revelation; a vain confidence of divine favour or communication." In current English vernacular the word simply means intense enjoyment, interest, or approval.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthusiasm

I think you are missing a few points. Tax is only a part of it. Its the sum of all the costs. Also it depends on the driving you are doing. A 1L maybe nicer to drive in city commuting, and heavy traffic at slow speed. Something with a heavy clutch, or peaky 16v with low torque is not enjoyable, shunting around in traffic, or over speed ramps, and bad potholes around town. never mind the increased risk of a damage in car parks, or shunts/scrapes in traffic, vs out on the open road, where you simply have non of those issues. Its not simply about practicality. Some cars are simply a pain in the city, in the same way some city cars are a pain out on the open road.

Which is why many enthusiasts who might have 4 or 5 cars, would still have something more practical for jobs that are best suited to that car.

Matt Simis · 01-04-2011 03:30PM

And I think you are way over complicating my one liner reply to his. He said it doesnt bother him in the slightest to drive crap compared to something good. Perhaps it is just my "interpretation" of enthusiasm, but thats not right.

BostonB · 01-04-2011 04:02PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

And I think you are way over complicating my one liner reply to his. He said it doesnt bother him in the slightest to drive crap compared to something good. Perhaps it is just my "interpretation" of enthusiasm, but thats not right.

No thats changing what was said. Further you're ignoring the context implying you can't enjoy driving (or be an enthusiast) in anything less other than certain cars that meet some subjective criteria. Which is almost elitist. Whereas you might have a great driving experience/moment, in almost anything.

theofficepest2 · 01-04-2011 04:14PM

A 1L Yaris is the job, can easily handle the motorway at 120k, is easy to park and is actually fun to drive , it feels like a Kart, (this is relative) by non sports car standards, and you can't properly enjoy a sports car on the public road anyway

It can easily handle the 2 1/2 hours to cork and is nice and narrow for them country roads which aint wide enough for 2 sheep, not to mention 2 cars

The only problem is having a family, but then most saloon cars are stuck if you have more than 2 kids anyway and the hatchback boot is extremely handy

Most small cars are hatchbacks

Oracle · 01-04-2011 04:37PM

I agree, it's not just the economy of a small car, they're also very versatile. I own a Micra, its in it's 14th. year now and still going strong. I've carried all sorts of things in mine; sofas, tables, awkward pieces of furniture, washing machines, etc ....

Matt Simis · 01-04-2011 04:43PM

BostonB wrote: »

No thats changing what was said. Further you're ignoring the context implying you can't enjoy driving (or be an enthusiast) in anything less other than certain cars that meet some subjective criteria. Which is almost elitist. Whereas you might have a great driving experience/moment, in almost anything.

No it isnt, Im really only commenting on the original statement, the further Im pushed to justify it the more crap is tagged on.

Personally no, I could not have a great driving experience in anything and yes, I have owned cars with weener 1litre engines. My disdain for them is.. great.

gigawatt · 01-04-2011 04:54PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

1.01 litre Annual tax: EUR259
2.5litre Annual tax: EUR935

Difference over 365days: EUR676
Difference per month: EUR56
Difference per day: EUR2.00

hahaha seriously? 676 would pay my insurance and tax on my car and my motorbike for the year!! :pac:

Matt Simis · 01-04-2011 04:59PM

gigawatt wrote: »

hahaha seriously? 676 would pay my insurance and tax on my car and my motorbike for the year!! :pac:

And?

gigawatt · 01-04-2011 05:19PM

matt the ops question was regarding why are 1litre cars in demand now. my point is that I can run a 1litre car and a motorbike for what it would cost me for one larger vehicle.

Matt Simis · 01-04-2011 05:24PM

gigawatt wrote: »

matt the ops question was regarding why are 1litre cars in demand now. my point is that I can run a 1litre car and a motorbike for what it would cost me for one larger vehicle.

Great, but thats not the part (the original statement pages and pages back) I was replying to.

gigawatt · 01-04-2011 11:43PM

i was replying in the context of the overall question asked. I would just rather have a car and a bike than have one big car.

Lurching · 01-04-2011 11:55PM

At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference and the driving needs in question.

Personally, I sold my 280bhp evo before I left ireland and drove a yaris for a month. Its incredible how unsafe I felt in it. However, I often put more value of petrol in the evo in a few days than would tax the yaris for a year.

BostonB · 02-04-2011 12:29AM

Matt Simis wrote: »

...Personally no, I could not have a great driving experience in anything...

Well I've nothing to add to that, since that was my point.

zilog_jones · 02-04-2011 12:51AM

I just upgraded from a 1.3 ('98 Fiesta) to a 2 litre diesel ('02 406) last week.

Pros:
- Better fuel economy and cheaper fuel
- Infinitely more comfortable (I would be crippled after a 2 hour drive in the Feshty), aircon
- No more knees digging into my back when there's someone sitting behind me
- I don't feel like I'm taking my life into my hands when overtaking a bus at 100km/h
- 4 airbags instead of one, ABS, etc.

Cons:
- I'll be broke for the next few months

- Cheaper fuel and better mileage won't make up for the higher tax and higher maintenance costs
- French electrics

I'd rather spend that bit extra just to have something nice and enjoyable. Would love a V8 barge but couldn't possibly afford to run one right now, unless I lived in it!

ShiresV2 · 02-04-2011 01:33AM

theofficepest2 wrote: »

A 1L Yaris is the job, can easily handle the motorway at 120k

Robin Ball · 16-06-2011 01:22PM

Unfortunately I drive a 1.1L 106 '96. It's a real crapbucket. I'd love to drive a 1.6/1.8 but I work retail and the tax is a huge factor for me... If I could just afford an '09/10/11 then I would have cheap road tax.....

I drive 80m daily in it, it's ok and it was only 300 to buy. It owes me nothing. My next one will be a 1.1.

I also have a 3L Landcruiser for the country (commercial) horrifically expensive to fuel. Don't drive it unless I have to.

keithclancy · 16-06-2011 03:02PM

A 1 Litre car, why not ?

Allot of people don't really give a crap how fast it gets to 100km/h.

People that drive allot less get better value out of a 1 litre as the Road Tax and usually the Insurance is cheaper.

And if your only nipping around town a 1 litre is perfect.

A 2 liter is better for Long Commutes.

Right tool for the job and all that

Owen · 16-06-2011 03:13PM

My little .7 litre does a grand job of out accelerating things right up to 160kph (On a closed private racetrack of course - speeding's bad, m'kay?).

EPM · 16-06-2011 03:15PM

PaintDoctor wrote: »

My little .7 litre does a grand job of out accelerating things right up to 160kph (On a closed private racetrack of course - speeding's bad, m'kay?).

Your ear drums lasted that long?!?

Owen · 16-06-2011 03:20PM

She's noisy alright - you should hear it now with all the gear inside! Like being inside a child's rattle

Everyone seems to want a 1 litre car !

Comments