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Another Diesel/Petrol dilemma thread...

  • 14-01-2011 1:49pm
    #1
    Mr. Larson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,429 ✭✭✭


    I'll try to be brief. Just looking for other opinions, deep down I think know what I should do.
    • Currently own a 2.0l turbo petrol car. 02, 100k miles.
    • It's a C70 Coupé really comfy, still looks great after all these years, full leather interior etc.
    • I've looked after it very well, full Volvo service history - put a lot of money into it.
    • I have a heavy foot although I am learning to ease off a bit more lately.
    • I can't imagine I would get a whole lot for the car, I still owe about 4k on the loan :eek: which is way more than I'd ever get for it - and who wants a 2.0l turbo coupé these days?
    • It's only getting me about 28mpg, I have a 52 mile daily commute, it's hurting my wallet a fair bit.
    • My wife has an older, more practical hatchback car that's in decent nick too.
    • I wouldn't have a whole pile of money to spend on another car, any money we are saving needs to go into the house.

    What would you do?
    1. - should I cut my losses and get shut if it and buy a diesel something for under 10k
    2. - should I just carry on and drive it till it won't go anymore and continue to piss away money on petrol

    I reckon b is probably the way to go. I would prefer b obviously becuase whatever I got after this would be a disappointment but taxing/insuring/filling thins thing is becoming harder and harder to justify.


Comments

  • #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Option 1, 28mpg on a decent car that you owe €4000 on.
    Option2, 50mpg on a diesel that cost €10000 and still owe the €1500 on the Volvo, I reckon you should see €2500 for it if you sold it.

    You probably do 300 miles a week, at best you'll save €20/week on fuel I think, ie a grand/annum.

    Surely the €10,000 pain in buying the new one won't be alleviated by a €20/week saving ?

    Option 3, buy a 1.6 Focus petrol of similar vintage to the Volvo and enjoy maybe 40mpg.


  • #3
    Top Dog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,174 ✭✭✭Top Dog


    Option D - keep the Volvo as a weekend toy and buy something cheap, cheerful & economical for €500. You might even see a saving on the insurance if you get it on a much lower, limited mileage policy.


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Top Dog wrote: »
    Option D - keep the Volvo as a weekend toy and buy something cheap, cheerful & economical for €500. You might even see a saving on the insurance if you get it on a much lower, limited mileage policy.

    That's defo a non runner, he'll still only save €20 ish/week on fuel, which won't cover the additional costs of having the Volvo and the cheap runner. Setanta do mirror NCBs but even with that it isn't economically a good idea.

    OP, what miles does your wife though, is swapping cars an option to cut fuel costs?


  • #5
    Eoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,257 ✭✭✭✭Eoin


    My wife has an older, more practical hatchback car that's in decent nick too.

    Option e: Unless your wife also has a long commute, use her car during the week?

    Edit - RoverJames got there first


  • #6
    Mr. Larson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,429 ✭✭✭Mr. Larson


    RoverJames wrote: »
    OP, what miles does your wife though, is swapping cars an option to cut fuel costs?

    That's a good suggestion. Often the best ones [options] are staring you in the face. My wife does about 1km per day - but she is uncomfortable trying to park the Volvo and it's understandable. Turning circle of the Titanic. I think we might try it out though.


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  • #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Jabberwocky wrote: »
    but she is uncomfortable trying to park the Volvo and it's understandable. Turning circle of the Titanic. I think we might try it out though.

    Age old problem, you'll reverse a car into very tight spaces that you wouldn't attempt driving into :)


  • #8
    Mr. Larson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,429 ✭✭✭Mr. Larson


    RoverJames wrote: »
    you'll reverse a car into very tight spaces that you wouldn't attempt driving into :)

    I hear what you're saying :)


  • #9
    Top Dog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,174 ✭✭✭Top Dog


    RoverJames wrote: »
    That's defo a non runner, he'll still only save €20 ish/week on fuel, which won't cover the additional costs of having the Volvo and the cheap runner. Setanta do mirror NCBs but even with that it isn't economically a good idea.
    Ok, taking your estimated saving of €20/wk, and based on a 45wk working year that makes €900.

    So
    €400 on small engine car with long test (plenty on Donedeal)
    €200 on TP only insurance (who needs more on a €400 car?)
    €350 on years tax (rough guess at 1.4 engine rate) if he got lucky he might even find something for the €400 which has a few months tax left on it
    Totals €950

    Now add to that the possible insurance savings on the Volvo on a lower mileage(risk) policy ... for ease of my maths we'll say €50 ;) ... then over the course of a single year he's broken even. He's also reduced the wear and tear on his Volvo, reduced the frequency (expense) of necessary servicing & maintenance (yes the banger will require servicing, but not likely to cost as much as a 2.0T Volvo), while still being able to enjoy it on the weekends.

    Bring on the second year and he's quids in :D


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