Petrol or Diesel - how many miles a year ?

[Graham]

How many miles a year would you say was "too many" to be driving around in a 4,7L V8 petrol Amazon?

If say for example, you would do 5,000 miles a year, or maybe 10,000 miles a year, there must be a point where the cost saving on buying a petrol balances itself out, as against buying a 4,2L diesel.

Is it just simply looking at, for example, a 2003 4,2L diesel price, against a 4,7L petrol price.

Providing both "2003" vehicles are the same standard of quality, the petrol one always seems to sell for example £3000.00 less than it's diesel counterpart.

One can buy a lot of petrol for £3000, to make up the shortfall for the petrol's poorer economy.

Gra.

 

[chadr]

I'm sure there was a spreadsheet on similar lines here - was it Chris that did it?

Anyway, some back of a fag packet calculations........based on the following assumptions;

5000 mile per annum
22mpg and 16mpg average fuel consumption for the 4.2TD and 4.7V8 respectively
£1.38 and £1.31 per litre for Diesel and Petrol respectively

It will cost you approx £1450 in Diesel and £1850 in Petrol. So assuming all other costs are equal, the petrol would cost an extra £400 per annum.

However, if the price differential between Petrol and Diesel is ~ £3k then that is 7.5 years worth of "extra" fuel for the Petrol taken care of......a no-brainer if your annual mileage is low.

Obviously, if your annual mileage is higher then the savings made due to the price difference get eaten up much quicker............

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

£3k is about 33k miles based on about a 9 pence per mile fuel cost difference, so short term you'll save and medium to long term you'll spend more. I can't see buying a petrol on that basis is sensible though, I'd buy a petrol just because they're so much nicer. If you want to save money buy something properly economical.

 

[chadr]

....If you want to save money buy something properly economical.

We probably wouldn't be on a LC forum if we wanted something economical and to save money......

 

[Graham]

The petrol does sound attractive, providing your not going to do loads of miles in it.

Lets throw another factor into the pot,----------------------> LPG.

Would it make sense to buy one with a ready working LPG, buy a defective LPG system, and have it "FIXED" or buy one without?

I guess on without, would still have the full meat on the valve seats, where as an already fitted LPG system, could have half eaten the valve seats away already.

Ok, I can see the spare wheel is going to be relegated to a swing away carrier, as the LPG tank would need that space.

LPG I think is about £2000 to have fitted and commissioned?

Whats the price of LPG now? 70 pence maybe?

Gra.

 

[Doodle]

Between 70-75p around here.

The bugbear for me is that they won't allow LPG through the Channel Tunnel, and IIRC the fast cats are not running anymore which means stuck on a slow-arse wobbly ferry across the Channel.

We probably wouldn't be on a LC forum if we wanted something economical and to save money......

Not wrong there...my commuting choices are either the LC, or an old Merc SL with a V8 under the bonnet.

 

[Chas]

would still have the full meat on the valve seats, where as an already fitted LPG system, could have half eaten the valve seats away already.
LPG I think is about £2000 to have fitted and commissioned?
Gra.

Valves should be OK if a Flashlube system or something similar has been fitted, when I was looking for my petrol (now for sale) in case I found one without I was quoted £2000 to retrofit LPG

 

[Gary820]

I opted for petrol when searching for an 80, I didn't want something with big miles and some diesels I looked at were a bit disappointing for the money. Seemed to get more for the money with the petrol and I'm limited to 5k year, got a 1.6 ford focus for good mpg lol. I don't find it horrendous to run but used to have a 3.1 d trooper that did 17mpg on a good day!!

 

[Neil Stone]

Has Mrs Graham decided that a petrol landcruiser is more preferable than a red jeep?

If I was ever to go back to a petrol.....it'd have be a V8.

 

[Graham]

Has Mrs Graham decided that a petrol landcruiser is more preferable than a red jeep?

If I was ever to go back to a petrol.....it'd have be a V8.

.
Hi Niel,

Unfortunatly not, but she knows that being a new driver in UK, will need higher insurance payments.
In China, the car is insured, and no matter who drives it.
When the car is sold, the insurance go's with the car until it expires.
It cost about £100 a year, and is is universally paid.

So she is still wanting a red Jeep, but not for the first year.

As today is Thursday, I will look at last weeks list on Thursday, and see what she liked,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ah,,,,, yes,,,,, 1,4L Focus saloon.

Friday,,,,,,,,,,,,let me look,,,,,,,,,,,,yes, Thats "Jimny day"

But it has always been a red one.
Guess thats the fact that China national colour is red?

Gra.