Yes and with the money I save on fuel I'm going to buy myself a lovely shiny caravan

It's a hard question to answer and all depends on how much disposable income you have and if you really like cars. The vRS does ok mpg given the performance but even I'm thinking more about journeys and not doing ones I don't need to do. To be honest this really hurts as I love cars. I walk down to the town instead of drive (too much scum about quite happy to ding my car anyway) and once the weather gets better I will be cycling the 10 miles into work more often but this is more for fitness and I think once I get fit I will be quicker than I would be by car. Stop start traffic and plummeting fuel economy is not fun.

So what I do now is when I need to drive to work it's fuel saving on the way in but I'll have fun on the way home. I rarely go for drives any more and tbh I'm saving it for Castle Combe and the Welsh meet. This isn't because the vRS is bad on fuel because I've had a lot worse it's just cost. It wouldn't matter what I drove it would still cost me. It's roughly £50 every 10 days I'm spending and all I do is go to work and I may see my cousin but that's all. Last week was the first time it cost £60 to fill the tank. It's sickening. If I have fun in the car I make the most of it because it's only going to get worse. With a fast car any way you can only use it for brief moment and you need to decide if a few minutes, sometimes even seconds of fun on a nice road with good weather is worth it.

There is logic in buying a fast, thirsty car now as some are dirt cheap so the difference in depreciation off sets fuel costs. Keep it for 6 months, a year and get something else. There will come a time they will be all gone so it's best to make the most of it now.

If money is tight and people are woried about 10mpg or so then surely the best thing to do is avoid buying a new car?

Depreciation is usually far worse than actual running costs compare to something a few years old.

Exactly. I bought new because I wanted the power and I keep stuff for ages. But I see someone going out and buying some eco car for several thousand more than their last car and all to save a bit of fuel. As you say if money is that tight they should stick with what they have or if it's in too bad a way (which tbh most cars aren't) get rid and buy something cheap, run for a few months and repeat.

If money is tight and people are woried about 10mpg or so then surely the best thing to do is avoid buying a new car?

Depreciation is usually far worse than actual running costs compare to something a few years old.

In my case it's a 3 year lease which will be ending, so a change is required.

In my case it's a 3 year lease which will be ending, so a change is required.

It was not aimed at you, more a general thought really.

People looking at buying a new car that's economical to save money has always stuck me as a bit of a false economy.

My Fabia Greenline II was one of the most economical cars on the market. 20k miles in a year and I'd spend about £1800 on fuel (averaging about 72mpg) while losing around £2500 in depreciation.

If cost was the reason for buying the car I'd have been far better buying a two year old 1.4Tdi Greenline.

I may have spent an extra £200 on fuel, but I'd have saved £1500 on depreciation.

There is something psycological about having to visit a petrol station and fill the tank, handing over real money to run a car that we don't think of when it's a HP or lease payment coming out of our bank by Direct Debit.

Just my brain fuzz on the idea of new eco cars anyway.

But then if there is a reason... like free congestion charge due to the emissions then I get that 100%.

I miss the 1.9D that was in the VW range and it has not properly been replaced in the VW range.

The 1.6D CR is slightly more economical but not as pleasant to drive, partilcularly when loaded as the engine is just not up to it. The 2 litre in my experience is between 5 to 10 mpg less economical but that could be partly due to the extra weight of the Mk2 Octy over the Mk1.

I would seriously consider the 1.2 TSI engined cars as they fantastically economical but also fun to drive. 58 mpg extra urban in the Octy2.

Petrol is cheaper and less prone to shortages. Quicker to warm up on the shorter journeys ie 5-20 miles.

Petrol 1.2 is about a second quicker accelerating than the 1.6 diesel of the same hp but feels much more satisfying that it is actually propeling down the road.

The Audi A1 1.2 TSI is now reaching 60 mpg combined with the latest technology. Skoda generaly lag a bit behind but the buy price with the no VAT deal offsets that.

i have a 1.2 Octavia with DSG, its done 10,000 miles and i am only averaging 37mpg, with mixed driving, what ever the offical number just -10mpg and you get the real life numbers

i have a 1.2 Octavia with DSG, its done 10,000 miles and i am only averaging 37mpg, with mixed driving, what ever the offical number just -10mpg and you get the real life numbers

This is the sort of figure, or probably slightly worse than I was getting in my 1.8 TSI DSG.

I think something we often forget is that many of these turbocharged petrol engines do take about 5 miles before they are capable of giving close to the book figures, probably closer to 10 miles for diesels so if you reckon that the first 5 or 10 miles you are only going to get around half the quoted MPG you are not far out.

I am glad we have a little 1,2 HTP as well as the VRSs as its little 3 cylinder engine does get up to temperature in a mile or so I reckon making it better for the city journeys.

Sheffield would be a good place to do lots of coasting as it is quite hilly but you have to be of the faith that you are still in control.

Mark 2 Octy is a big heavy car, about one and a half tonnes with driver and a bit of luggage, 1.75 and even 2 tonnes when loaded. Future cars will be much lighter. Most the new Audit models are looking at shedding 100 Kgs or so and use regenerative brakes and the TSI cylinder shutoff system so should get to 60 mpg plus.

Fabia VRS is showing 43 mpg on medium length journeys now ie 25 miles or so just over 40 mpg in reality I suspect but expect it to get to the genuine 45 mpg in the next few months. Octavia VRS is stuck around the 35 mpg mark but it is just so tempting to zing as it is covered by my fuel card which makes me less frugal.

Edited 10 April, 201214 yr by lol

It was not aimed at you, more a general thought really.

People looking at buying a new car that's economical to save money has always stuck me as a bit of a false economy.

My Fabia Greenline II was one of the most economical cars on the market. 20k miles in a year and I'd spend about £1800 on fuel (averaging about 72mpg) while losing around £2500 in depreciation.

If cost was the reason for buying the car I'd have been far better buying a two year old 1.4Tdi Greenline.

I may have spent an extra £200 on fuel, but I'd have saved £1500 on depreciation.

There is something psycological about having to visit a petrol station and fill the tank, handing over real money to run a car that we don't think of when it's a HP or lease payment coming out of our bank by Direct Debit.

Just my brain fuzz on the idea of new eco cars anyway.

But then if there is a reason... like free congestion charge due to the emissions then I get that 100%.

I hear you.

I'm sitting here looking at the Superb Greenline II verses the regular 140CR. The price difference on a new elegance spec is negligible overall ~£800 on a list price of £23,000.

But factor in £100/year tax, £300/year on fuel and maybe £100/year on insurance (group 15E vs 19E) and you're looking at an instant saving of £500/year on running costs. I plan to keep the car 10 years so that's £5,000 on the cost of a £23,000 car (or £18K with the VAT deal). Add the near £1000 price difference new and suddenly the increased running costs of the 140CR over a Greenline are a third of the purchase price. I'd love the 140CR engine but IMHO it's not worth an extra £6K over the life of the car compard to the Greenline.

If you have to go looking for somewhere with hills to freewheel, then it's about time the car went.

The guys employing this silly way of driving have those little oval leather 'purses' that they have to shake to get their change out

the 1.2 Tsi really is a wee cracker. I have one in a Golf as a hire car a couple of times and I am much impressed.

Just an update on this - just back from a 550 mile trip in a 1.2Tsi Golf(85bhp)- a Blast up the a9, 100 miles on North Highalnad A roads (many of which are actually single track with passing places!) the back down the road.

The Golf averaged a measured 47 MPG (OBC reads 50mpg but they are usually optimistic).

My normal car is a Madza 3 1.6TDi, so similar size although has 109 bhp and lots more bottom end grunt ( the Golf is a nice zippy motor but runs out of puff on long inclines). My Mazda would do 57-58 on a similar journey.

So...

Tsi @ 47 mpg = 10.44 mp/Lt @ £1.41 = 13.5p per mile

TDi @ 57 mpg =12.66 mp/Lt @ £1.46 = 11.5p per mile

Lets assume a diesel equivalent car cost £1000 more , but you get £400 of that back at trade in in 3 yrs time. Extra cost of ownership is £600 ( assuming insurance , tax and servicing are similar).

if you save 2p per mile in fuel you will have the £600 back in 30,000 miles.

If you average 10,000 mls year over 3 years you would be better of with the diesel.

if you save 2p per mile in fuel you will have the £600 back in 30,000 miles.

...... and probably take a few years off your life through boredom :zzz:

I agree with what Richard is saying. There seems to be a large number of people at my work talking about buying diesel and/or more economical cars. I think depreciation is a forgotten word!

Then again with interest rates so low and credit available here there and everywhere, why not spunk out on a new car.

With work being 7miles away I will stick with my 1.8T for the next 3 years at least. 35-37MPG is not too bad.

If buying on finance as opposed to cash purchase. New car deals are often miles better than say a 1 year old car and often you'll end up paying a lot less over the course of three or four years if you can get a service deal, lower APR etc. I was going to buy a new car anyway and I got the Greenline II for £12K on 0% finance.

I too know many folk who blow thousands on new cars to save a few hundred in running costs, and dont see the madness in this.

But the OP wants an economical car..

If in doubt ask a taxi driver.

She will tell you; diesel, no turbo, no dpf, sensible make, low spec, high profile low cost tyres, big enough for purpose, wipe clean interior.

I can recommend Volvo diesels. The D2 and D3 are fantastic engines. A low spec S40 or V50, with a manual tranny and the D2 engine would be a perfect. Volvos hold their own on the used car market as well. I'm partial to the V50 with the d2 engine myself. I drove one for months, splendid car.

...... and probably take a few years off your life through boredom :zzz:

I have no boredom driving a diesel and return fantastic mpg figures. When you learn how to drive correctly you can still enjoy yourself without hurting your wallet

When you learn how to drive correctly

I have 3 qualifications from the very best tutors that say I can do this already and 20+ years of driving experience.

My training is extremely difficult to attain. Let's not be patronising.

...... and probably take a few years off your life through boredom :zzz:

Never bores me, you just adapt your driving technique and think of the pennies you are not blowing out teh exhaust.

Can bee fun using the torque to take off while the poof powered motor next to you is changing so many gear he could be stirring porridge

Edited 11 April, 201214 yr by slider

I have 3 qualifications from the very best tutors that say I can do this already and 20+ years of driving experience.

My training is extremely difficult to attain. Let's not be patronising.

Says the person who implies people who drive to the limit and conditions hold up other motorists.

If you dont mind me asking what qualifications do you hold?

Says the person who implies people who drive to the limit and conditions hold up other motorists.

If you dont mind me asking what qualifications do you hold?

The OP wanted in part, opinions about cars that claim up to 80mpg etc.

I have given my opinion based on a driver attempting to achieve those figures. I have in the past tried this style of driving and without question in my opinion, is extremely boring and is far from 'normal' driving. You tend to switch off, find it hard to concentrate and eventually don't look further ahead than the vehicle in front. Then keep checking the mpg computer, switching settings, looking at averages and generally not concentrating.

Yes, it is tough to concentrate on a long journey, I agree, but there are techniques to help improve this and ultimately overcome it.

If you would like to know them, then buy a copy of Roadcraft for a good start.

In the real world that I live in, it simply isn't possible under normal circumstances to , but to attempt to achieve them, you run the possibility of drivers getting frustrated and ultimately aggressive. Both of which I do not condone, but that's reality.

If any Eco drivers on here don't like that, then that's tough. everyone has an opinion.

My qualifications are private.

There are plenty of idiots who dordle about in their own little bubbles who are as (if not more) dangerous then motorway 'speeders' who do 90mph.

My personal opinions of course

During the times when I try for good mpg figures, I would say more people annoy me than the other way around !

My driving style is normally pretty brisk, but when attemting an "economy run" I still drive at the speed limits, and don't find concentration an issue as I am reading well ahead and planning.

I drive normally most of the time, but every now and then I like to see what I can achieve.

i have a 1.2 Octavia with DSG, its done 10,000 miles and i am only averaging 37mpg, with mixed driving, what ever the offical number just -10mpg and you get the real life numbers

Do you do a lot of short runs ? I have only covered around 300 miles in my car, and obviously the engine is still very "tight" but mine is sitting at around 43mpg. Granted I haven't been booting it a lot as I am bedding it in, but the last 50 or so I have had a little play which most certainly wasn't economy friendly

I do notice the first few miles from cold are a killer, which you would expect, but more so than I imagined. Perhaps the computer updates more frequently than the one in my last car !

I will say I am very impressed with the engine, exceptionally flexible for a little 'un, especially considering the size of car its powering.

Edited 12 April, 201214 yr by Mr Grump

The OP wanted in part, opinions about cars that claim up to 80mpg etc.

I have given my opinion based on a driver attempting to achieve those figures. I have in the past tried this style of driving and without question in my opinion, is extremely boring and is far from 'normal' driving. You tend to switch off, find it hard to concentrate and eventually don't look further ahead than the vehicle in front. Then keep checking the mpg computer, switching settings, looking at averages and generally not concentrating.

Yes, it is tough to concentrate on a long journey, I agree, but there are techniques to help improve this and ultimately overcome it.

If you would like to know them, then buy a copy of Roadcraft for a good start.

In the real world that I live in, it simply isn't possible under normal circumstances to , but to attempt to achieve them, you run the possibility of drivers getting frustrated and ultimately aggressive. Both of which I do not condone, but that's reality.

If any Eco drivers on here don't like that, then that's tough. everyone has an opinion.

My qualifications are private.

There are plenty of idiots who dordle about in their own little bubbles who are as (if not more) dangerous then motorway 'speeders' who do 90mph.

My personal opinions of course

Its a shame you are trying to divert the thread with your prejudices. As far as i can see the OP was asking if he was likely to see any benefit from driving an eco-model in a normal style over a conventional model.

Following on from the OP it would be interesting to see what each eco feature offers in terms of increased economy, the lower ride height, thinner tyres, harder rubber, better aerodynamics, longer gears etc. I remember asking the same for efficient dynamics when bmw brought that out but have never found and analysis revealing what each feature offered individually. That would go some way toward helping the sort of question you are posing.

I also started looking at some of the small car options (Fiesta, Polo etc) with very high MPG figures (I think the latest Eco Fiesta quotes ~85MPG combined) but I wonder how achievable these figues are in the real world.

It's a shame that you missed this in his post :think:

His comparison is very frugal "tin box" eco v "luxury car". Read the post properly.