Small turbo petrol or old skool TDI for economy?

[Blue Oval84]

Just curious, in real world short commutes of approximately 5 miles (non-motorway), which of the two options is better?

In my experience, larger diesels take a while to warm through, I've owned two and never got more than about 33-35mpg from them when commuting as they just don't get warm. The second one that I owned also went wrong, with bad consequences for my wallet.

My friend has a Bravo 1.4 T-Jet 150 and he seems to be getting better economy than I got from my diesels, and this in a car that is certainly no slouch, bags of pull and a nice high rev range.

So, now that these types of engines are appearing in everything from Ka, up to (I believe) the Passat, are they going to be the engine of choice for short hop (or even high mileage) commuters?

[twazzock]

5 miles, non-motorway? Pushbike

[Blue Oval84]

Aye, like that's gonna happen!

[HellDiver]

I've said it before, and I'm saying it again. Diesels are becoming pointless, thanks to small efficient petrol engines. Emission controls are making diesels too complicated and fragile.

My OH has a 1.4 petrol i30. 108hp from the little 1.4 VVT engine, and doing a short commute is getting 44mpg. I'd think the samller turbo engines (like Renault's 1.2TCE, Fiat's TwinAir, VAG's 1.2TSI etc) would be better than some of the rubbish small diesels like Fiat/GM's 1.3CDTI, PSA/Ford's 1.4HDI/TDCI, etc.

[seopher]

If your commute is only 5 miles, just buy a TVR or something childish. Who cares about fuel consumption over such a short distance.

[Matt_N]

seopher said:

If your commute is only 5 miles, just buy a TVR or something childish. Who cares about fuel consumption over such a short distance.

+1

[Blue Oval84]

Matt_N said:

seopher said:

If your commute is only 5 miles, just buy a TVR or something childish. Who cares about fuel consumption over such a short distance.

+1

I use a 3.0 Z4 at the moment and it's working out pretty well, about 25-26mpg.

Unfortunately as I need a practical second car at some point in the next year anyway my plan was to get something economical as well as practical which I could use on my dull commute (which would be a much easier commute for me if I could carry more than 1 passenger!)

The problem I have is that I cannot find any Mondeo sized car that will deliver good economy on a 5 mile commute without having to resort to diesel, been there, done that, don't want to do it again if I can help it!

Until prices on the new Ecoboost Mondeo drop, significantly, I think I'll get myself a £2K petrol powered hack to tramp around in!

[Compo_Simmonite]

Kenlowe HotStart
http://www.kenlowe.com/pre-heaters/cars/whatwill.h...

Brilliant for getting best mpg on short journeys.

Paul H

[Blue Oval84]

Yeah, but doesn't that lower your overall MPG by burning fuel to heat the car without actually going anywhere!?

[HellDiver]

Blue Oval84 said:

Yeah, but doesn't that lower your overall MPG by burning fuel to heat the car without actually going anywhere!?

No. It works off electricity, you know the stuff that powers your TV and light bulbs inside the house?

[volvoforlife]

Petrol

I'd only get a diesel if it was a commercial vehicle.

[Globs]

Blue Oval84 said:

Just curious, in real world short commutes of approximately 5 miles (non-motorway), which of the two options is better?

I'd go for the small petrol. Because:

Petrol is cheaper, so at an equal MPG you save money.
The revs are fun.
A small petrol warms up quicker - much better in winter, especially demisting.

[jsg612]

Compo_Simmonite said:

Kenlowe HotStart
http://www.kenlowe.com/pre-heaters/cars/whatwill.h...

Brilliant for getting best mpg on short journeys.

Paul H

Just read there website, quite interesting stuff.

[geeteeaye]

Compo_Simmonite said:

Kenlowe HotStart
http://www.kenlowe.com/pre-heaters/cars/whatwill.h...

Brilliant for getting best mpg on short journeys.

Paul H

How old is that website??

KENLOWE website said:

Imagine instead starting your engine easily, without choke

KENLOWE website said:

and travelling on wet or icy roads WITHOUT the engine racing away. (Perhaps a child crosses
the road on his way to school necessitating an emergency stop!)

A genuine 'think of the children'

KENLOWE website said:

even vehicles made in the 90's are uncomfortably like a 1950's home without central heating for the first few miles

Even those new-fangled 90's vehicles

[SlimRick]

[mnkiboy]

I think he's commuting to work, not delivering pizza.

[Fatman2]

As much as I have a general dislike for anything VAG it's hard to argue with the new Fabia vRS. 1.4TSI with about 180bhp, DSG gearbox and over 50mpg.

[Globs]

SlimRick said:

Scooters have moved on:

[busta]

There was a thread the other day about the false economy of new 'eco petrols' such as the VAG 1.2 TSI. Lots of posters reported low-mid 30s mpg in situations where far more powerful cars where getting the same or close to it.

[SlimRick]

mnkiboy said:

I think he's commuting to work, not delivering pizza.

But you can't argue with 120 mpg