not in a physical sense, but in an intellectual one.
I have a manly problem.
I want to buy a new Holden Commodore either the regular Series II or the SV6. I see that they have an LPG option which appears to have little impact on the performance of the car but is said to reduce the fuel costs (785km on a tank). I currently own a petrol run 2005 Commodore VZ which is averaging about 12.5l to the 100kms.
Anyoneknow of any reliable decent sites where I can obtain some pretty good fuel efficiency stats to try and convince the missus that me spending a shitload of money on a new toy would be beneficial in the long run as the savings would be pretty good! Tall order I know but I don't need a huge arguement, just something that has a reasonable amount of sense to it (as our current car is alittle worse for wear having been an ex taxi) as we want a new car but her idea of a new car is that it is red and has four doors.
I have been to a few of the government websites that pop up in google and they don't seem to be very helpful.
Who is a car saleman here that can give me an award winning speach! You might get a sale out of it!
unbeatabull,
Jan 20, 9:39am
LPG Uses more to 100km but is cheaper to buy. You also need to factor in the LPG System Servicing cost, its 10 year tank check (depends on year of vehicle will depend on when it is due) etc. Petrol does have slightly better performance.
solarboy,
Jan 20, 9:41am
OK, just find a red 4 door Commodore. She probably won't even notice the LPG sticker. Just make sure it's always you who re-fuels it - we don't want to read about someone asking for help on here because their wife filled the LPG Commodore with petrol !
willemakeit,
Jan 20, 9:57am
We haveduel fuel, and mostly run on LPG, just start on petrol. but it is a cleaner fuel than petrol and cheaper to run. Did 4 wheel driving on LPG and never misses a beat, went places that the petrol / diesals went with out problems. Will buy LPG again without hesition. Lok on the AA website, they may have some info on there.hav used LPG since 1985 I think, Tank been out twice and straight back in, sorry I tell a fib, we had to paint the tank this time, due to the road scratches. Why doess your wife not want a LPG vehicle! Its not the same as CNG where it ruined the motor. A lot of Taxi's and couriers use it now, and diesal, although a bit cheapr, you have road tax, and have to service twice as often and is a dirty fuel.
clairewithi,
Jan 20, 10:09am
Thanks guys. I am looking at a brand new 2012/2013 vehicle so the 10 year check is no issue. I guess I will then have to weight up the cost of LPG vs Petrol. In terms of performance Holden series II have a special engine designed for the delivery of LPG. It looks interesting on the website.
If someone here skilled in the art of outwitting wives can come up with a decent solution/arguement whilst I research I would be in your debt.
zirconium,
Jan 20, 10:26am
I'm a wife. - Ask her nicely to come with you so you can both test drive the one you are interested in, and an ordinary one for comparison. Also, if she has something else in mind, make sure you both test drive that too. :)
What is the actual difference in $$$ between a petrol and LPG one! How easy/difficult if it to get to an LPG filling place from where you normally drive! - Would she be confident to fill it herself, or would she be able to get help! Also, how many km/year does your car do!
I had a Holden running on CNG in the 80's and the big issue for me was the amount of space the tank takes up.
clairewithi,
Jan 20, 10:36am
With the new Z-Series Holdens the LPG tank is "invisible" meaning that it is hidden in the under body allowing for the room in the boot. The car is designed as an LPG car not a petrol car adapted. I like your ideas for the test driving but to get to tht point I need to convince her that we "need" this particular car. This really is just a toy for me. I do a bit of driving each day, probably around 50km per day and like to have something comfortable as it reduces the stress of being in shitty Auckland traffic.
zirconium,
Jan 20, 10:37am
According to their calculator, if you do an approximately average 1200km/month, you get a savings of $44/month or $528/year.
Sorry, i was playing on their website while you posted that! :) 50km/day = about 1500/month, so fuel savings of about $660/year. :) At their current 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 offers, would the approx 2 grand savings in fuel as well make a big enough difference!
clairewithi,
Jan 20, 10:52am
hey great! I did not see that on there. The 3rd thing is good too. I also forgot I can add the savings in maintainance as a new car comes with the maintaince thrown in for a bit and currently our car we spend around $400-800 a year on getting things fixed.
zirconium,
Jan 20, 10:57am
Disclaimer. I'm not skilled at outwitting wives, do that at your own peril, lol. The first rule of marriage is that your wife is always right!
hutchk,
Jan 20, 10:58am
Unless she's pretty thick she's not going to wear the argument that a brand new car is a wise use of funds. Massive depreciation makes them the worst 'investment' you can possibly make - buy a two year old car and let someone else take the hit.
willemakeit,
Jan 20, 10:58am
the only problem we are facing now, is some petrol stations are pulling the lpg tanks so you have to know where they are.Examplewould be the nearest one to Te Puke is either Bill and Rosies at Pongakawa or Tauranga. So good thing we have the dual fuel, at least you can switch over.
clairewithi,
Jan 20, 10:58am
Ok, so far I have:
More efficient with fuel (money saver) Cheaper fuel to purchase (LPG) Save over $1000 a year in maintainance Safer for the family 1/3-1/3-1/3 deal lowers annual cost
clairewithi,
Jan 20, 10:59am
Hmmn, good point. Odd though seeing as it appears to be a cleaner fuel. There are still plenty in Auckland but might pose a problem in the future! problem when travelling down the line!
clairewithi,
Jan 20, 11:01am
This is not about using our funds wisely.It is about getting a nice new car. I never said this was sensible or necessary.
willemakeit,
Jan 20, 11:03am
As for her knowing how to fill it, is pretty straight forward, and most garages say you need to be authorised to do it. so the attendant has to come out and do it for her. Ours is not too good starting on cold mornings, not sure about the LPGdedicated ones, they may be better.
pebbles61,
Jan 20, 11:07am
Don't even ask, just buy what you want. You're the man, diving is your domain :D in return she need not ask for your input in choice of dishwasher or oven etc
willemakeit,
Jan 20, 11:08am
One would think the govenment would be encouraging LPG conversions, like they did in the 80's I think it was, when petrol was scarce, but then they started importing the diesals, and this seem to destroy the market. I do still think you get a govenment subsidy if you do convrt, ie interest free loan. (according to our mechanic who specialises in LPG). Oh by the way, I am the wife. I think LPG is great.
willemakeit,
Jan 20, 11:13am
The car may also be cheaper, because it is LPG, may neeed to compare this with same model with petrol and diesalequivalents. As for the 10 year lpg checks and warrents, it is not tht dear, just mke sure it is up to date, otherwise you may not get to fill your car, if they check the LPG warranty.
zirconium,
Jan 20, 11:14am
Are you planning no geting a new car anyway! Because then the savings in service costs are negated - you would get them anyway.
thunderbolt,
Jan 20, 11:21am
You will spend most of that per year on dealer servicing even though there are no repair costs.
clairewithi,
Jan 20, 11:28am
Never get a service at the dealer. I have a great mechanic who I am loyal to.
a.woodrow,
Jan 20, 11:34am
Why! best way to keep your new vehicle warranty.
willemakeit,
Jan 20, 12:11pm
Is you mechanic LPG certified!, if he is, then perhaps you could ask him some questions as well, otherwise have a chat to this guy,who trades under coolkiwibird, I think it is, he is an LPG mechnic.
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