Question for those wot know about motor cars

[mitchy]

I'm seeing a car I'm interested in buying tomorrow, it's a Citreon C3 Diesel 2004, looks very well looked after, very low mileage, £35 road tax (!), all the trimmings etc.

I know very little about Citreons having never owned one but I've not heard anything too dire - anyone got a different tale?

My real query is about it being a diesel - I know diesel is more expensive but I gather you get the most fantastic mpg. The ad's claiming 80 mpg for long runs and 60mpg for about town, which is phenomenal if true. Anyone have any experience with diesel cars? Please advise a mousey!

Comments

[jenni411.livejournal.com]

Warning: I know nothing about motor cars. ;-)

However --

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/FEG2009.pdf

Has some information on diesel mileage - they don't list the Citroen 'cause it's not sold here, but on page 24 there's a bit about diesel in general. It looks like 80/60 might be a SLIGHT exaggeration, but they do apparently get better mileage overall - 30-35% more than comparable gas vehicles.

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

Iiiiinteresting. Thaaaaaaaaaaank you! :)

[silenttex.livejournal.com]

According to a recent 5th Gear, the manufacturers MPG claims (for "combined") are actually quite accurate, so you'd probably get something approaching those numbers, depending on your driving style and assorted other factors.
The "Combined" figure (aka ExtraUrban) is the one to look at, as this simulates real world driving - 30mph town streets and 60mph A roads. (Bear in mind the figures will have been generated on a rolling road rather than real driving conditions).
Check the small print for the figures - you may find that the motorway figure was generated at 50mph rather than 70mph to look better.
I'd assume that you'll probably get 5-10% less than the figures quoted.

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

This is a private sale, not from a garage, so I'm thinking it probably is combined anyway, in the sense that this is the owner's own experience. I'm allowing for seller's exaggeration :) Still, good to know the figures are pretty decent anyway.

Thanks for the response!

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

:) The boy knows his stuff!

[sanba38.livejournal.com]

A diesel car can run biodiesel with no conversion whatsoever. There are several diesel cars running on recycled cooking oil from Maui restaurants here on the island. I hear they smell like french fries! Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson drive biodiesel.

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

Oooh interesting. Thanks!

[jebbypal]

be sure and check that stations around you sell diesel. In the big cities here in the US, it can be tricky to find one sometimes.

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

All our garages sell diesel so it's not a biggie :)

[gayeld.livejournal.com]

Oh God, doesn't it suck? Picking out a car is HARD! Especially when you're trying to find one that will be reliable and affordable. I'm ready to start banging my head against the desk.