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What with the current cost of fuel and road tax are people driving slower and using their motors less? I say yes. I'm quite a slow driver, have been for years now and sticking to speed limits has pretty much always been a hazardous affair. There's always some clever clogs who wants to go 20mph over the limit in built up areas and tailgate me. However the last few weeks/couple of months I've noticed it's virtually stopped completely. Now, as I'm mostly using the Chevette auto for getting to work and the odd pleasure trip I've noticed people are leaving decent gaps behind me, no-one seems to be driving like a loon any more and the roads are actually far nicer to be on. So, is it the cost of running a motor these days or because I'm driving an old fashioned and slow car? I must say though I don't seem to get as much agro when driving my modern either. Any thoughts? Have a picture while you think about it...
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Corsa Apology Champion 2014.
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I drive how I have always driven. I stick more or less to the speed limits (they are there for a reason) and show general mechanical sympathy for the car most of the time. But I have a heavy right foot and a habit of replacing rear tyres more frequently than front ones if you know what I mean.
I have learned that LPG is my friend! Pre-2001 cars are the only way to go....
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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I'm definitely using my car less than I use to but I was trying to do that anyway as I work in the centre of Manchester and have to pay £6.50 to park. The roads defintely seem quieter though. I see your picture and raise you a Sierra.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Not me, my 2.9 litre Cortina is loads more economical than my 2.2 merc was (driven sensibly) so I'm out more.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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I agree. Volume of traffic seems to be very low at present. I don't know whether it's because it's summer and folk are walking or cycling to work, or on holiday, or because those in 'marginal' employment have just given up. What I do know is that I haven't had to queue to turn across the A1 for weeks now, and can't remember the last time I got caught in a random jam. Even through the roadworks on the M1,
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Is it schoolll holidays yet?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Nope. Not for another few weeks.
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It's school holidays here, and the roads are quieter. That's it for here anyway.
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I'm sure that more people are bimbling along at 60 on motorways - a top way of saving fuel, that I can never quite bring myself to do! The 2CV just loves being thrashed!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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well i have always driven within the speed limit (well, after i got 3 point anyway ), and i now stick to 50-60 mph in the van when i am on the motorway and usually return 230 miles for £25 of diesel because of the slowness
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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mym
Part of things
Posts: 443
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think the universities have broken up which may account for some of the traffic going and yes, LPG is your friend
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I dunno, I just dunno. Personally I made a move back near work mostly cos I hate commuting by bus/car, and TBH CBA big bike ride commute, by default made GF nearer to, so its by bike/foot now 95% of time and about 75% of time for GF on bus or bike, must say got a lucky strike getting a one stop trainline to city centre too. bonus. won't be the same when I buy, thats not happening for a while. CAn't wait to get my weekend car done tho.
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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It's certainly making me think about driving for fuel economy, especially around town.
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Suddenly a tax-exempt P6 3.5 with LPG is at the top of my 'next purchases' list......I have found that recently.....
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What sort of mileage per year & mpg makes it worthwhile to convert to LPG, given the high cost of the conversion in the first place?
I've often thought about fitting LPG and locating the tank in the spare wheel locker (under the boot floor above the petrol tank - spare wheel has a second vertical mount point in the boot) would preserve the loadbay & folding back seat unlike so may conversions.
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Example:
3-litre straight six in my GS300, which 'averages' around 25MPG combined.
I drive 10,000 miles a year (about average), so with fuel at £5.35/gallon, I spend £2140 a year on petrol.
A typical LPG conversion costs around £1500, and LPG around here is around £2.70 gallon. My yearly spend on fuel is now £1080 (assuming no loss in MPG from the LPG conversion).
My saving for the year is £1060, or £0.10 per mile.
Therefore I would need to drive 15000 miles in order for the LPG system to pay for itself, so around 18 months of driving.
Of course, during the first year of using LPG, the cost of petrol will inevitably rise, bringing a sliding scale to the breakeven point.
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Last Edit: Jul 1, 2008 12:06:25 GMT by jettadeluxe
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Strangely the panda hasnt changed, I used to get 10 miles to the £1 back in the days of 90p per litre, but I still get 10 miles to the £1
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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mym
Part of things
Posts: 443
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klunk
Part of things
1949 Rover P3 V8
Posts: 371
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I have been using the Rover for my daily commute, for a couple of reasons:-
1) New engine and box fitted t'other week, so a joy to drive... :-)
2) Engine needs to be run in, but have to keep it below 3000rpm.... :-(
3) It's probably costing about the same as my Turbo Diesel Merc to run.... :-)
Apart from a couple of Joey Herberts in a Corsa last night, right up my 'arris. I have found most people are taking it easy.
TBH it was so hard not to blow that Corsa away, but I MUST keep it below 3000 rpm. Only another 300 miles and I can go to 4000 rpm...Can't wait....LOL
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Nick
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,483
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it seems business as usual as far as i can see, except now everyone i know just goes on about how expensive petrol is.
however my dad no longer drives to the gym everyday of the week now as its costing too much, and my mum saves up everything she needs to do in the nearest town for one day of the week now.
ive always driven slow and stuck to the speedlimits. except i'm trying to keep my carbon footprint as large as possible by ragging the curse word out of the vans i use at work (got to do something to counteract all the goody two shoes getting what they want )
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idea stolen from rattely eddie.
this weeks car count "5"
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