We have a car conundrum.

We have two cars, a 2005 Honda Accord Tourer (2.2 Diesel), and a Toyota Soarer (3.0 2JZ-GE), and looking to kerb our costs.

We spend £240 a month on the Soarer, and it does very few miles.
That cost is broken down into tax, fuel, insurance.
At last calculation, Im getting 15mpg out of this.  I cant find any figures to say what the official MPG should be.

The car is in need of a good service, possibly new front calipers, cambelt, and some bushings.

Do we...

try and sell it, and get another car, budget would dictate  around £500-£700.

Seen a Toyota Yaris, 1L, 114k on the clock, and at the top of the  budget of £700.
Insurance would be £300 a year, and tax @ £125.  50mpg.

Toyota Starlet 1.3, 1.3, 80k on the clock, £500, insurance ~£350, and 50mpg.

I dont want to get something too old, both of these would be 1996-2000.


Or


Do we give the Soarer what it needs, probably spend the same amount in the hope that its fuel consumption will improve?
Itll never get 50mpg, but nearer 30 might be acceptable.
The Soarer feels very slow.  I had a "race" with a Volkswagon builders van and I couldnt pull away, so either its absolutely desperate for a service, or the brakes are stuck on.
Its also developed a strange whining noise when the revs are up.

What would you do?


Buying a cheap car can be problematic, if Im just buying someone elses problems.  We had a Cinquecento that cost us £400, but needed a gearbox, headgasket and other things.  Cost us a fortune.
Or repairing the issues on my car, "better the devil you know" scenario.  Its going to cost more to run it, but I know what problems it has.

You can never get fuel consumption to really improve on older cars unless there is something seriously wrong with it and even if you do the improvement will be marginal. I did all kinds of things to my MX-5 and could never get over 25mpg out of it, a thirsty car will always be a thirsty car. I took Sam from Sheffield to Heathrow and had to fill up twice I recall, that was driving feather-footed on the accelerator too (35L tank roughly). I think 20mpg after improvement would be good, 25mpg if youre lucky. Theres no way youll gain a perceived 15mpg I dont think.

I think the front calipers are ceased, as Im getting a horrible squeaking noise, and up until recently I got a burning smell when I stopped.

jack the corners up and see if the wheels spin freely out of gear and brakes off, will take 10 mins and tell you how bad it is

100% increase in MPG? or you could convert it to run somthing other than the oil you get out of a pump,
but then its pointless as you do few miles.
but it really depends on how much you want to save...
The 2 cars mentioned insurance is £300-£350, but you dont say how much your paying on the Toyota now.

You dont have to go to somthing small to save money, nosey for a 1.6 or something.

Quote from: Binary Shadowjack the corners up and see if the wheels spin freely out of gear and brakes off, will take 10 mins and tell you how bad it is

How would that work with the rear diff?

doesnt matter where the diff is as long as the gearbox is in N

Well, Its been serviced and gone through £50 of Super Unleaded.

The verdict...

18.9mpg.  Mostly little pissy journeys.  Couple of WOT runs down the local private *cough*dualcarriageway* strip.

Definately a lot faster.

If I didnt keep flooring it, and drove it more sensibly, I dont think 22mpg is unreasonable.
This is all on the pondwater Murco stuff we have nearby.

get a starlet GT turbo.

Itll be tons faster, easier on fuel, easy tuned, and a lot more fun!

Quote from: soopahflyWell, Its been serviced and gone through £50 of Super Unleaded.

The verdict...

18.9mpg.  Mostly little pissy journeys.  Couple of WOT runs down the local private *cough*dualcarriageway* strip.

Definately a lot faster.

If I didnt keep flooring it, and drove it more sensibly, I dont think 22mpg is unreasonable.
This is all on the pondwater Murco stuff we have nearby.

Thats silly milage.

I was getting 19 mpg on my 2l Tucson in the states.

Quote from: Sam

Quote from: soopahflyWell, Its been serviced and gone through £50 of Super Unleaded.

The verdict...

18.9mpg.  Mostly little pissy journeys.  Couple of WOT runs down the local private *cough*dualcarriageway* strip.

Definately a lot faster.

If I didnt keep flooring it, and drove it more sensibly, I dont think 22mpg is unreasonable.
This is all on the pondwater Murco stuff we have nearby.

Thats silly milage.

I was getting 19 mpg on my 2l Tucson in the states.

American or Brittish gallon ?  or is all gallons 3.785 liter ?

Quote from: Markget a starlet GT turbo.

Itll be tons faster, easier on fuel, easy tuned, and a lot more fun!

But not as comfortable, and my other profession isnt taxi driver.

Wow I would really cry if I was only getting less than 19mpg! takes me back to when I the 5 GT Turbo that got about 16-17mpg if I had the boost turned up and was leathering it! But that was back in the day a full tank on a car that size was about 15 quid not the 35 they want today!

What sort of mileage per year are you expecting to do in it?