alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Right now I'm trying to convince myself that running a 350z as a daily (until I get my 200 Coupe back on the road which did 30mpg regardless of how it was driven and it'll do a shared commuting with the zed when it's back up and running) and doing 300 miles a week, isn't going to bankrupt me in fuel costs (I'd have to get rid of the oil burner of a Merc that I'm currently running, a car which, frankly, I hate so that'd be a bonus). All I need to know is can I realistically hit 30mpg on a commute (keeping in mind thanks to general traffic my average speed bandies between 40-60 though I do get clear stretches of dual carriage and stop start is limited to the A19 junction, weekends could be fun, and costly, though as I live on the edge of the Durham Dales) and what the cost difference is there between standard fuel and the super unleaded variety, something which I've yet to ascertain (though this weekend I should find out if my local Tesco sells it and at what cost). I know the price difference between the Nitro V Power+ diesel I recently treated my current motor too and the stuff I normally put in, made my eyes water at 10p a litre between the two. If the difference between bog standard petrol and the super is bordering on this kind of difference it could present a bit of a struggle even to my heart overhead approach to car buying (I'm sticking to this approach, every time I used the head over heart approach I've been lumbered with, usually costly, crap), a £100 a week drinking problem might put a crimp on the Rover restoration a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Hi mate, your not far from me Run only on premium fuel being either V Power of Tesco 99 and drive like you have Miss Daisy in the boot and you will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Let me put it this way: 95RON could break your engine if you've a DE or Revup car. That should help you justify it a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) Good to know R35Lee beautiful part or the world isn't it? with some great roads. Oh I've no intention of skimping on the fuel, I know these puppies run only on Super (having read a few threads on here about it all) and going in eye's open on this matter, I'd never consider putting 95RON in. It'll have to be Tesco (or Havester, which seem to have taken over all the old Shell, Esso and BP stations round my way, there's one that sells super just up the road in Fir Tree) as the nearest Shell station is a good half hour drive away in Darlington. The last time I saw the price of super was the better part of a decade ago so I've no idea on the price difference these days, just as I say on diesel, and Darlington is generally always more expensive than my little corner of County Durham. The cars I've had in the past have either used diesel (three including my current barge) or have never required the tender ministrations of higher octane fuel with my car history being a tad checkered (having had, petrol, two Austin Metro's, a Rover 214SEi and the 1.8VVC Rover 200 Coupe that I've been running for the past nine years and now restoring, the K series engines apparently never really benefited from higher octane fuel by all accounts). As for driving, well considering some of the muppets I come across on my commute it might, admittedly, be a bit difficult to drive sedately, but it's possible I suppose, what with the lemming run keeping speed down it might just manage this, mind you stuffing an old biddy in the boot would help (though right now I've started to consider getting an old diesel snotter to go alongside it, a 205 diesel or an oil burner Alfa, a GT/159, finding parking space at home or near could be a bit of an issue mind). I suppose I just needed a wee bit of reassurance it it was vaguely possible Edited December 20, 2013 by alpha_channel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 In all honesty if you are wanting to buy a zed but worried about fuel economy and the costs of running the car then i would have to say don't go for it. It is too much of a fun car to have to watch that economy all the time and you may end up resenting the car when you are spending so much at the pump. You are definitely right to work out the costs and see if it is feasible but if you are in doubt then i would suggest you don't go for it. Buying the zed isnt the main cost it is the running, maintenance, insurance and fuel that is the real cost of these cars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2000 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Yea, I drive carefully on some dusl carriageways and then thru town, zed is a DD and I average 26.x mpg, have done ever since I bought it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 I can accept 26mpg and I realise the actual major cost of running a car isn't the up front purchase price. You don't want to see what I've spent on keeping the Coupe on the road, I don't want to see what I've spent (I'm sure I've forgotten stuff out some sort of self defence mechanism). I love the car, from the way it looks to the handling and feedback but I've easily spent the amount it cost me to buy (and then some) just fixing all those little things that go wrong on a fifteen year old car... plus a couple of head gaskets... and the engine rebuild it's currently undergoing :cough:... rust... and the respray... and leather clean up.... and a new steering rack... lets just say I'm not adverse to splashing the cash. Thing is if I love the car I'm happy to pay for it, fuel, maintenance, etc... if nothing else the ownership of my Coupe bares that out, I realise that running a performance car will never be cheap and it's something which I'm willing to accept, I just don't fancy spending a third of my wages a month putting fuel in the car (though if it took about £77 a week, based on an average price of 134.9 a ltr and managing the claimed 24mpg, that's affordable and it eventually wouldn't be my only car as well... looks like man maths is starting to win out ) and sacrificing the Coupes rebuild. My commute is about 90% dual carriage and fast single (with an average speed of 60 unless some numpty pulls out in front of me or I get stuck behind a bus/HGV, or as it turns out lately a flatbed transit who insists on doing 40 everywhere), the rest is the dual carriage into Hartlepool (40mph) and about 5%, if that, is at 30mph. Yep I can see me talking myself into buying one now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamdc2 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I always go along the lines of the worst case scenario and can I afford that. I said to myself can I afford to run a car that gives me 18-20mpg on average, as there is no way I was going to get a car like a Z and be too worries about cash to drive it how I want. If you can afford it then great, but dont buy a car and be worried every time you floor it. Its just not a happy place to be!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 At worse case, based on the national average of 134.9per ltr and 20mpg it'd cost me £92 a week which I have to admit is boardering on the unaffordable (the £100 a week mark is the cut off point as it'd mean a third of my monthly pay packet going into the tank), from a sustained cost perspective anyway, occasional, that's a bit different (and I can have a bit of a heavy foot at times). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Tbh, and please don't take this the wrong way as everyone manages their finances differently, but spending a third of your pay packet on fuel is borderline insanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) Don't worry I'm not, that's why I'm doing all this trying to make sure that it isn't going to cost me a third of my pay packet. I also view it as complete madness and wouldn't do it regardless of how much I love the car (I'm not quite certifiable just yet), £70? that's only about £20 more than what my Coupe cost on a weekly basis and is an acceptable bump in fuel costs (in comparison of the relative performance of the two cars), £100 a week? not a snow flake in Hell's chance. it all very much depends on how much the local fuel costs really (and it's generally cheaper than most other places surprisingly considering where I live) and how much I could potentially eak out of a gallon based around my commute. I'm really trying to weigh up just how much one of these things would set me back a week before laying out cold hard cash, pity you can't get these as hire cars, hire one out and see how much it costs for a couple of weeks. Edited December 20, 2013 by alpha_channel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Problem solved and you remain loyal to the brand. http://www.nissan.co.uk/GB/en/vehicle/electric-vehicles/leaf.html Seriously, if your budget is that tight then perhaps a 350 Z may not be for you as other running costs can be extremely high if you are unlucky. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Welcome alpha_channel ~ I've had my 350Z for awhile now and it is my daily driver. I live fairly close to where I work so my entire commute is made up of suburban streets so not even a chance to get above 30mph unfortunately. My average mpg each week is poor at around 17-19mpg currently but as I said this is done over only a few miles each week (maybe 50/60miles). I suspect that if you are mainly driving on dual carriageways & motorways daily then you will see reasonable mpg with sensible driving. eg: 60/70mph in 6th gear. I love my Zed and would highly recommend getting one if you can but obviously you must consider the higher running costs (which you are) but also the higher enjoy-ability factor. Put's a smile on my face every time I look at my Zed, let alone drive it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humpy Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 If you are having to get reassurance in the first instance then like a few others have said maybe this is not the car best suited for your needs. I'm the complete opposite I cannot even remember the last time I put fuel in my zed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I'd be more worried about incidental costs rather than general running costs. Fuel, tax, insurance, you can figure that out and budget for that easily enough. What about when you need a set of tyres all round at £800? Or brakes? Or the engine lunches itself and that's £1500 thank you sir? If you've got the slushfund all set then I say go for it, the Zed is an incredibly rewarding car, but if not then the price might be too high to pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) Maybe, I suppose it would be wiser to get the Coupe back on the road before I go getting something like the 350z, at least then I've got a car that isn't quite so ruinously expensive to run alongside it. As for budgeted bits n bobs, insurance is actually quite cheap (£261 fully comp, cheaper than my Merc by £140 and the Coupe by about £40, I suppose this rather fueled my enthusiasm), as for my out goings, not a lot really, internet and website costs but that's about it (and I do some freelance graphic design work that brings in extra). Slush fund? you could say that, I've enough to buy one of the cheaper 350z's for cash with enough left over for a couple of sets of tyres, changing engines? been there done that (albeit on a diesel). However I suppose I'm itching to get rid of the Merc that I've currently got (hate the damned thing) and get back into a NA petrol car and the 350z being the top of my list I focused on it a bit. Thanks alot though, you've all helped me more than I could've reasonably expected, I'm still curious at the cost of locally available super unledaed though . I will have one one day though (just not the 2005, 19,000 miler Roadster that I've seen). Edited December 20, 2013 by alpha_channel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I don't think I'd want a car that old with that few miles on. Just over 2K miles a year, that's just asking for issues if you start using it more regularly! Take your time mate, no rush and there's plenty out there for choice, be well worth it when you do get one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 True, never really thought of it like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaydnH Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I don't think I'd want a car that old with that few miles on. Just over 2K miles a year, that's just asking for issues if you start using it more regularly! Take your time mate, no rush and there's plenty out there for choice, be well worth it when you do get one As long as it's had a yearly service I wouldn't worry about low mileage, there could be corrision inside the exhaust, maybe, but that's easy to fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 There could be all sorts of hidden gremlins hiding. Modern cars are designed to be used, when they're not you end up with bits seizing and snapping and breaking and electrical probs via condensation etc. Each to their own, of course, but I wouldn't consider a car that had done less than 5K a year average. Certainly wouldn't pay a premium of anything below that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spatt Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Not read all the comment. . But... a valid point. I bough a scooter because I had a cbt and my brother rides a motorbike (its a dealim b bone) if you wanna look it up coz its not the sort you think of But basically my point is would it be cheaper for you to buy a 'run about' or do you want to drive the zed daily? Personally I find it more of an occasion getting in my zed now which is the way I like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy james Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Mix and match throughout the week like me, best of both worlds! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha_channel Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 Have to admit the old mix and match was what I started to consider, rather than run the zed as a daily which is what I initially intended due to a combination of factors such as having to get shot of my current car as a part ex or private sale and parking space. Then I actually started thinking (unusual for me of late ) about just how much the restoration of the old Coupe's going to cost. I think I'll hold off for a little while, buy a decent spec MG ZS (180 for preference but I can put up with a 160), get shot of the Merc, restore the Coupe then buy a zed, be it a 350 or 370 depending upon prices at that particular time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEADPHONES Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 My 05 coupe is my daily. Practically ZERO motorway miles. Commute is mainly on free running 40, 50 and 60 roads with traffic lights every few minutes though, not continuous free stretches. I don't drive like Mr Magoo or like a hooligan and have averaged 19.2 over the years on Tesco momentum 99 ron. Hope that helps a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARMLU Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 There could be all sorts of hidden gremlins hiding. Modern cars are designed to be used, when they're not you end up with bits seizing and snapping and breaking and electrical probs via condensation etc. Each to their own, of course, but I wouldn't consider a car that had done less than 5K a year average. Certainly wouldn't pay a premium of anything below that. I do perhaps 4k a year now, car is on 90k on a 54 plate. I do make sure I change the oil each year though, so I think if you look at service intervals carefully you should be ok. Oil needs to be changed every year, coolant every 2 years (I think) etc etc What you don't want is a car doing 3k a year and oil change every 10k! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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