Whats cheaper 320CDI or 320LPG

[jberks]

Hi all,
Probably not changing the E240 for another year or so (just done my tax bill!) but it is on my mind and I'll be approaching 100k in a year and thats enough for me.

I want something a bit swifter than the 240 and having lived with a 320cdi for a week, I could get used to the reduction in refinement, but with the cost of diesel and the fact that even a 270CDI only does around 40 ish mpg on a run as against my 240's 36, the argument for a diesel is a weak one, even with my 25k per year mileage.

Figuring that a 320 petrol is going to be less popular and therefore cheaper to buy than the equivalent CDI model, there should be some scope to use the saving for an LPG conversion. So, assuming total cost is the same, and performance is little different, whats going to be cheaper to run in the long term?? -

 

[996jimbo]

Having had a quick check on Parkers I would suggest the figures are as follows:

Based on diesel at £0.92/l, petrol £0.90/l, LPG £0.45/l

1. E320 CDI fuel consumption about 36 mpg =11.62 pence per mile
2. E320 petrol consumption about 28 mpg =14.61 pence per mile
3. LPG consumption about 80% of petrol so about 22.4 mpg =9.13 pence per mile
4. LPG conversion about £2k
5. Based on 11.62-9.13=2.49 running cost on LPG about 2.5 pence per mile cheaper than diesel
6. Based on £2,000.00 / £0.025 = 80,000 you will have to cover 80,000 miles to recover the cost of the conversion after which time you will be saving money running on LPG.

Not taking in to account of course any saving you get on the purchase of a petrol car over diesel. Obviously if you save £1k then you only have to cover 40,000 miles to break even.

BUT

Tax breaks on LPG are set to reduce therefore LPG may not continue to be under half the cost of diesel. Therefore whether you save money will depend on what your annual mileage is ie how many miles you will cover as against the (relative) rise in the price of LPG against diesel. Assuming it does rise relatively.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser and cannot be held in any way liable if someone goes and buys something based on my calculations! That said if anyone wants to pay me for the advice I'm not giving then obviously I won't turn that down.

 

[wrichardson1999]

Also, most new cars (< 2 years old) are able to acheive upto 80% off the LPG conversion costs via a government grant, though I'm not quite sure how you apply for the grant, you'd need to speak a speciallist company.

You'll also need to investigate the type of LPG system you want fitted, they vary in cost and efficiency, some systems can also cost upto £3500 depending on the installer, worth shopping around.

Hope this helps

 

[996jimbo]

Also, most new cars (< 2 years old) are able to acheive upto 80% off the LPG conversion costs via a government grant, though I'm not quite sure how you apply for the grant, you'd need to speak a speciallist company.

Don't think any grants are available as gov't had rethink about LPG - see Powershift Register. Could be wrong.

 

[jberks]

in any case, even when there were grants, MBs didn't qualify.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

may as well get yourself a C55AMG then. think of the time you save travelling and use that to earn the money to pay for the car! :lol:


possibly not the most helpful of posts, but at least it is another way of thinking. 8)


and at 60ish you should get around 35mpg out if it.

 

[jberks]

if only......

 

[Bolide]

What's cheaper?

Overall I'd say it has to be the 320 CDi. When you take depreciation into account it'll beat an LPG car any day


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[montyv6]

Hi, Ive had my 98 E280 converted to LPG at a cost of £1500 (the latest sequential system) I'm currently averaging 22 mpg on gas with an average price of 33p/ litre giving me approx 60 miles on the price of a gallon of diesel, the oil chages can be extended due to the cleanliness of the gas burn and the car seems to run smoother on gas also there is no noticable power drop when on gas