Thread: 4wd thats cheap to run

Bob,

What are you after..new or second hand?

Load carrying or not...?

Look at the modern diesels. Initial cost is higher but the running costs are lower.

Per litre of fuel they go further.

Here's mine... (daughter calls it the beast...cause it won't die)

Currently run a 82 model FJ42 cruiser 750,000ks on the clock. Get about 10 - 11 lt/100ks. The newer ones run heaps better than mine. I change the oil and filters every 5000ks. About $130 each change. In 30 years glow plus once and now the alternator is gone so thats not too bad. $400 for a new alternator.

It's been around Aus twice, Cape York 4 times and up and down the centre quite a few times.

I have a turbo diesel Hyundai Terracan, electronic injection diesel 2.9ltr.

Get 8.5-9.5 l/100K, 11-12 l/100k when towing my camper trailer, which is what it gets used for mainly.

Daily driver is a Commodore on factory injected LPG, it gets an average of 10-11 l/100k, or about 7-8c/km.

I have a Nissan Navara 2003 model. It has a 3ltr turbo diesel and I get about 10ltr/100km unloaded and not towing. This is a combination of city and highway driving. Haven't done any records for loaded running yet. I thought this was pretty good.
Are you saying that you get 14ltr/100kms and it is thirsty?

We have a Mazda BT50 dual cab diesel the missus mainly uses, averages at or just under 10 ltrs 100. I sometimes use it when she is not coz mine is a 6 cyl. petrol 100 series cruiser, it seems to me like it gets about 100 ltrs per 10 ks, but I love it. It replaced a 2.8 ltr turbo diesel Patrol, wouldn't pull the skin off a rice custard and was giving about 14 / 15 litres per 100.

Mitsubishi 2012 Challenger. 8.6 on a trip. 9.2 to low10's around town depending on traffic. Still running it in.

2.5ltr turbo diesel, 4wd

Sound like the answer is diesel..

Originally Posted by bobsreturn2003

have a petrol triton great truck but has thirst 13ltrs, before i jump into something else looking for ideas about what people are getting from their vehicle ltrs per 100 klms?? , thanks Bob

maybe you don't bother jumping?

it looks like the best you might do with a new vehicle, which equates to a modern diesel engine, is around 9 or 10 litres/100km.

do the sums:
new vehicle "saves" around 4 litres/100km
new vehicle uses diesel not 91 octane UL or that 10% ethanol rubbish
diesel costs around 10-15 cents/litre more than 91 octane

so over 10,000 km
current vehicle uses about 1300 litres, which costs around $1,850
new vehicle would use about 950 litres, which costs around $1,475
the "saving" is about $375 or 3.75 cents per km
you have to do over 250,000km to save $10,000 -- Is it worth it?

First off I suggest you keep a record over 4 or 5 full tanks of what your actual fuel consumption is using either 91 UL or 10% ethanol UL -- but don't swap between them
then try running the ute using 95 octane for 4 or 5 tanks, again keeping a good record

work out which gives you the lower cost per km

If its a petrol one, maybe have LPG installed. As long as the LPG price is 60% or less than petrol price, it works out cheaper to run (lpg is not as efficient as petrol)

Originally Posted by _fly_

If its a petrol one, maybe have LPG installed. As long as the LPG price is 60% or less than petrol price, it works out cheaper to run (lpg is not as efficient as petrol)

Until they put excise on it.

It depends on what you wnt to do. We have a 09 forester and a 96 falcon. No contest you cry ?

Me driving in town: falcon 12.5 forester 9.5 - 10
Boss driving in town: falcon 12.5 forester up to 11.5

Me driving highway: falcon 7 forester 9
Me highway with a decent trailer on: falcon 9 - 10 forester 14.5

Why ? Because the boss keeps the revs up, because with a trailer on you've got to rev the forester harder and because it's got a bigger frontal area to the falcon at 100 there is heaps more drag.

So:

Do you tow and if so what ? What is your mix of highway/city ? How big does it need to be ? Why do you need a 4b ? off road ? Do you want a ute or a wagon ?

If your swinging 3 ton off it all the time you might just get your best economy from a 200 series. If your pottering in traffic and not towing maybe a hilux or a forester ? Dunno.

I know what you mean about drivers.

for example, SWMBO is extremely gentle with the pedal.
On our new Forester Diesel (2L turbo rated at 5.7 for highway) she can get 5.5. Meanwhile I'm lucky to get 6.5.
Even around town she gets 6.5 whereas I get about 9!
BTW it's a pretty good car.

My main drive is a Hiace van with a 3L turbo diesel.
I haven't done a decent hoghway drive in it but around town I get 9.5 - 10.

How do you find the subaru diesel ? I heard they were having reliability issues with them.

I am really disapointed with the forester (MY10). The paint is criminal, the gearbox is amongst the most awful I've ever driven and the electronic throttle control goes from annoying to dangerous and back.

Wish I'd paid extra and got something else...

Originally Posted by damian

How do you find the subaru diesel ? I heard they were having reliability issues with them.

The subaru is SWMBOs leased car and I only drive it on long trips or when she is away as it costs less to run. We have only had it since Jan and so far so good.

This is our 4th leased Forester in 10 years, our previous 3 have been petrol which were pretty gutless while the diesel is better. All the subarus have been been SWMBOs choice although I pushed for the diesel this time to see if it was any better.

We have not had any problems with paint but we did have a surging issue with the previous (petrol) car which was fixed under warranty. This might have been the electronic throttle? Apart from this we have had no problems with these cars.

I agree that they are sure footed vehicles which SWMBO likes but seeing as she is such a granny driver she hardly ever puts herself in need of this.

This should be thrifty enough to run

I would would'nt consider 14L/100 thirsty, specially considering you are pushing a few ton around. My misses v6 commodore does about 12L/100 round town, and my 2.8L diesel hilux (1990) does around 10-12L/100km rounds town. If it where me I would look at the payback timeframe of putting gas on it.
If you are just looking for a change and have fuel economy in minde then as others have said the newer turbo diesels are the go.