What's the latest in people's lives?

[Reliant121]

I would steer clear of Citroen, unless its the C1. Several friends of ours have had bad experiences with them across the range: C3, C4, C and C8. The C1 is identical to the Peugeot 107, and the Toyota Aygo (they are built in the same frigging Slovakian factory) but they are all cars which are more like...shoes really.

If you wanted more size, you could go up to a Renault Laguna size (which is fracking huge by british standards).



or you could go a little cheaper (therefore smaller) to the likes of the Peugeot 207 SW




Every singe one of these come in 1.4/1.6 diesels that are over 60 mpg.

[Aaron]

60 mpg? WTF are we still screwing around with engines that get less then 30 in North America then? Oh wait, I forgot that folks here don't like diesel.

[Reliant121]

The petrols average out at between 42 to about 53 i believe. The Laguna's isnt as good as its bigger, needs more power. But these are pretty modern engines. Our ford focus petrol is about 10 years old, and does 25 mpg. Which is why we want to chop her in. Thats damned expensive with our fuel prices.

[kostmayer]

is bagging on him ever going to get old?

Well I for one hope so, but I pretty much doubt it.

[Aaron]

The petrols average out at between 42 to about 53 i believe. The Laguna's isnt as good as its bigger, needs more power. But these are pretty modern engines. Our ford focus petrol is about 10 years old, and does 25 mpg. Which is why we want to chop her in. Thats damned expensive with our fuel prices.

Dude, I have a 2007 CRV with a gas engine that gets 28mpg on the highway. That's pathetic compared to what you guys get.

Edit: 2.4l 4 banger.

[Reliant121]

Ah, theres your issue. We have very small engine sizes compared to you. But strangely enough, with the american speed limits and 55 miles per hour, you need the power less than we do.

The CRV is quite a big car for a petrol, we have the same size engine for it with much the same mpg. The difference being, that to American's, the CRV isnt that big if i remember correctly. Its frigging huge to us, most people wouldn't even consider it.

[Aaron]

Ah, theres your issue. We have very small engine sizes compared to you. But strangely enough, with the american speed limits and 55 miles per hour, you need the power less than we do.

The CRV is quite a big car for a petrol, we have the same size engine for it with much the same mpg. The difference being, that to American's, the CRV isnt that big if i remember correctly. Its frigging huge to us, most people wouldn't even consider it.

It's basically a higher Civic. I only own one because it's easier to get into for my wife and kids. But yeah, in Canada it's a small vehicle. It's amazing how many people are running around in Hummers, Suburbans or Expediations.

[Reliant121]

Yeah, i believe its an SUV? They aren't common at all round here. The UK is the land of the hatchback/estate (station wagon). Saloon's (sedans) are in decline as they haven't got any advantages over the other two. And of course, supermini's are everywhere. but thats because they are excellent for going round tight bends and curves of towns. Theres another difference, American roads (IIRC) are quite square and regimented, forming a grid if you will. Show that to a british driver and they'd be horrified. A huge amount of our roads are several centuries old, and are all bendy and curvey. There is little logic to the plan of them either.

[Mikey]

We don't need the power for speed, we need it for distance. In other words, a big (for you guys) honking V6 will last considerably longer than a 4-banger doing the same work, in the same car, over the same distances - it can rev much lower on average to accomplish the same thing.

My wife drives 100 miles per day to work and back, mostly in her Envoy with an I-6. The same commute over the last 4 years (when we bought it) would have been much more destructive to a 4-cyl.

Anyway, as to the French cars - I've heard/seen anecdotally the exact opposite, that Citroens hold up, but Renaults spend more time in the shop than on the road. Could be the differences in American specs, though.

[Reliant121]

Strange. Every Renault i have encountered has been perfect.

But if your looking at diesel, i'd go peugeot without a doubt. There are some Peugeots that will do 600 miles on a single tank. Thats basically the entire length of England on one tank.

EDIT: 100 miles?!?! thats enough to get me across two counties!

[Mikey]

I can't speak to that. The only small diesels with any presence over here are VW's, and they have great drivetrains but all sorts of electrical problems. Diesel over here generally means 1-ton trucks or larger medium- or heavy-duty commercial trucks. When I was in commercial vehicles, the smallest diesel I could offer was a 6.6L V8 turbo-diesel.

That sucker put out about 650 ft.-lbs. of torque before the axle, though.

[Reliant121]

I suppose its practicality. An American car would likely be unsuited to British roads, especially with insurance. (i checked, and for a 3 cylinder 1.0 litre petrol i would have to pay about £1000 when i reach driving age) but our cars dont have the durability to cope with long distances of america. hence you have engines that literally dwarf ours.

[Mikey]

BTW - that commute IS across two counties, and that was round trip. But that's my point - that's not uncommon over here.

[Reliant121]

Thats quite a commute

[Aaron]

Thats quite a commute

Well North America is huge and unfortunately the towns and cities have expanded rather than staying compact. In part due to the cheap gas prices.