I imagine that a Scenic or something of that type is required due to the restricted mobility of some of the passengers.
Second some of the above points. A petrol will warm up much quicker which is better for the engine and the climate in the cabin that in a diesel will stay damp for longer.
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Yup, my Mondeo (pre-CR) is the same.
Around town / stop-start = 35 mpg
Commute (35 mile each way on motorway and A-roads) = 47 mpg
Our 1.4 (petrol) Fiesta can match its round town figure, although can't get close to its motorway figure. It also warms up in a couple of minutes
Agree also that diesels take forever to warm up, particularly if the engine isn't doing any work, such as crawling along at idle and slow speeds.
For local A to B running about, I would go for a small petrol.
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How long is it left for? I know it's illegal but I'd be tempted to fit a turbo timer that will let you lock the door leaving it ticking over but that cuts the engine when the accelerator is pressed.
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I work as a community nurse and drive a Peugeot 106 diesel (ignore my profile). Lots of stop start journeys as well as a rush hour commute to and from work in crawling traffic, and ccassional longer runs on A roads to get to outlying areas.
I average 55mpg. I suspect longer commutes at constant speed would significantly improve this, the PUG 106 is very freugal. Can't compare it to a petrol, but would think that fuel economy is going to be worse car for car.
Bear in mind that if SWBO goes in to community nursing on qualifying she will be re-imbursed for her mileage (42.p/mile or thereabouts), so the lower your running costs, mpg, tax, insurance, etc. the better. I would prefer a bigger car, but stick with the 106 as it is adequate for the job and my expenses cover my costs.
I'm sure you already know but insurance needs to be for business use.
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I'd agree with Chuffer - old style diesel is the way to go. My suggestion would be a 205 STDT - PAS, and quite well appointed.
My 405 TD does 40 on short kids' taxi runs (2-5 miles) 44 on sensible XC motoring, and 42 if I bash it down the Autoroute at 80 mph.
Not only will you make money on the mileage, but you won't be suffering depreciation. Sensible bangernomics I'd call it, as there's no need for a new car in her job.
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SWMBO has a 1.9D Punto that has been on this sort of service for 5 years, it averages between 49/52 MPG.
She started with the Seicento 900cc (Petrol) and the fuel consumption was so devastating (27mpg) that it had to be moved on very quickly.
Its worth noting that it was the multi stop start and never reaching operating temperature in winter that showed such a big difference.
Our other Vehicle, a 1.3 common rail Punto Multijet averages 57MPG on the same use.
Its a small lightweight diesel (IMHO) that is the best option.
Just to note, 5 years of ultra short, cold start trips, sometimes only a hundred yards, have made no impression at all on the 1.9D Punto and it still runs like new.
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Thanks for feedback so far which has been very interesting. SWMBO is now a qualified unemployed nurse, it would appear that there are lots of nurses needed, but no one has funding to pay for them, but instead end up using "bank" or "agenecy" nurses which costs them more!
Anyway, back to motoring, some seem to think diesel would be better like for like than the petrol, others feel petrol better! Re the 106, last year we gave up an excellent Saxo diesel that had done us proud, to get something just a wee bit more comfortable, so don't think she would go back to that size of car unless it was more modern and luxurious (we now have a Fabia).
Will wait and see what , if any, job she ends up getting. But if she does get a community job (her preferred option), then I will be looking into every minute detail of petrol vs diesel!
Oh, and whoever referred to the term "District Nurse"? She didn't appreciate me calling her Nurse Gladys!!
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Bobbyg, can't think of anything worse than 3-4 years training & no jobs, the situation is ludicrous and will undoubtely take us back to a shortage of nurses in 3-5 years time.
if you want to contact me via email (think moderators should be able to give you my address) I can possiible give some pointers on how swmbo can increase her chances of getting work
cheers
Chuffer
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My 306TD does around 43mpg combined; 38-40 around town driven sensibly and about 47 on a motorway leg at a steady 70-75. Would still get about 450 miles to the tank even if it was driven solely around town- an equivalent petrol would probably only manage around 300. Usually get a bit better mpg in the summer months though.
Martin
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Chuffer, thanks for your offer, email winging its way to the Mods.
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