Biodiesel - what vehicle?
Posted by DavidM in Driving | 20 August 2006
Before undertaking the potentially dangerous task of telling my wife I want to sell her Audi TT and buy a cheap truck to run on biodiesel, I wanted to check what can actually run on it.
I was under the (mistaken) impression that you had to convert a car to run on biodiesel, so was looking at something cheap so the resale value would hardly be affected. Also, given our regular camping trips I want more load space.
However, I have discovered that not only can any car with a diesel engine take biodiesel but you can also mix biodiesel and normal diesel in any proportion. However, it's best to stick with cars made between 1990 and 2004.
I started by looking at large 4x4s. Although the Chelsea tractor is considered anti-environmental, running one on biodiesel can't be so bad. The two with a combination of very large boot space, cheap old models available and diesel engines were;
Isuzu Trooper - available on Autotrader from about £750. Has a load space of 1,000 litres or so but does only 26.9 miles to the gallon.
Landrover Discovery - from about the same price with a similar load space and does 30 miles to the gallon.
Our Audi A3 has a boot capacity of 350 litres and does 33mpg so I looked at what extra estate cars would give.
At around 500-550 litres boot space the Mondeo estate, Honda Accord tourer, Mazda 6 estate, Megane Sport tourer, Skoda Octavia estate and Toyota Avensis estate all offer much more room. They are also far more frugal than the 4x4s - achieving at least 40mpg.
I'm starting to angle towards an estate. The efficiency combined with using biodiesel will significantly cut the environmental impact of my motoring.
Now to start the negotiations over the TT.
