Low emissions lead to savings; STEVE HUGHES rounds up the week's motoring news in a nutshell

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 24, 2008

Byline: STEVE HUGHES

MORE than a third of car buyers are aiming to save money by downsizing to a smaller car or switching to diesel, but in many cases they may be making the wrong decision.

A survey by Glass's Guide suggests that 38% of motorists believe that such a switch will bring them better economy and lower CO2 emissions, which will result in lower taxes.

However, in some cases they will be saying no to roomier vehicles on the basis of a false premise and will actually save nothing.

Glass's says: "Buyers cited fuel prices and rises in road tax for heavier polluting vehicles as factors motivating them to swap their car for a more compact and efficient model.

"The poll also revealed that a growing number of motorists are switching to diesel as a way of cutting running costs. Of those surveyed, 29% stated an intention to exchange their petrol vehicle for a diesel model, expecting to take advantage of significant reductions in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

"The findings highlight just how keen motorists are to cut the cost of owning and running their cars. Concerns about running costs are not likely to go away and we expect further shifts in demand during the short and medium term."

However, Glass's spokesman Adrian Rushmore added a note of caution for those thinking of moving to diesel.

"There are certainly benefits to driving a diesel, with greater fuel efficiency and lower road tax," he said. "But buyers need to be aware that these models tend to cost more to buy than their petrol counterparts and it can take years to recoup this investment through reduced running costs." In many cases it is not simply the size of a car that matters but rather the efficiency of their engines, which can differ hugely.

For example, the owner of a 140mph BMW 5 Series might be tempted to downsize to a significantly smaller 125mph Ford Focus with a diesel engine of the same size.

However, the BMW 520d has a CO2 figure of just 136g/km in comparison to 144g/km for the Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi.

It would be a similar scenario for someone with a Ford Focus compact hatch intending to downsize to a Nissan Micra supermini.

Again, it is the type of car that counts, not simply the size because the 108bhp Focus 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic has a CO2 figure of just 115g/km in comparison to 120g/km for the 85bhp Micra 1.5 dCi.

Companies with high-efficiency models such as those of the BMW EfficientDynamics, Volkswagen BlueMotion, Ford ECOnetic and a host of others are the ones that will save the most money.

BMW says it believes that sales will be safeguarded if sporting and prestige models can continue to achieve a high level of performance prowess without compromising economy or environmental-friendliness.

The company says that drivers are ready to buy more energy-efficient cars but only if they can still deliver the highest levels of driving dynamics.

The real reason for choosing cleaner cars among most buyers is to save money in the long run, not just the planet.

The BMW 520d is a prime example of how high-performance models can be more economical and greener than their rivals, with the Beemer boasting 55mpg economy and a CO2 figure that gives it an annual road tax bill of pounds 120 a year.

The figures for an Audi A6 TDI are economy of 49mpg and CO2 emissions of 151g/km resulting in an annual road tax bill of pounds 145.

In the case of the Mercedes-Benz E220 CDI the economy figure is 46mpg and the CO2 figure is 160g/km whilst for the Saab 9-5 Vector Sport TiD the equivalent figures are 44mpg with 174g/km CO2 and an annual road tax liability of pounds 170.

CAPTION(S):

GREEN AND ECONOMICAL - for the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic