Whats the fuel consumption on a 1.4 petrol like?

[paulwitchard]

All in the question really - someone english fairly local is advertising a BX 1.4 with a longish CT on it on an offers invited basis. Obviously its not going to be very powerful, (nor is the 1.9 non turbo we have already), but what sort of fuel consumption could you expect. In deepest Normandy we don't do much in the way of town driving, its mostly mooching around the lanes or long straight main roads.
We don't really need another car, but if its cheap enough!?

[Philip Chidlow]

Citroen say: Top speed 101 mph, 0-60 13.4 secs, 51 mpg @ 56mph.

You should get 40-43 mpg pootling along.

[cauchoiskev]

I used to have one (I assume it is the more recent TU engine ?), now I have a 1.9 diesel estate.

The 1.4 is definitely better for overtaking. It's geared for acceleration, and will probably be much more sprightly than you would imagine. I regularly got less than 6l/100 on long runs. The worst I ever did was 7l/100.

All in all, the 1.4 TU is a great car, much maligned, I regret selling it. If it's cheap and well looked after, go for it !

[kiwi]

If I can find my old fastidously kept logbooks I keep for my cars I have owned I can probably give you a better idea of what to expect of fuel consumption compared to what the Official Figures claim.
Then were the days when I commuted from Plymouth to St Austell daily so pretty much open road.

Given you have a 1.9D now you probably will find power slightly better but obviosly fuel consumption heavier. Although copared to a BX16/19 it will be quite economical compared.

[Stinkwheel]

Driving mine day in day out at the moment, lovely nippy thing, not so great at motorways due to short overall gearing.

Im getting an average of approx 40mpg with mine.

[MULLEY]

Can you do the same trick as with the Gti models by fitting the turbo diesel 5th gear to make it longer?

[Stinkwheel]

I dont know Mulley, if you can i would be VERY interested in a modification like that. In fact with a taller fifth the car would be near perfect

[DavidRutherford]

In deepest Normandy we don't do much in the way of town driving, its mostly mooching around the lanes or long straight main roads.

That would seem to suggest the 1.9D is the better car for you. If it was more town/suburban driving, the 1.4 might be the better car to drive, but would still be heavier on fuel.

What's the cost difference between unleaded and diesel in France at the moment?

[paulwitchard]

Diesel is about 1.08, sp95 is about 1.43 I think.
Have made an offer for it - we'll see what comes back, the 1.9D will be staying, with no road tax, CT (MOT) every 2 years, and because its 1988 the possibility of running it on classic insurance - the same policy as about 12 mopeds and a Visa convertible - the insurance cost would be less than 50 euros pa.
If its the right price it might be rude not to rehome it!

[scarecrow]

I seem to be getting around 30ish miles to 5 litres but that's all urban driving and usually short journeys from cold, so half the trip is with the choke out.

I did a longer run the other day (mainly motorway between 70 and 80mph) and the fuel consumption was markedly better - more like 45 miles to 5 litres.



Edit: It's actually doing around 35 miles per 5 litres around town - about right then. I'm going to have to do the sums to see if a diesel would be much cheaper for me. Probably works out about the same considering maintenance and tax costs.

[paulwitchard]

Seller has had an offer of €500 for it - its 1986 with 232k km on the clock, and white, so it won't be coming here, especially as it needs a new CT to re register it, still the info's always useful, you never know when another might turn up.

[mat_fenwick]

Can you do the same trick as with the Gti models by fitting the turbo diesel 5th gear to make it longer?

I doubt it unfortunately, as it's a different type of gearbox...

[MULLEY]

Aha, i wasn't 100% if the gearbox's were different or not, that's a shame, unless anyone knows of a simiar gearbox for the tu engine that has longer gearing?