The Car Hub

It is now becoming much more the case that the choice of car you purchase does not just rest with the car’s size, the basic instruments, the cup holders or seat covers etc, but what engine you have in your car.
We’re not talking here about a choice simply between petrol and diesel engines but what type of petrol or diesel engine, confusing?
Gone are the days when it was a simple choice between petrol and diesel, in today’s age we need to give extra consideration whether to choose a diesel/electric hybrid or a petrol electric/hybrid or de we go for an all electric car; what about an engine called an ECOnetic as fitted in Fords or a car engine with Efficient Dynamics as in a BMW; with a turbo-charger or without a turbo-charger?
It’s quite a maze isn’t it as you will also have to consider what kind d motoring you do, local town driving usually means a smaller engine car while regular long distance driving would usually suggest a mid to large engine diesel.
If you own a car these days there are also E.U. regulations concerning carbon gas emissions and diesel particulate figures to be taken into account. These EU regulations are getting more restrictive as the years pass therefore you need to give good thought to what type of engine you will have in your newly bought car if you are to retain it for some years to come otherwise it could lead to expensive conversions later.
One car maker who may be ahead of the rest as regards controlling particulate emissions are Honda, their new i-DTEC engines have a diesel particulate filter embodied in their engine unit but to have one of these you’ll need to write a cheque for £20,000 plus.
Finally on the theme of expense to try and comply with lower carbon gas emissions, diesel particulates and attain lower fuel consumption we have seen the introduction of smaller sized diesel and petrol engines fitted into mid to medium large cars backed up with turbo chargers to provide the acceleration boost required for overtaking.
These turbo charged cars might sound good during boy-racer conversations but consider the combination of a smallish engine and a turbo charger in a medium large car; in this situation if there is a lot of driving at lower speeds that will put a heavier burden on the engine, while excessive mis-use of the turbo charger can cause harm.
According to Warranty Direct who know about such things, the average cost of a failed turbo is £874 but it could rise to as much as £2500, quite a hit on the wallet.
So, if you’re thinking of buying either new or used, all electric, turbo charged or not etc. etc. you will have to think of the future as well as the present.
Bill Williams
www.thecarhub.net