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So I did something terrible. I didn't buy hybrid or electrical. I bought a Diesel again, to replace my Astra. I didn't make an entry in the db yet, so my sig will still show my astra.
It isn't new, but I bought it from the dealer. It is 4y old and only has 24000 miles on it.
It's a 1.6L Diesel. Rated for 38/56 mpg (combined 48) but from the 150miles I did, I can see it has potential. My astra was aging, and it kept getting certain issues, I didn't want to fix (expensive)
I'll post an Image as soon as possible.

I don't see what's so terrible about that. It would be nice if we had such options in the US!

What did you buy, Tom? A 2005 with 1.6L TDI (I assume it is a TDI?) doesn't seem like an irresponsible choice to me! I imagine the hybrid and electric propulsion options are pretty limited and very expensive in Belgium -- diesel is definitely the most reasonable product to purchase.

Sounds like a good choice to me! looking forward to seeing what mpg you can get! :)

Sweet, an S40 diesel :woot:

Seriously, not a bad choice at all. I never had a chance to play with very many Volvo diesels, just the occasional 240 and 740 that came through the shop. But I did like them and they seemed very reliable even by Volvo standards. I certainly worked on enough USA spec gasoline S40s, and was almost tempted to get one.

Congrats on the new ride and I'm looking forward to some pics.

Hi Tom:

___Half the membership would die to own your exact car. Stylish and its fuel efficient potential has got to be out of this world! When it comes to ratings, diesels out on the highway always seem to destroy them and I suspect you will be doing exactly that is very short order.

___Now post some pics so I can drool on my keyboard :D :D :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

OK, so here are two pics (no high res, but I didn't have time yet to take some of my own, these are from the dealer)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/uploads/8460/carf.JPG
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/uploads/8460/carb.JPG

And some more info:
- 1.6L Common rail Turbo Diesel
- Top speed 190km/h - 118mph
- 0-100 km/h (0-60mph): 12,0s
- city mileage: 6.2 l/100km - 38mpg
- highway mileage: 4.2 l/100km - 56mpg
- combined mileage: 4.9 l/100km - 48mpg
- CO2 : 129 g/km
- Front wheel drive
- length: 4468mm
- width: 1770mm
- height: 1452mm
- ABS
- airbags driver+passenger & side airbags & head airbags
- Traction control

I think that's all. If you want to know something just ask.
I've been driving along this first tank like I was doing before, and like everybody else does here (except no speeding). The tank is just over halfway, and I'm achieving 5.4 L/100km (43mpg) according to the on-board computer. Off course, I have no idea if that's very precise...
I'll keep you posted

What Wayne said about us wanting to kill for a 1.6L Volvo Diesel here in the states. :D.

Hi, from a fellow Volvo owner. I just sent my daily driver a 1987 740 Turbo wagon to scrap yard in the sky for a new Prius. I still have my 97 960 for long highway runs.

Welcome to the board.

Sharp looking ride, Tom ! Congrats to you. Enjoy !!

When I read the post title, I thought you made a bad choice. But then I thought you lived in America and got an s40 here, which are crap here. No diesel options here. Only 1 engine option and it's not a very fuel efficient one.

So I fuelled up this morning.
Calculated 4.9l/100km (48mpg) so exactly the figure given by Volvo. And this with some very aggressive driving. On board computer reported 5.3l/100km (44mpg) which I still would have found acceptable since I drove vary "fuel consuming"
I have a lot of short trips coming up, so this tank won't be the best, but in the future I think breaking 4l/100km (59mpg) should be very possible (I almost did it with my Astra, and that was rated 1 L/100km higher)

great purchase tommig!

I was just 0.02% ahead of you in the Summer challange, and was glad to hear that you were not going to add any more to your chalange, but then it hit me, it was going to be my failure when I slipped and it happened. You moved up a spot without trying :)

I am going to try my hardest to get this next tank up and take the place back but it will be up to me. Again great purchase.