Automatic Bay - good or bad idea?!

Mind you i drive it like i nicked it

 

24mpg from my 2.0 inj manual throughout France with bikes on back which probably worsened the drag coefficient

 

I guess it depends what you want. I have got mine to a point where its a nice drive, I am rarely (actually close to never as a point of principle) the one holding up traffic on country roads. Actually do overtake people regularly in A roads. Its an 1800 with twin IDF40s and a higher lift cam plus vintage speed exhaust, and I get between 18 and 23 mpg or so.

I have a theory that the actual consumption doesn't vary that much but is affected by things like "did you brim the tank exactly the same each time" etc. I think the point is that these vehicles are great fun to drive, own and look after (mostly) but are a world away from modern vehicles. They drink fuel as they are old tech from a time when it didn't really matter as fuel was cheap and in the USA competitors cars were doing 12mpg or less.

I think you kind of have to get your head around fuel costs around 20mpg plus or minus a few as a fact of life on these buses. Even the cost and complexity of an LPG conversion or a scooby works out as many thousands of miles of fuel equivalent for it to payback. The main way such conversions pay is if you use "man maths" meaning you want to do it anyway and are justifying it to her indoors.

just my opinion

 

"Man Maths"
I've been using that for years but didn't know it had a proper name.

 

Women have an equivalent form of maths they use to prove why that extra pair of shoes/bag etc. was not only absolutely necessary but actually they saved loads by buying it even though it does sound like a lot of£££££

 

gotta be more to bay ownership than mpg surely? if not there's no point in owning any of em is there?

 

agree, daily is a different story, commuting to work etc, i want to drive mine everywhere, but funds dont allow sometimes and have to take the workhorse diesel golf. at least having it as a daily prompts you to put work into them, like heating and maintenance rather than just sitting on the drive

 

Yea mpg doesn't bother us. It's the smiles per mile that matter.

Our youngest 2 says van every time he sees one on the road, tv or picture.

Our 6 year old is already asking when we going camping.

 

I get both sides of the mpg debate. I don't want it to be my priority but I'll be doing about 10000 miles a year so it becomes a real factor. I'll dodge auto for now.
I need to get my head around the pros and con's of the various engine types and sizes. I have searched but didn't really get to the bottom of it. I feel a new thread coming on!

 

I suspect that driving like a granny makes more difference than engine choice. I could be wrong.

 

our auto was the first bus I eve saw, drove and bought, perhaps if id seen a manual first I would have bought one of those instead, just meant to be i guess. couldn't really grumble at the price I paid for it! and @Bertiebot is right, if you drive carefully, and pull away slowly, avoid flat to the floor trying to rinse every last bit out of it, the fuel will last longer in either manual or auto of that there is no doubt. it would take to driv them as you may not like the way a manual drives and you may really like the way an auto drives, but I'd defo test drive both first. if you're near Sheffield you can try mine if you want?

 

That's a great point by @brucieboy have you ever driven one? They are fantastic fun to drive but very different from a modern car. I'm sure some folk on here would give you a go if you asked nicely. Where in the UK are you? By the way they all drive a bit differently too depending on things like gearshift linkage condition, steering box and linkages etc. which will also give you an idea of what they can feel like when you are doing test drives when buying one.

 

@Gobsheen

 

Thanks guys! I'm in Fife, so Sheffield is a bit of a trek but very kind of you to offer.
I'm more familiar with driving beetles, some time ago though. At the time, I did have a spin in a bay. I do need to test drive some.....you're right.

 

Hi Gobsheen. I also live in Fife. (Chairman of The Kingdom Vee Dub Club) If you need any help looking at local Bays for sale just give me a shout and I will come with you.
You can email me at kingdomveedubclub@hotmail.co.uk.
Happy hunting.
Rick.

 

Thanks Rick.....really appreciate the offer.