LPG related question

[Phil]

Just wondering what effect people thought having an LPG conversion done on a 1.2 bravo would have on its resale price. Would it help to add value, take value off or make it more difficult to sell, or would it not really effect resale price at all?

opinions please...

 

[Rab]

It probably won't make very much difference to the price but in my opinion i would pay a little more for a car that has already been converted as it saves on the cost of having it done.So long as it's been fitted by someone that knows what they are doing and has issued the current owner with a certificate to confirm that the work has been carried out by an approved installer (you won't get insurance without the cerificate) then there won't be a problem.But it will definatly not de-value the car, add a little but not too much.Though if you get it converted i bet you won't be selling it for a long time. Got my 1.6 converted over 2 yrs ago and unless something major happens to it or me it won't be sold for a long time if ever.

 

[Phil]

Thanks Rab. thought you would be the man to porvide the answers i was looking for. Just got go get some quotes for it to be done.... then find the money of course!

Does it have an affect on you insurance. I understand you have to tell them since its a modification to the car, but will it make insurance higher, lower, or the same

 

[Phil]

Just had another thought.. On a previous post about LPG conversions you mentioned that they can fit a gas tank that sits in the spare wheel well. I presume this means you lose your spare, which seems a little foolish to me. I know a guy who has had his tank fitted underneath the car, but i presume this wouldnt be possible becuase the Bravo is a lot closer to the ground. (his car is a Landrover)

 

[Rab]

When i had mine done i told the insurance (More Than)
and asked if it would increase my premium and was told that gas was considered to be the owner trying to do there bit to save fuel and reduce greenhouse gasses and and was thought not to be a performance enhansment so no change to the premium
Check with your own insurance company first though as this might have changed in the last couple of years (mine is nowhere near slow and they might have cottoned on to it. )
Where abouts in the country are you based Phil ?

 

[Phil]

I'm in the Midlands, near to Dudley to be more precise. There seem to be gas conversion places popping up all over around here, and the gas is becoming more available too so i am really starting to see it as an option. I don't to a tremendous amount of milage, but i do travel up to Preston and over to Milton Keynes a few times a year, so recon any saving i make on my fuel is a bonus. Plus my finances suggest I wont be able to afford a new car for a few years (plus i love my bravo, despite what people say about them) so need to work on making the car i have as comforatble and economical as possible.

 

[Tom]

The tank has to be a minimum distance off the ground (200mm?) if its mounted externally for safety reasons. I can't see why as they allow cars to have unprotected plastic petrol tanks!!

I've been looking into LPG for my 1.6. The only tanks I fond that would fit the spare wheel well were really quite small. I'd have

 

[Rab]

Sorry Phil i had to go offline for a bit there.
You'll find the gas works out as being slightly less economical than petrol but it's offset by the price.
in the petrol stations it's around 36-39p a ltr
or you mmmight find some private owned tanks around selling for les thats what i've found and manage to buy it for 30p a ltr.
So you can see where it becomes economical if not in your engine it certainly is in your wallet

Rab.
"This is a LOCAL website for LOCAL people we'll not have any trouble here"

 

[Phil]

Well to be honest im not too bothered about the effect on the environment or fuel economy. its financial economy i'm interested in and Gas is surley much cheaper per mile than petrol no matter how you look at it. Right?

 

[Phil]

just got myself a quote from www.greenfuel.org.uk they want about 2 grand for the conversion (which on my milage would take around four years to earn back), but i got the impression you can get it done cheaper than that, without having to settle for a lower quality conversion. Any ideas guys?

 

[Tom]

Define 'quality'

There are only a small number of companies making the tanks and injection systems so the quality of that is not going to vary. The quality is in the install, how much they hack up your car etc...

 

[Rab]

Get some different quotes
you can do a lot better than that and still find someone that does a quality job (ie:- won't bodge the car up)
If you find someone to do the work at the right price and he has a good reputation for doing good work but is miles away from your area it would be worth the travelling to save the cash.
You'll not regret it but for around a quarter to a half of the price you were quoted would be more like the right price.

Rab.
"This is a LOCAL website for LOCAL people we'll not have any trouble here"

 

[LightWarrior]

what do you mean private tanks???

 

[Tom]

Not a petrol station.