Merits of Gas Conversion!?

[nico]

Am growing more curious about these so wondered what you guys know about them, as i have seen gas pumps at odd filling stations now. As much as I know (what i've been told) :
They cost about 400 to install (tank fills your space saver)
Cost at the pump (near me) is 53p as opposed to 110-120 for unleaded / super
Better performance (makes your car go like stink aparently)
Slighter lower efficiency / economy (but for less than half the price at the pump and some extra kick - sounds like a good trade off to me!)

This isn't actually for my bravo, as I'm selling it and my T5 coupe and getting an estate, but I'm torn at the mo. Do I go for T5R engine this time (sports setup with 240bhp rather than 220) and accept that my fuel bills are guna rise even more, or opt to save prob 2K a year and go for a diesel (and settle for prob 160-170 horse at best ? Or even, save a bit by not getting an R spec, and get a T5 (buy a piggyback to take it to 300 brake) and go for the gas tank for effiiency too???

 

[stephen01]

for me it would come down to milage, ie if i was doing 15k plus a year i would prob have a oil burner, however as we only between 8-10k i have had a petrol, also is 160-170bhp not enough for you?

i would also get a quote for a gas conversion as when i looked at doing it it was more like 1k plus

Marea, why settle for less?

 

[nico]

yer, even 500 sounded cheap cheap for for me parts and labour.

I think I've done over 20k over this last year what with 80mile round commute ea day.

That was downfall of the mule really..after having driven the turbo with 220 brake for a few months (even though its a heavier car and crap on the bends) you kinds get used to the power

 

[Buzz]

BravaRab had one and he raved about it as he recouped his outlay within a year, and after that was basically on half-price fuel.

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[nico]

Been reading up on it some more and its seems I was a little off on the install costs.

It seems a single point system is false economy as far as reliable running, so a decent multi-point injection system will set me back about 1900.

Certainly seems a good idea if like me you're doing over 15K a year, in a big engined motor, and intend to keep it for a couple of years min.

Checked the price at the BP pumps when I left work:
Diesel 132
Super 121
LPG 56

You're supposed to get 10bhp more top end, but 75-80% economy compared to regular, so I may only get 20mpg stead of 25 but it will cost less than half and it burns cleaner so am defintely considering it.

Been looking at piggybacks though, and I could get a V70 TDi up to 220 I reckon, but the pull of a R spec and piggyback and 300bhp is just so seductive though! Would prob convert my bravo too - if I were keeping it, but I need an estate.

 

[Rab]

I did indeed have my Brava converted to run on LPG for about 5 years and it was the best thing i ever did.
Just wish i could afford to get every car i've had converted.
I could go on for ages about this subject but i'll try not to bore the pants off everyone reading this so if you want to know more about it or have any questions your still not 100% sure of drop me an email and i'll get back to you with the answers you need.
(Just click on my name above for the address).