Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All,
Sorry if I'm shattering a few pairs of rose tinted glasses by writing the following ......
The honorable members of club 80 90, who had the insight to convert, let say from two years plus ago (8-10K), will had definately made a big financial saving. And hat's off to them.
Those intending to convert now, or in the near future, will have to wait an extra year or about 12-14K before reaping the benefits of so called cheap alternative fuel or LPG.
Away from the green aspects of using LPG (apparently LPG reduces emission by 20%) I'm still not wholly convinced the price of LPG will stay around half that of petrol.
The problem is LPG, unlike petrol, can hugely vary in price, according to your area, by a staggering 40%. I did a quick check this morning and Barnsley Calor Gas is selling at a mere 42.5p.
Unfortunately I'm stuck in the south east where most things are overpriced, including LPG. Local price is 60p per litre. And I'm stuck here until the kid's ef off. Please God! Soon?
Averaging those two LPG prices comes to about 50p. Petrol about £1.03. Still pretty good I hear you muse. But here's the crunch. Nationwide, AVERAGE prices of LPG have increased by a staggering 30+% in the last
three years! Average petrol prices by around 13%.
LPG in 2005 just 32p a litre. Petrol about 92p. 2008? 50p average for LPG and around £1.03 for the horrible stuff.
If LPG continues to increase by such a huge varying percentage, a very rough calculation for the future ( say by 2012) sees petrol around £1.35 and LPG £1.10.
I hope I'm wrong cos I really want to convert.
maxstu

Umm - a good point I suppose.

It's a bit of a gamble now perhaps, on the financial side, for those considering doing it now.

Mine paid for itself in 6 months 2 years ago, but I do use mine as a daily driver so that makes a big difference.

It's all down to fortune telling and maths then, neither of which I intend to attempt on a Friday morning - but someone else might pop in and have a go !!

Hi Ghost,
You did the right thing at the right time. Especially with a daily driver.
With me it's a catch 22. I can pay for the conversion. Then fill up with LPG grinning smugly. Then drive twice the amount of miles I wouldn't normally so to justify the costs. I can't get me head round it either.
maxstu

i've just filled up at the pirate station in sheffield , bottom of herries road , (out) law brothers , 54.9ppl .. i remember the 29.9ppl and sometimes 26.9ppl days which i think are loonnnggggg gone .. today the petrol was 105.9 ppl and diesel was 110.9ppl ..

its doubled in price .... they can't keep doing it , the greener folk will have something to say ,

oh and its now about the same price as veg oil

yes, LPG varies in price, and so does petrol, but whichever way you look at it, its still only 1/2 the price, and petrol isnt going to stop going up.

price per mile is still half, yes, ok some of us really won in the early days at 29ppl against petrol at 67ppl.
thing is, the longer you worry about it, the more you pay in travelling on the fools gold.

I really dont see the prices climbing above 1/2 the price of petrol, it fluctuates, but petrol just went up to 108 here, gas stayed the same.....54.

Problem with price comparisons is people don't neccessarily compare like with like.

Local Gas suppliers tend to be a few p cheaper than Asda/Morrisons who are a few p cheaper than BP/Shell etc - then throw in a bit of local competition (something we don't have in the Highalnds - so we pay more)....but......Petrol is 1.09p and Diesel 1.14p today.

We converted last Spet (thanks Steve) and my (saddo) spreadsheet says I will pay off at baout 8700 miles - this obviously varies with changing price differential.

You end up finding out who does the cheap stuff - and make sure you fill up there - prop the same with petrol users.

Taxation will increase on LPG over the next few budgets at a rate a bit more than petrol - however it is STILL a waste product of the petroleum refining industry....

We intend to travel in near Europe and the British Isles extensively over the next few year and I am happy that:

1. The conversion it will be paid off by mid summer
2. LPG will continue for at least a few years significantly cheaper than Petrol
3. The variation described has been affected by increasing taxation on LPG and an uncertain oil market
4. We will never be paying much less than £1 a litre for petrol again - it is only going to go one way ( and fast) and I would prefer to be paying LPG prices.
5. Tis nice always having a full Leisure bottle - filled at pump prices - not Calor Gas prices......

If that helps anyone ...good

mikey9 wrote:Local Gas suppliers tend to be a few p cheaper than Asda/Morrisons who are a few p cheaper than BP/Shell etc

Funny thing in my area is that the local Calor Gas depot, on a big industrial est in Ellesmere Port, is one of the dearest sources in the area !! ( plus their ancient pump takes an age to fill my tank )

You can get the same Calor Gas product from a Shell station just up the road for 2p less per Litre !!

Asda is still the cheapest in our locality ( 49.9p )

That's one point to consider. Be certain your local supply of LPG is ultra competitive.
I did a quick check locally. Couldn't get anything up to date on internet so used the dog & bone. Cheapest is 66p! The thieving barstewards!
Whereabouts in the south east is the cheapest?
Mocki I think I've missed the boat.
One other area I have to consider and would appreciate some feedback on this.......
Recon vege engine fitted sept 07. Garage will not continue with warranty if I have LPG fitted. Despite me insisting I will show them a certificate.
Not really happy with that. Surely they should have confidence in their costly workmanship. He threw a load of metaphores at me about the crank. I went deaf half way through. What would you do?
thanks
maxstu

firstly i wouldnt tell him about the lpg, hes talking out of his bum!

if you converted now you would be well paid for before it got anywhere near the price of petrol, the doomsayers said it would be the same price before now and its still half the price......

as for 66ppl, there are cheaper out there in your area, even brighton is cheaper thn that.......

lpg burns slightly hotter than petrol, but not much, it worrys flat fours not at all, i know of 100k being done on lpg on old engines that had done 100k plus before conversion, no damage at all, so a recon should , if its really a recon , be ok.

how much do you spend on petrol a week?
Half of that could be staying in your pocket, every week...

About £15 a week at this time of year.
But have big plans for the warmer weather. All booked for Plymouth-Santander ferry April 23. Then 10 days up the Picos and Pyrenees before heading through france back to Calais and Blighty.
Then Lake District in July for maybe two weeks. Plus more dub shows, long weekends etc.
Yeah! I know, my early morning rant is getting shady. Bin off work for two days with a sh##ty man cold. Can barely get out of bed to use PC
Still non the wiser really. But it's good to talk. Must get a crystal ball!!
Cheers
maxstu

Flip MAXSTU - if you are planning all that mileage in your van, then get it done !!

Just think how much it will save you on that xxx thousand mile trip !!

maxstu wrote: . . . Nationwide, AVERAGE prices of LPG have increased by a staggering 30+% in the last three years! Average petrol prices by around 13%. LPG in 2005 just 32p a litre. Petrol about 92p. 2008? 50p average for LPG and around £1.03 for the horrible stuff.

Surely the average price of petrol has gone up more than 11p in 3 years?

Tony

Hi Nicola&Tony,
Admittedly the findings were from a internet report dated was Sept 2005. So not quite three calender years. However, a budget is looming.
Remember we're talking an extra 11p per litre or more than 48p a gallon since then. Now you see why they changed their displays to litres. Doesn't cause concern putting 3p here or 2p there on a litre...the crafty gits.
Me head's beginning to hurt now! Where's them pills gone....
cheers
maxstu

I thought petrol was 92p per litre about 12 months ago, maybe time just passes faster these days!

Tony