The miser's motor | Bangkok Post: auto

Auto > Auto Review

SHORTDRIVE

The miser's motor

Published: 19 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Life

If you can live with the limitations of CNG installations, this Honda City can offer attractive running costs

WHAT'S NEW?

Honda has become the latest brand to offer a bi-fuel model capable of running on either compressed natural gas or petrol: the City CNG.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Your comments

wired
Post : 4
Send message

Discussion 6 : 24 Nov 2012 at 21.146
Post this to my Facebook
160km range with a 65liter CNG tank?? It sounds weird...
Like dislike 1 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
teecee
Post : 42
Send message

Discussion 5 : 23 Nov 2012 at 16.325
Post this to my Facebook
Disc 1 - pointoffew: You state . . . "Honda claims a 160km range in CNG mode" but didn't allow the test driver to verify it? Such claims are more often than not false."
Maybe you should read the article a little more closely. . . ????
It clearly states . . . .
"On a trip to Phetchaburi, for instance, we managed to match Honda's 160km range in CNG mode. As for petrol (E20, in fact), we got 15kpl."
Like dislike 3 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
jaydee
Post : 36
Send message

Discussion 4 : 22 Nov 2012 at 21.134
Post this to my Facebook
I wonder how long it takes to break even on the extra costs of buying a CNG model? There is so much to factor in; I bet the CNG system costs a lot to maintain and service when it's out of warranty and I bet the engine costs more as a result of running on CNG. What about all those times you drive on E20 as you can't find a CNG station, or spend idling in a queue to get gas - it might even be possible to put a monetary value on the time you waste queueing, or on the inconvenience of going shopping with your family and not being able to fit all the groceries in the trunk. I bet it will have a lower re-sell value on the used car market.
Like dislike 4 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
robins
Post : 799
Send message

Discussion 3 : 22 Nov 2012 at 11.563
Post this to my Facebook
@Discussion 2 Longer than that if you consider the long waits at many CNG pumps, which around Sattahip and Pattaya are often 10-15 vehicles deep. That's a long wait and you'll burn a lot of gas running the AC while sitting there.
Like dislike 5 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
pointoffew
Post : 1,269
Send message

Discussion 2 : 19 Nov 2012 at 13.172
Post this to my Facebook
"In other words, you can save at least treble the money when driving on CNG." That's a VERY unfortunate and inaccurate way of putting it... You can save +/- 70% on fuel, provided you are prepared to first spend the 40,000-60,000 baht premium over the pure petrol models (which actually cost less than 2.1 per km baht on fuel, due to less weight). In other words, the extra costs start paying back after approx. 30-45,000 km.
Like dislike 10 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
pointoffew
Post : 1,269
Send message

Discussion 1 : 19 Nov 2012 at 13.071
Post this to my Facebook
"Honda claims a 160km range in CNG mode" but didn't allow thee test driver to verify it? Such claims are more often than not false.
Like dislike 10 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment