The miser's motor | Bangkok Post: auto

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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.

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wired
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Discussion 6 : 24 Nov 2012 at 21.146
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160km range with a 65liter CNG tank?? It sounds weird...
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teecee
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Discussion 5 : 23 Nov 2012 at 16.325
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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."
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jaydee
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Discussion 4 : 22 Nov 2012 at 21.134
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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.
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robins
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Discussion 3 : 22 Nov 2012 at 11.563
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@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.
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pointoffew
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Discussion 2 : 19 Nov 2012 at 13.172
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"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.
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pointoffew
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Discussion 1 : 19 Nov 2012 at 13.071
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"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.
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