Used Honda Accord VTi v Ford Falcon XT LPG v Citroën C5 SX HDi
The large car sector looks to be in permanent decline as high petrol prices encourage buyers to sacrifice size for economy. But there are some interesting choices available for those who want it both ways.
Imagine you have $20-$25K as your budget for a used car and you need sprawling space for five adults plus heaps of room for luggage. But you still plan to drive about 600km per week and you want to cover that distance without spending more than about $100 on fuel.
Typically, two-thirds of these kilometres are covered in the outer suburbs and on the open road, with the other third in stop-start conditions. So the Falcon, Commodore and Aurion, which will be flat out averaging any less than 11 or 11.5L/100km, are all out of the equation. Assuming a fuel price of $1.50 per litre (and likely to rise soon), any of these Aussie sixes will cost $103.50 per week at an average of 11.5.
Three alternative approaches deserve consideration:
- A similar size car which is powered by a fuel-efficient four-cylinder petrol engine is probably the most conservative choice and just this approach was tried by Holden back in the very early 1980s with the unlovable and desperately underpowered four-cylinder Commodore
- The short to medium term future seems to be diesel engines, so that's alternative two, even though the local manufacturers are still unable to offer a large sedan with this kind of engine -- pity!
- And finally... Introduced in 2000, Ford Australia's dedicated LPG Falcon solves the budgetary issue by consuming a fuel priced way below either petrol or distillate. That was advanced thinking at the time and still works well in 2008.
So what is a 21st Century petrol alternative to the dreaded Commodore Four? Which car has comparable interior and boot space to a locally made Holden or Ford but is powered by a fuel-efficient, smaller capacity engine?
Fortunately, not only cars but also the engines which power them have come a long way since that last era of fuel panic. The Honda Accord VTi cannot match the performance of any of the sixpacks already mentioned but its 118kW and 218Nm of torque endow it with reasonable acceleration. Expect the Accord to consume no more than 9.5L/100km for a theoretical weekly fuel bill under $90... And when you take into account the impressively affordable purchase price of a 2005 model, you might be happy to make that small compromise.
But if your mind is set on a diesel then the most logical choice here is the surprisingly spacious Citroën C5 HDi. You will have to settle for a car a year or two older than the others but typical economy in the 7.5L range constitutes a fine reward for choosing such a left-field machine. On current diesel pricing (let's say $1.80 per litre to quote on the high side), that means a weekly fuel impost of just over $80.
2005 Honda Accord VTi (more here)
At the national release of the seventh generation Accord, Honda Australia's marketing executives were keen to stress the car's size and to present it as an alternative to a Commodore or Falcon.
This is a very wide sedan and its front-drive configuration does make it possible to package a larger interior into a car whose overall footprint is slightly smaller. And the Accord has a truly enormous boot, although surprisingly the rear seat does not incorporate the desirable splitfold feature, favouring a skiport instead - great for skis, no good for bikes.
Performance is best described as reasonable but it should satisfy most drivers, other than those who have been accustomed to a steady diet of Falcons. The four-cylinder Accord lacks that kind of effortless torque but the engine is refined and smooth and very economical. On a trip it is easy enough to get it into the high sevens per 100 km, thanks in part to the five-speed automatic transmission's and tall gearing.
Less satisfactory is the handling if the car is pushed hard, where 'push' or understeer is exactly you get. You have to steer harder to get around a corner and the front end wants to run wide. But, frankly, only petrolheads will be conscious of this dynamic flaw.
Ride quality is fine. The steering is light in feel, which many buyers will like. So in summary the Accord VTi is quite good to drive but won't satisfy true enthusiasts. Overall build quality is excellent and this is a lot of late model car for $20K. (Note: if you suddenly decide that sheer physical size is not so crucial, check out the Honda Accord Euro which uses a 140kW version of the same engine and is a driver's delight. You'll pay about $23K for a 2003 model.)
>> Search for used Accord VTis here
2005 Ford Falcon XT Dedicated LPG
There's no getting around it: Falcon depreciation is a nightmare for the first buyer and great news for those who follow. Even though the dedicated gas version holds its value better than petrol-engined models, the factory LPG Falcon still represents sensational value at $20K.
LPG pricing seems to fluctuate as much as petrol and represents an equal mystery, but it is usually around half the price per litre. A dedicated gas Falcon will use 25 to 30 per cent more fuel than its petrol equivalent, so you would expect to use 14L of LPG per 100 km. If we work (pessimistically) on $0.75/litre, that's $63 weekly and cheapest of this bowser wowser trio.
An excise will be applied to LPG from 2011 starting at 2.5 cents per litre and reaching a cap of 12.5 cents in 2015. By contrast, the current excise on petrol is closing on 40 cents per litre. LPG is widely available although the price climbs more steeply than petrol as you get further from major centres due to economies of scale which affect distribution costs.
Because the Falcon's LPG tank is mounted externally you still enjoy the large boot and the splitfold rear seat. Considering the ubiquity of Falcon taxis, the lack of comfort in the rear compartment is amazing. Legroom is modest and the car is awkward of ingress and egress for large occupants of the rear pew. But the front seats are good with generous room in all directions and the driver can tailor an excellent position.
Unlike the old AU and most previous Falcons the BA model even in base form has a good quality feel to its interior.
Performance is down slightly compared with petrol-fuelled six-cylinder Falcons, maximum power being 34kW lower at 156. What counts is torque and the E-Gas engine makes a useful 370Nm (versus 383). The point is that even giving away some power and a small amount of torque for its dedicated LPG application, the trusty Falcon six easily outperforms both its rivals in this comparison.
Steering and handling get high marks and the ride is quite comfortable. In many respects it still loves up to the old advertising theme of 'The Great Australian Road Car'.
>> Search for used Falcon XT LPG here
2003 Citroën C5 SX HDi (more here)
There's no doubt that if you want to take advantage of a large car with diesel power, you will have to be prepared to go back a couple of years from the Honda and Ford. You might possibly find a desperate vendor with a 2004 model but if you want to pay the same money (about $20K) the market specifies a 2003 C5. An extra $5000 takes you through to model year 2005, but it is still the same basic car, which is mostly good news.
Depending on where and how you do your driving, you might find this to be the perfect car. Around town 255Nm of torque, which arrives early in the rpm range, gives the C5 a satisfying briskness. It feels far livelier than, say, a typical 2.0-litre petrol four such as the one that is standard equipment in the C5 SX of this era, which yields a mere 186 Nm.
On the highway a cruising speed of 110km/h is effortless work.
The shortfall comes when you want to overtake B-Doubles and that's where the diesel Citroën has its work cut out. The problem is that maximum power is a modest 82kW and four ratios in the automatic transmission is one too few. Current generation C5 HDi benefits from a lustier twin-turbo unit with entirely adequate power and even more torque (Ed: and two more gears).
If all your driving is done between Melbourne and Sydney on the mostly divided Hume Highway and around town, then look no further than the 2003 HDi as the answer to your need for space and comfort combined with economy.
The ride quality is unmatched by any other car in this price range, thanks to the brilliant hydropneumatic floating suspension which firms up for serious cornering to provide the best of both worlds. So handling is very good, as well, and second only to the Falcon by a narrow margin.
The same can be said of the steering. And if you live in the bush you'll appreciate being able to raise the suspension when more ground clearance is required. The interior, too, is the best of this group, especially if you fluke an HDi that was optioned up with leather (as many were).
There is outstanding space front and rear plus the benefit of a hatchback body design which allows you to fold the rear seat out of the way to reveal a huge cargo area. While styling is always subjective, few observers admire the C5's looks, but from behind the wheel the ambience is fine.
>> Search for used Citroën C5 SX HDi here
THE CARSALES NETWORK'S PICK OF THE BUNCH:
The Driver's Choice
The Falcon scores here for its effortless performance, sharp steering and assured handling. Anyone who hasn't driven a Falcon since the bad old days of the 1990s will find this one a revelation. If the magic carpet Citroën had more urge, the contest would be very close.
The Passenger's Choice
The Citroën wins this easily with the Accord and Falcon in equal second.
The Sensible Choice
Looking to the longer term, the Citroën's diesel engine seems the smartest. Add its unique suspension and outstanding practicality and it's difficult to surpass. Second spot will depend more on personal preferences but it is probably the Accord for those who do most of their driving in the suburban context and the Falcon for longer distance drivers.
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