3.0 Auto Short Distances

Poll Poll Will 10 times short journeys a week (less than a mile) be detrimental to my 3.0 Z4 Coupe *Auto*

  • Yes it will cause issues

    Votes: 10 41.7%

  • You might have some minor problems

    Votes: 2 8.3%

  • Its not great but it will be fine

    Votes: 6 25.0%

  • No issues the zed can handle it

    Votes: 6 25.0%
  • Total voters
    24
B

bluestreak56

Veteran
 Maidenhead
I have 2 cars (a 316 Compact runaround and the Coupe Auto 3.0)

I take my Compact out for 10 short journeys (less than a mile) a week.
I take my Zed out once a week sometimes less for a reasonable journey (10 mile minimum)

My question is if I were to sell the compact and go down to one car, would the effects of so many such small journeys be detrimental to my zed?

Reason I ask is the insurance on the compact is nearly as much as the zed!! and I insure both for under 5k mileage a year (I do about 2-4k a year total)..

Thoughts?
 
All that short journeys do is accelerate engine wear as the components are cold, no oil pressure, etc. but you'll not notice anything for years and then it'll just burn more oil. All I can say is 100,000 motorway miles is about the same wear as a 1,000 short town journeys.

You should walk or cycle... And make sure the car gets some longer runs to warm up, charge the system and boil off condensation, etc.
 
Your car won't even achieve operating temperature in that short journey, it will be heavily over fueling as part of the cold start procedures which will:
- cause bore wash over time
- destroy your catalytic converter
- exhaust will rott quicker
- Won't alloy your battery to charge and cycle properly which will kill it in the winter.
 
similar issues here so any excuse & i nip down the motorway a junction ( or 2 maybe 3 :) then & always make sure the car has ran at decent temp before it goes away .
i did the same with aircooled & watercooled 911,s for all the above reasons .
not much excuse needed to go farther is there ? 8)
 
Trust me, its safer to do it in a BMW than it is in an RX8. You MUST let it warm up fully after starting the engine before switching it off, so no into garage, start up, forget something in house, turn off, go in etc. If you start it, you drive it or the engine will soon die.

The Z4 is like any other piston car, just drive it and stop worrying :thumbsup:
 
Steve220 said:
Your car won't even achieve operating temperature in that short journey, it will be heavily over fueling as part of the cold start procedures which will:
- cause bore wash over time
- destroy your catalytic converter
- exhaust will rott quicker
- Won't alloy your battery to charge and cycle properly which will kill it in the winter.
Click to expand...
+1
 
No offence - and not to beat about the bush (like I usually do 8) ) - but this is an utterly daft question. :o

Regardless of all the serious negative technical implications of driving a car like some old granny, detailed with great accuracy by my fellow forumites, not to mention the significant additional pollution issues, I'm totally gobsmacked that in this day and age anyone even bothers getting a car out for a journey of less than a mile unless there are alligators and poisonous snakes on their route to work?? :poke:

If you really can't be arsed to walk, or it really is that dangerous where you live, sell the car and get a taxi - it will be MUCH cheaper in the long run. :thumbsup:
 
cj10jeeper said:
You should walk or cycle... And make sure the car gets some longer runs to warm up....
Click to expand...

I agree and would never use a motor vehicle for a one mile journey and I'm 65. Walk for a one mile journey and cycle for a 3-5 mile journey. Good for your health. :wink:
 
Thanks for all the input people :-)

I forgot to say, 4 out of these 10 journeys I have a passenger, some of them I need to take my sports kit and some I need to be at the destination quickly hence the need for the car.

The other alternative I have is to sell the compact and buy a real city car like a Toyota Aygo which will save me £660 a year on running costs. However the inital investment will be £3500 vs the initial £2000 paid on the compact.

Having said that for that money I would get a 2007 Aygo vs a 2001 Compact and the aygo's 3 cylinder engines are probably developed more in mind for short journeys and city traffic..

Thoughts?

I do walk wherever else I can - every other day to / from work or if im on my own / no sport kit / no time restraint..
 
I think you should sell both and buy a Roadster, with the hood down being "outside" would make you feel like your cycling/walking :D

Sorry, yet another useless post :tumbleweed:
 
Ps. Most low mileage cars have travelled short distances. Don't let the paranoia get you :lol:
Stretch her legs at the weekend... Or twice weekly. :D :thumbsup:
 
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