Korean Job Discussion Forums

[FistFace]

What are the average costs of these?

Is it a savings to purchase an LPG car? I heard they are less efficient, costing you more that way. But is the fuel price low enough to offset this?

[asmith]

My Santa Fe uses diesel. Diesel engines last forever and a day. So far I'm pretty satisfied.

[Jane]

My car runs on LPG. On average I pay 30-40,000won to fill up from empty. I love love love my LPG car. I do have to compromise speed and horse power tho, as LPGs aren't that powerful, but it doesn't bother me so much because Seoul is just one big parking lot anyway.

[FistFace]

What does it cost per liter for diesel compared to gas?

Is there such a comparison for LPG?

Jane, what kind of car do you have? How many KMS can you go before having to refill?

Is it true that the general population is only allowed to own certain LPG cars (and older people others)?

[eamo]

At the moment, LPG is 800 per liter. Normal gas is 1700 per liter. That doesn't mean an LPG car will be half the price to run though. The car will go further on a liter of gas than a liter of LPG.

The figures I heard are that LPG cars will save you about 30% in fuel costs over a similar gas car.

[asmith]

In this country? Go diesel SUV. It costs almost the same.

[saw6436]

My Avante is Gasoline. We are looking to switch to a Diesel Santa Fe (with 2 little ones we need the room). LPG just seems like it is a bit of a pain to find LPG stations.

asmith: Is your S-F 2wd or 4wd?

[bassexpander]

Any GPS will help you find gobs of LPG stations. We've got one not far from here, next to the highway.

[Jane]

I've driven gas (petrol) cars back home and LPG here, and it's true that gas has better gas mileage. Nonetheless, although I've never really paid attention to how much gas mileage my LPG gets, it does pretty well on highways. For example, a drive from Seoul to Gwangju (jeollanamdo), about 3 1/2 hours will be less than one tank of gas. It is full when I leave, and I fill up once on the way back, and have gas left over when return home. (by the way, I have a Kia Carens, which I highly recommend).

As for finding an LPG station, it's true there are less about than gas or diesel, but I've never had a problem. We live in Korea! It would be hard to get so lost as to not find a gas station. All highway rests stops have one, and there are all over Seoul. And yes, GPSs can locate the LPG stations. I have one down the street from my house, so when I'm low I stop in on the way home.

Finally, there is one implication with LPG cars. If you drive one, you are supposed to go for a 2 hour safety course (my husband did, I didn't), because LPG could have problems in case of an accident or a leak. That is the only downside (well, that and the lack of power issue).

Oh, and I'd like to add, my Carens has an awesome repair record. It's been really great and we've pretty much only had to do basic maintenance work to it.

[Jane]

[asmith]

[bassexpander]

I think a 2WD would be enough for Seoul and pretty much 99% of Korea. Why would anyone need a 4WD SUV?

[asmith]

[bassexpander]

I thought it would be a hoot to purchase an older used Chairman with not so many miles (the things will go 250,000k and are usually maintained like a baby):

http://www.encar.com/dc/dc_cardetailview.do?carid=4902734&pageid=dc_carsearch

The body style barely changed for years, and just tooting around in one would gather me some massive respect on the confucist Korean highways. I'd be driving around, shaking my pointed finger at people yelling, "Move over, you little POS Sonata.... Chairman coming through!"

Middle-aged men working at restaurant parking would jump to attention as I approach! Nothing quite says, "Get the "F" out of my way like the Chairman!"

All for just over 6 million won... unfortunately, it sucks exactly twice the gasoline my Matiz does! The first offer of a free ride will be to Eamo!

[eamo]