Just thought I'd pass on my experience of LPG conversion. I bought a new 2.5
V6 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 years ago, I had it converted to LPG by a reputable
firm (who later went bust!) the conversion was underbody and was a great
job. The cost was £1,800 The car had a 13 gallon LPG tank and a 8 gallon
petrol tank. I have had no trouble whatsoever with the LPG except for the
inconvenience of trying to locate filling stations. When I came to change
the car I decided that LPG wasn't the future for me and that diesel is
easier and just as cheap, so I decided to change to a diesel car. I went
back to Suzuki who offered me £8,500 for the car (was £15.5k new) but when I
told them it was LPG they said it wasn't warrantied and it was only worth
£7k. I went to a few garages and always got the same reaction, ie the car
was worth less with the LPG conversion! One garage offered to rip out the
conversion for £300 and then they would offer me the bottom book part ex
price for it. I eventually managed to sell the car privately for more like
it's true worth and bought a Diesel Nissan X Trail from JamJar.com, after my
experience with the Suzuki main dealer I would never go back to them!
So My advice to anybody out there comtemplating buying a new petrol car and
converting it to LPG is be very carefull with things like warranties and
re-sale values.
You have been warned!

"Amanda Haydock" wrote in message
s.com...
Just thought I'd pass on my experience of LPG conversion. I bought a new
2.5
V6 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 years ago, I had it converted to LPG by a
reputable
firm (who later went bust!) the conversion was underbody and was a great
job. The cost was £1,800 The car had a 13 gallon LPG tank and a 8 gallon
petrol tank. I have had no trouble whatsoever with the LPG except for the
inconvenience of trying to locate filling stations. When I came to change
the car I decided that LPG wasn't the future for me and that diesel is
easier and just as cheap, so I decided to change to a diesel car. I went
back to Suzuki who offered me £8,500 for the car (was £15.5k new) but when
I
told them it was LPG they said it wasn't warrantied and it was only worth
£7k. I went to a few garages and always got the same reaction, ie the car
was worth less with the LPG conversion! One garage offered to rip out the
conversion for £300 and then they would offer me the bottom book part ex
price for it. I eventually managed to sell the car privately for more like
it's true worth and bought a Diesel Nissan X Trail from JamJar.com, after
my
experience with the Suzuki main dealer I would never go back to them!
So My advice to anybody out there comtemplating buying a new petrol car
and
converting it to LPG is be very carefull with things like warranties and
re-sale values.
You have been warned!


Yes it is a concern.

But then again, the type of person who is interested in saving money
probably isn't going to be going round buying brand new cars.

As far as I can see, dealers hate LPG cars. Its a headache because dealers
have to offer all sorts of protection to customers buying their cars, and
its a big risk that they sell a car to a customer with a faulty LPG system,
and if there is a dangerous fault it could mean the closure of the
dealership!

The answer is to sell privately.

Again though, the type of person who wants to save money by doing an LPG
conversion is the type of person who will appreciate the extra £500-£1500
extra money you get from a private sale!

IMHO as someone who has worked in the motor trade for a long time a car
dealer will always use something like that as a lever to try to devalue your
car, but will use it as an extra when they come to sell it, same as when
they are buying imports they will give nothing for them but will sell them
for the same as uk spec ones as they have generally higher spec. I would see
a car with a well fitted gas conversion as being worth the same money as one
without, it just makes it a little easier to sell sometimes the same as most
extras or modifications