h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A friend is very kindly doing a favout for me, and I have offered to pay her petrol, but I've no idea how much to pay her, and I bet she's no better idea.

I reckon she's doing about a 14 mile round trip, half through countryside, half through small towns. She's driving a 2nd hand Vauxhall Astra, 1.4 or 1.6. She's a cautious driver who keeps to the speed limit and doesn't go mad on the open road.

Any estimates very welcome - she'll be back in the next half an hour!

30 to 40 miles to the gallon, so a 14 mile journey is less than half a gallon, which is about 2-3 litres, at about 75p per litre (dunno...I live abroad!)multiplied by the number you first thought of is 3 and sixpence.

Nah, a couple of quid ought to cover the petrol, but that may seem too mean and calculated. Is there any way you could buy her a coffee or offer or flowers or something instead?

I am driving a six year old Astra stationwagon, and I get around 13 kilometer per liter.
Up to you to change that in miles per gallon

And Luckystar is right, say it with flowers instead of acting like an accountant.

You should easily get 30 mpg out of the car, so you're only looking at half a gallon of fuel (2.25 litres) so the fuel shouldn't cost much more than 2 to 3 pounds - personally I'd give the person at least £5 for their trouble though.

Yikes, delayed action simulpost... I really should've posted before answering the phone


The flowers seem like a good idea though

Oh I agree - It's a big favour, she's unfailingly generous and I'm very grateful...

...but she's the type who won't accept a penny if she thinks it's too much. If I say "Here's a fiver" she'll say "Oh no, don't be silly" but if I say "Now I've been on the internet and I've worked it out; here's £2.73" she's got much less chance of refusing... and I'll spring something else on her later. But the whole reason she's doing this is cause I'm stuck at home with the baby and can't even get to the corner shop, so I can't buy her or anything else...

My car (a 1.4 second hand astra) does about 10p a mile....funnily enough exactly the same as my old metro used to do and the same as hubbies monster ford focus estate does.

23p per mile is the Public Sector's going rate for non work related travel costs.





Sorry to sound so like an Accountant, especially as I am one.
I'll get me coat

I was delighted recently when I found out that the uni where going to pay me £80 for driving to Bham and back when it only cost me £40-£50...most petrol allowances add on a bit for insurance/tax etc - ours pays 15p a mile for the first 50 miles and then 8p a mile (or summit like that)

I think it would be reasonable to pay her double her actual petrol costs because she goes to the trouble to keep the car taxed moted and insured - that costs at least another 10p a mile on top of the petrol

13 miles @ 23p p m = £2.99

Thanks for your help, everyone!

And let her keep the change

How about free spanking..parking at your place?