Diesel vs Petrol Cars

[Ouya Mellsa]

With the rise in petrol costs I've been thinking about swapping my petrol car for a diesel one.

Are diesels really that much more economical? I know that the price per litre is higher than petrol, but don't you get more 'miles per gallon'?

The diesels used to have a bad reputation of being loud or dirty or unresponsive, but from what I can gather the newer ones are much better.

Oh, and does the size of the engine in a diesel matter in the same way that a 1.8 petrol engine uses more fuel than a 1.2?

[Kristen]

The garage advised us when we were buying a car, based on miles-per-year which would be cheaper to run.

Can't say I notice much, if any, difference between a diesel and a petrol these days. Revs are much lower in a diesel, have to be careful filling because it evaporates more slowly - so if you get any on your hands (or shoes if there is some spillage around the pump) it stays with you for longer

[chris]

Petrol vs Diesel | Running costs - Parker's

and a table of the breakdowns: Petrol vs Diesel calculator - Parker's

Lots of factors to put into the equation though, miles, driving habits, do you tow, new/used, etc etc


Edit; oh and as a "general" rule higher engine capacities will have a higher fuel consumption.. but again, you'll need to check the manufacturers claims on each car, with each engine variant.

[Ouya Mellsa]

Thanks Kris and Chris.

I'm looking at a used car of around £1500-£2000 and would be driving around 250 miles per week.

[Glutton4...]

I reckon it's all down to personal preference nowadays. I haven't read the info in CM's links, but I know Diesel engines were always expected to outlast Petrol ones. This may now not be the case.

Personally, I prefer Diesel. But that's just me!

[Suky]

Having driven a diesel for several years I now have a petrol car. So far not much difference in running cost, except for price rises. Petrol is definitely more responsive and I am struggling not to over rev all the time, the diesel took longer to warm up and was slower to pull away. I loved my diesel but my petrol car is a little newer and has more bells and whistles.
TBH I don't get much say in the car I drive as my hubby is in the trade and I usually get what come in

[Hilary B]

If you are going to be doing significant mileage outside of the UK, diesel wins because only here is the tax higher on diesel than petrol.

[Two_Sheds]

Mr TS has a diesel Audi A6, and it is just fine - goes like the clappers, warms up quickly etc. Oh but it does forget to indicate at roundabouts

[vicky]

My OH just swopped his diesel for a petrol and really notices the difference. He does about 100 miles per day.
(But his new one has the problem of driving far too close to the car in front...see, petrol's a bit quicker...)

[chris]

I drive around the same milage, (~13k a year) petrol wise.. dropped a 3.2L guzzler for a more suitable family car (2L) petrol still. Diesels were out of my price range for the year and mileage that I had my eye on.

My old man just bought a 1.9 A3 TDi - very nice.. Diesels do have more torque, but I think I was readying around 22k is the break even point for an average family car petrol->diesel.

One car we have does 4k, the other 10-15 so wasn't worth it for us (I also did check the guides above. Parkers is a well known name in the car industry for reviews, etc.

You'll pay more to fill your diesel tank, but won't fill it as often (esp if you're driving on commutes that involve m'ways / dual carriage ways etc rather than twisty windy roads).

[Snadger]

Have only owned a couple of diesel cars in my life...........but have always been a petrol head at heart!

[HeyWayne]

I used to own one of these:



The absolute favourite car I've ever owned. Goes like stink (180bhp standard) and drove beautifully.

I sold it when Bean was on the way, but I'd have it back at a heartbeat (I still see it every now and then). I'd average 35mpg, but tax was about £200 and insurance was quite pricey (group 16 in old money).

So, I then bought one of these:
http://cdn.motors.co.uk/d/used-photo.../0/OV05MVK.jpg
on account of needing more space, and better economy.

However, on paper the boot was indeed bigger, but wasn't so accesible, so I now have one of these:

http://images.clickedit.co.uk/5009/AETV60930810_1.jpg

It's big enough in terms of load lugging, is decent enough on economy (500 miles to a tank/40-45mpg) and decent enough in terms of pace (though it's no Leon Cupra!), costs less to tax and insure, so works out less expensive to run all round.

However, with Bean growing as his genes dictate we are running out of legroom to house all three of us, so will probably have one of these before long:

http://hondacrv.org/wp-content/uploa...-honda-crv.jpg

Has masses of legroom in the back (more than I've seen on almost any other car), and on paper costs the same to run as the one I drive at the moment...

I'm a diesel convert - LadyWayne now has a Golf diesel (with the silky smooth DSG gearbox) and the car we gave to LadyWayne's folks to ferry Bean about in is also a diesel.

We're all sooty power in our house these days.

[solway cropper]

It's been mentioned but unless you do a high annual mileage there's no cost advantage in running an oil burner. In 46 years of driving everything from tractors to trucks and a very wide range of cars I'd have to say that my heart is with diesels but practicality sees me running a petrol car. It's an automatic and I still get 45mpg.

[chris]

I just bought a CR-V, Wayne - really good... huge boot space too Rear seats slide back and forward to have more/less boot/leg room etc. Also most of the major brand car seats and permanent seats fit the rear seats. ISOFIX as standard too, pretty good.

Added bonus in that it was awesome in the snow

[HeyWayne]

I just bought a CR-V, Wayne - really good... huge boot space too Rear seats slide back and forward to have more/less boot/leg room etc. Also most of the major brand car seats and permanent seats fit the rear seats. ISOFIX as standard too, pretty good.

Added bonus in that it was awesome in the snow

Cheers dude - I'm pretty set on it. It works for us on many many levels. The snow was an added benefit I had thought about when I skirted towards a kerb several weeks ago.