Petrol Vs Diesel - which is better ?

[Guy]

Well, I'm thinking about getting a new car (thanks to Rasta ); a Mondeo. I'm not sure whether to get the V6 petrol ST220, or the diesel 2.2TDCi ST. I don't do many miles to be honest (6000/year). The diesel is cheaper on tax and insurance, and could hold its value better. I also believe diesel engines handle a higher mileage better, but then I'm not looking to do a lot, nor planning on buying a high mileage car (thinking around 60,000 for a 06 plate sort of range). I think it's pretty much going to be a case of "6 of one, half a dozen of the other" in the long term, but all this talk of breaking even is making a once fairly straight forward choice a bit of a dilema now!

Having the diesel ST at the next LAN would mean I can get slated by both Rasta for having a diesel and dave for having a Mondeo.

On miles alone Id say the petrol, and with it being a 6 cylinder its a fair bit more robust than other 4 pots!.

Best bit of advice, go and drive both and see which you prefer

You wouldnt get slack from me for going for the derv, its still a good car, but I just prefer the extra power, and toys of the ST220, oh and obviously the noise!

[dave87]

Straight 6 > V6

[Guy]

V6 > 4 pot derv

[dave87]

Turbo > NA

[Guy]

Rasta > Dave

[dave87]

Now as we all know, that is lies, lies, lies!



Even Communist propaganda is more believable.







EDIT - we may have dragged this topic somewhat off course.



Oooops.

[Guy]

Now as we all know, that is true, true, true!

Fixed for you

[joshwa]

I thought Deisel was great for about 24 months... but switching back to petrol for me has been great! In the diesel you are regularly changing gears to get the best out of the engine, and it doesn't feel right to rev the knackers off a diesel. A petrol will happily stay in gear much longer, and it's more fun (with a turbo anyway ). We do a low mileage 8k a year, and regularly make lots of short journeys so there was very little point in us having a deisel.

[megah0]

I drive a diesel automatic after always having manual petrol cars and it took a little getting used to but now I love it, not as fast away from lights or junctions etc but I really like the relaxed comfort of it, particularly on the motorway.

[kalniel]

When it's snowy you want as flat a torque curve as possible, I reckon

Even better to have a huge weight over the front axle

[finlay666]

Diesels have their place, and they should stay there. Sporty Diesels are pointless, and anyone who claims that cars with derv engines are enjoyable to drive/thrash around is just trying to make themselves feel better about being stuck with a Passat TDI 130 or something

Pfft noob comment, I dont enjoy my megane diesel thrashing me around whether I want it to or not

I agree sporty diesels are pretty pointless, my bog standard one has plenty of torque which is great for motorway driving, which I do on a regular basis (I don't think they take that into account as it's 60mpg diesel vs 40mpg petrol) so it works out for me better


That....and I paid nothing for my car (except repair costs)

[Butcher]

nor planning on buying a high mileage car (thinking around 60,000 for a 06 plate sort of range).

20k+ miles a year is not high mileage now?!

I prefer petrol - I don't like having to have my left hand welded to the gearstick to get anything out of the car, and I don't do enough motorway miles to get much back from the better economy (though with my current car being sub-30 mpg it could hardly get worse).

[MadduckUK]

Your right, Honda have got there key market wrapped up there.

you shut your filthy mouth

but what? you got a new car dave?

[Zak33]

Recent report by Parkers compares Diesel and Petrol cars with some surprising results...
Special Report: Diesel Vs Petrol - where's the Break Even

The issue there is that they use LIST PRICE and OPTIMUM FUEL CONSUMPTION.

Who has purchased a car at list price for the last 3 or 4 years? Diesel cars have higher list prices, but often, when pre reg or nearly new, they're much closer in price.

And that BMW example is a rampant joke. Both fuel consumption figures are miles away from reality, because they're using the best possible, and as anyone with a petrol car gettinf anywhere near close to those figures is a hero, where as the diesel figures are close to possible.

Lets be honest... neither petrol 318 nor Diesel 318 will manage either of those figures, but the diesel will be closer

And from experience, the Astra CDTi 1.3 might just manage 57mpg if Mother Theresa were around to try it, but even Ghandi wouldn't manage 43mpg for the 1.6 16v Ashtray.

Parker is to be ignore, sadly. I know it's the only thing the public has to go on, but they are simply journalists, and not actually on the public's side.

[schmunk]

I note that the calculator doesn't even appear to consider road tax costs.

Diesels have their place, and they should stay there. Sporty Diesels are pointless, and anyone who claims that cars with derv engines are enjoyable to drive/thrash around is just trying to make themselves feel better about being stuck with a Passat TDI 130 or something

You shut up, you...

There's nothing wrong with a Passat TDI 130, it's almost definately the best car I've ever owned - I wouldn't call it sporty, mind.

[Rave]

Diesel- I like surfing around on a fat wave of midrange torque; I don't particularly like revving the knackers off an engine. I get 45mpg out of my mum's rattly old diesel Clio 1.9 around town; I think I'd struggle to get that out of any petrol car.