Petrol Vs Diesel - which is better ?

[finlay666]

Servicing costs? Dependant on make, yes higher for diesels.

Different Service intervals? Dependant on make, some longer for diesels.

Price of Fuel, yes more expensive.

MPG? Higher on a diesel. 1.8 Civic 30mpg. Diesel is 10% more than petrol? So need 33 to break even? I'm currently around the 38-42mark.

Tax? Higher for Petrol, lower for Diesel.

You also forget town vs motorway driving, I get 42mpg in my megane in town driving, according to autotrader the 1.6l model is good for 30mpg, motorway I get 55-65 depending on driving (55-60mpg average for my style), for the 1.6 50, and I doubt many get close to that)

and as for the 1.8........

1.8 16V Expression 5d 36 mpg 180 g/km E (road tax | company car tax )
1.9 dCi Expression 5d 54 mpg 139 g/km C (road tax | company car tax )

36mpg vs 54mpg, taking it at face value for combined....

that is 13.2 gallon tank for both.... so 475 vs 712.8
so for 700 miles you are looking at nearly £100 vs £60

[yamangman]

I thought my old Fabia RS was great. Some of the comically dramatic aversion to diesels is quite humorous though.

[Jay]

I have been looking at getting a new shape BMW 325 Diesel... I love the MX5 though, its hard to give it up.

[Vimeous]

without going mad on a reply

work out your travel distance

Petrol for Short distances
Deisel for Long distances

There is you answer.

It's an answer but it's a purely quantative one which ignores the qualitative differences.


In general I prefer petrol engines, specifically N/A because I have no proper experience driving an FI petrol motor. The power delivery suits my driving style and mental approach more of the time.
Admittedly I have enjoyed drives in TD powered cars, my faves being long drives in a pair of A6 2.5TDi's, but that was when driving customers about and the smoother, less frenetic approach of lazy torque was fabulous. I'd guess a big petrol would do the job as well, and without the propensity for a sudden rise in shove as the turbo picks itself up and gets going.

It's a facinating discussion that ultimately has no winner as it's a totally subjective question that depends on the qualitative/quantative balance each driver prefers.

[Zak33]

Under what conditions? I've averaged about 45mpg from various 1.8 Vectras on a run, which is what I'd expect.

Blimey, you did well!

The Vectra 1.8 16v, in my experience, is a 30mpg car on average. To get it to 45mpg is of epic propertions, and I suggest you join Green Peace and go save the planet.

[Howard]

It wasn't difficult, between 70 and 80mph on the motorway, bit of town either side Very similar result in the two consecutive Vectras I had, one was the lower powered 1.8 16v though IIRC. The other had a DAB radio, which was fun to play with It could however have done 300mpg and still been a horrible car though I found it a lot easier to get comfortable in the Astra!

[Zak33]

It wasn't difficult, between 70 and 80mph on the motorway, bit of town either side Very similar result in the two consecutive Vectras I had, one was the lower powered 1.8 16v though IIRC.

you wanna try 'arder mate... it should go as low as 27 mpg with some judicious right foot

Point is though, big boy, if you'd been in a TiD150 on the same journey, you'd have had more oomph, and got even better mpg

[Howard]

you wanna try 'arder mate... it should go as low as 27 mpg with some judicious right foot

Point is though, big boy, if you'd been in a TiD150 on the same journey, you'd have had more oomph, and got even better mpg

One of the trips with the Vectras involved a journey right into the centre of London. I didn't quite average 45mpg that time, no


Diesel? Pah!















You're right, purely as a work A to B tool, that's what they're for. I still much prefer a nice smooth larger capacity (>2L) petrol though. Shame they're taxed to the hilt for, let's face it, no reason at all.

I had a Chrysler Sebring which was a better car (just - the gearbox/pedals and seating position anyway!) than the Vectra, but with the VW 2.0 TDI 140. It was hideously, hilariously noisy. It felt like I was driving a Transit. The grunt was nice, but short lived, and because of this, deceives you as to how quick it is. The Ford TDCIs I've driven have been a lot smoother. I love the new Mondeo. Still rather have a 2.3T than the 2.0 TDCI though

[Zak33]

but with the VW 2.0 TDI 140. It was hideously, hilariously noisy. It felt like I was driving a Transit. The grunt was nice, but short lived, and because of this, deceives you as to how quick it is.

not on a huge long hill.... that's where the petrol driver just cant get the TiD out from under his rear wing.

[Howard]

Depends on the petrol engine

[Zak33]

depends on the diesel engine

[Howard]

Well yeah a BMW 335D is gonna tear a Vectra 1.8 16V a new hole

[Zak33]

A Saab 93 TtId 177 is likely to tear a Saab 93 2.0t 175 a new hole too, and it's not the 2bhp that's gonna do it.

[yamangman]

Real men drive Diesel (TM).

[Howard]

That's where the line blurs IMHO. The powerband must be narrower in the TiD, and the petrol has a gearbox

[schmunk]

Real men drive Diesel (TM).