Diesel Vs. Petrol

[Jaimsieboy]

I am thinking of getting a Vauxhal Tigra... would there be any benefit in paying a bit extra to get a Diesel Version instead of a Petrol one ?
I do about about 10,000 miles a year

[MASS1961]

I would say with the low mileage you do, it wouldn't make much sense to go diesel with the extra purchase cost and the extortionate price of diesel now, it would cost you.
If you were doing in excess of 25000 per annum I would possibly think diesel.

Mass

[Jaimsieboy]

Thanks Mass... J/Boy

[gingejbee]

Extortionate price of diesel? It's "only" about 5% more than petrol and (if my two cars are anything to go by) could give 30-40% more mpg. But it makes sense if you do high mileage or intend to keep the vehicle for a long time.

[Jumbo747]

I bought a diesel Ford Fusion 4-plus years ago; my fuel bill was more than halved at a stroke (I do about 6000miles a year). AND the road tax is only £35.00 p.a.

[MASS1961]

About 5 - 6 years ago diesel was approx. 10p per litre less than petrol. Now it's approx. 10p more!

[gingejbee]

It's 6p more per litre here , which is less than 5% more than petrol and the mileage can be 40% more. You do the Maths.

[TWR]

Reliability, re/sellable value / winter starting/ 1/2 the running costs point to a derv J.B. go for it.

[chas2008]

diesel was only less than petrol when the old 4/5 star was around, unleaded was cheaper ( i believe less tax) to get people to use it...then when they phased 4/5 star out diesel ended up being more costly.
I have had a number of diesels over the years and i am more than happy with the running costs, 65mpg + . The extra price paid for the vehicle is reflected in the resale/trade in price..

[Graham-W]

How come the UK is one of the few European countries where diesel is more expensive than petrol? Is it just the way it's taxed?
http://www.drive-aliv...el_prices_europe.html

[TWR]

This is the UK Graham! the public "will" pay it without quibble.

[sunny-dave]

I wouldn't touch a diesel with a very long pointy stick - they are (at last) tightening up on 'dirty diesels' and it could get very expensive to get a diesel through the MoT test in years to come.

Also the previous artificially low price of diesel is rising to its correct level *above* the price of petrol and so a lot of the cash savings from extra mpg will be cancelled out by the higher cost of fuel as well as more expensive servicing/MoT

At long last they are going to get tough with the filthy polluting smoke that many (most?) diesels produce as they get older - especially if they are inadequately maintained/serviced.

MoT tests are getting tougher for diesels (especially concentrating on 'particulate emissions') - this will increase servicing costs as diesel owners will have to pay for regular cleaning/replacement of particulate filters and associated parts/consumables. This is especially true if they do most of their miles at low speed around town & the filters never get into the prolonged high temperatures required for the 'self cleaning' to work.

Buying a diesel now to 'save money' is like a reverse lottery - most people will be lucky and win on the fuel consumption, but a growing number will be very unhappy losers come MoT time ... it can cost around £1000 to replace a particulate filter that has become clogged.


(diesels are a pet hate of mine, in case no-one had noticed) ;+)

[TWR]

I gather that Sunny, but going to what you said, "Dirty" far from it, if a derv is serviced as often as a petrol there is no problem & that mean each MOT, I cannot understand your hate of dervs, the days of dirty black clouds behind a derv HGV have long gone.

[sunny-dave]

Not the revolting bus I followed for 10 miles yesterday :=(

< I agree - *if* diesels are properly serviced there should be no problem - but the evidence of my eyes says that quite a few currently are not ... hopefully the new MoT regs will sort them out >

[beso]

sunny-dave has shown that he is happy to portray everything in the light of his prejudice and ignorance.

"Artificailly low price of diesel". How is it artificial? Perhaps you could study the principles of suppy and demand and the realities of fractional distillation of petroleum.

[sunny-dave]

I worked in the gas and oil industry for 20 years - don't come preaching at me over my 'ignorance'

If the full production and environmental costs of diesel were met by consumers through the accurate cost of production/supply *and* correctly proportioned taxation it would be around 10% dearer than normal 'unleaded' fuel at the pump.

[TWR]

That Bus you are on about Sunny, its a simple thing like exchanging the Injectors / Filters, Black smoke indicates too much fuel& that could also indicate a worn pump, School buses do not do a lot of work as you know, half the time they don't get chance to warm up, its similar to people knocking BMW drivers! do not judge all of them, there are some of us that are courteous.

[sunny-dave]

As usual on AB, I'm exaggerating to make a point - most diesels these days are very good, and most drivers/operators maintain them properly.

I would (honestly) though worry about the potential costs to me, if I was a city dweller who rarely got the chance to 'stretch the legs' of a diesel and let the particulate filter clean itself ... nasty stories of big bills come service/MoT time.

[TWR]

Sunny as you know, a lot of companys run Dervs for reliability / milage/ winter starting, I'm not knocking your opinion but if the likes of the large hauliers in the UK ran petrol I'd hate to start doing the weekly shopping1 it would be cheaper to eat grass.

[sunny-dave]

Careful TWR - you easily push my 'food miles' button ... but that's a whole new rant and I haven't got any blood pressure tablets handy :=)

< I think actually we both agree about a lot of this - used properly, modern diesel HGV transport is fine - but I enjoy sparring with you >

cheers

dave

[chas2008]

if they are that smelly & dirty why is my car tax only £30.00 a year ?