Which car is cheaper to run?

[Muggins.]

Diesel or petrol?

Apparently you get more MPG with deisel but petrol is cheaper at the pump.

[welsh1]

Depends on how many miles you do,it's supposed to be that if you do over 10,000 miles a year diesel will work out cheaper.

So if you just run around town then a petrol car will be the one to run.

[hawkfanz]

aye but deisel is far more reliable,i havent had a petrol car for 30 years and wouldn,t ever get another one.

[pigeonblasterian]

Why would a diesel car be cheaper to run.

If a diesel and petrol car do the same mpg then it will cost more for fuel to run the diesel.

It is not the same for everyone as you have insurance costs and road tax to consider.

[welsh1]

aye but deisel is far more reliable,i havent had a petrol car for 30 years and wouldn,t ever get another one.

 

If you have not had a petrol car in 30 yrs then how do you know they are not reliable. I run a diesel vehicle for work and a petrol car for fun.

My vivaro van that did 150,000 miles in 4 years broke down a few times,three times it was the fuel pump,the mechanic suggested cheap supermarket diesel was to blame, I now have done 30,000 miles in 9 months in a navara,run on shell and bp and so far so good.my car is a 3l v6 only does about 6-8000 miles per year,it has broken down once in 4 years when the dual mass fly wheel failed,a common fault in st220's,but I have blasted it across Europe at speeds that would get me a big ban in the uk and it has never faltered,but cruising at 140 mph you soon have to refuel.

I think both diesel and petrol are as reliable as each other,and servicing is the key to engine life plus decent fuel.

[welsh1]

Why would a diesel car be cheaper to run.

If a diesel and petrol car do the same mpg then it will cost more for fuel to run the diesel.

It is not the same for everyone as you have insurance costs and road tax to consider.

 

Generally speaking diesel engines are fitted to larger vehicles,because they have better torque,and when cruising they tick over at a lower limit,so like for like the diesel engine will be more economical.

[Dirty Harry]

I can get 70mpg from my diesel on the motorway going just under 70. If I go 80-90 mph it drops to 50+ mpg!

 

 

[welsh1]

I can get 70mpg from my diesel on the motorway going just under 70. If I go 80-90 mph it drops to 50+ mpg!

 

That's good mpg,what car is it?

My st220 on a great day only does 25 mpg,but it wasn't bought to save fuel.

[bedwards1966]

aye but deisel is far more reliable,i havent had a petrol car for 30 years and wouldn,t ever get another one.

 

This is a vastly outdated approach. We've moved on from carbs and distributor systems many years ago, now petrol reliability is simply unbeatable.

Yes diesels do chug along fairly reliably, but the modern common-rail systems have their drawbacks, and a modern petrol is less likely to give trouble than a modern diesel.

 

Really in answer to your question it comes down to mileage, and whether you intend to derive any pleasure from your time behind the wheel. If you simply need to get from A to B diesels are fine, if you don't like putting black smoke into everybody's lungs when you accelerate briskly, don't mind diesel knock upon acceleration, don't mind not having any real oomph or not being able to get anywhere quickly and generally want to actually enjoy driving a petrol is required.

 

From a costs point of view, while diesels do tend to go further, a bit too much is placed on having a diesel when it comes to economy. Are you buying new or secondhand?

 

Auto Express did some research some time ago into this very question, what they found was that after looking at the increased purchase costs of a diesel, increased servicing requirements and the higher price of fuel, weighed up against the increased MPG and higher resale value, as I recall you were typically looking at around 12-17k miles before you started saving.

That was for new cars, if buying older cars for a couple of thousand or so it may change slightly, but for quite a lot of people who go and buy diesels to save money it actually costs them more, as they frequently don't do the required mileage.

 

It's easy to work out, just find out how much more mpg a diesel car your looking at does over a petrol model, use that to work out how much the fuel costs are per mile, then take the difference in purchase price and see how many miles have to be done before the fuel savings equate the increased purchase cost. You might want to allow a bit for a higher resale value if you get rid of the car, and mpg figures supplied by the manufacturers aren't always accurate, but it should give you an idea of how long you need to own the car for to see your money returned.

[storme37]

i have a smart fourfor does 50 to the gal so im told . its a 1.3 . many petrol cars seem to get 50 + these days

[al4x]

what it comes down to is are you buying new or second hand, if you put a 7k petrol second hand buy up against a 7k diesel then the sums look different than if you compare new where the diesel purchase price is usually higher. Then look at the size of engine you want if you are happy with a 1.2 petrol then you could find that the cheaper to run but if you want a reasonable sized car and sensible engine then the diesel again starts to edge forward in terms of running costs.

[Laird Lugton]

I have a VW polo 1.2tsi petrol for the commute and can get 60mpg if I'm careful with it. Petrol economy has come on in recent years.

[Robl]

There’s just way to many variables to give a straight answer.

 

A modern diesel will sound and run just like a modern petrol.

In a 5 year old Audi A4 around 2l engine you won’t notice the difference and they’ll have similar MPG.

 

However, in a new Discovery the options are 3l diesel or V84L petrol, there will be a big difference there.

 

If it’s a 10 year old transit van then the diesel will be a big chugging lump, but the petrol might be underpowered. (if they do a petrol)

DPFs are a pain in the bum if you do short miles, but are fine if you do lots of miles.

 

A bigger car (or van) probably benefits from the torque of a diesel.

A small car can get away with a 1l petrol engine (do you even get small diesel engines?)

On a medium size car it just comes down to personal preference as the pros and cons of either pretty much balance out.

 

That said, specific brands and models probably have differences to explore, and I’d guess that if you want a specific car then there will be a ‘better’ option.

[al4x]

 

 

In a 5 year old Audi A4 around 2l engine you won’t notice the difference and they’ll have similar MPG.

 

 

So the difference you won't notice of say an Audi A4 2.0 SE with a mpg figure combined of 35mpg versus Audi A4 2.0 Tdi (140 bhp) with combined of 51.4 is similar, sounds like some typical PW rowlocks

[Muddy Funker]

206 1.4 HDI

 

550 plus miles to the tank, £30 per year road tax

Edited August 22, 2012 by Muddy Funker

[Robl]

So the difference you won't notice of say an Audi A4 2.0 SE with a mpg figure combined of 35mpg versus Audi A4 2.0 Tdi (140 bhp) with combined of 51.4 is similar, sounds like some typical PW rowlocks

 

In terms of performance and overall cost, not much difference.

(Looking back, I did say MPG, I actually meant MP£ - sorry about that)

More mpg for diesel but the fuel costs more.

The performance might be better at the low end with petrol, but the diesel will have more mid range torque.

Unless you’re racing it then you’ll just adjust your driving style to suit.

If you’re sitting at 50mph in roadworks on the M5 then it really doesn’t matter.

 

Modern Diesels aren’t noisy, and a ‘prestige’ family saloon won’t want to have a loud performance petrol engine, so there’s very little engine noise comparison.

The interior trim will be the same.

The gearbox will feel pretty much the same.

 

If it’s a sports model or a 1l town runabout then go for petrol.

If it’s an estate and you’ll be pulling a horsebox then get diesel

(Other opinions exist )

But in terms of a mid range car then it doesn’t really make a huge amount of difference whether it’s petrol or diesel.

Edited August 22, 2012 by Robl

[al4x]

on those figures with diesel at £1.41 and petrol at a conservative £1.33 it makes about £500 difference over 10000 miles so whether thats a small or large saving to you is debateable but works out just under a third cheaper with regard to fuel use. As your mileage goes up obviously the amount you save increases.

[HDAV]

Really in answer to your question it comes down to mileage, and whether you intend to derive any pleasure from your time behind the wheel. If you simply need to get from A to B diesels are fine, if you don't like putting black smoke into everybody's lungs when you accelerate briskly, don't mind diesel knock upon acceleration, don't mind not having any real oomph or not being able to get anywhere quickly and generally want to actually enjoy driving a petrol is required.

 

From a costs point of view, while diesels do tend to go further, a bit too much is placed on having a diesel when it comes to economy. Are you buying new or secondhand?

 

 

Now there is a really outdated approach! I drive the missus 1.4 petrol and my 1.9 common rail diesel......... the petrol is slower to accelerate (smaller lighter car) returns less MPG, per mile costs are similar, is top end slower and only slightly better in the bends. With masses of torque plenty of power modern diesels offer performance and power to go with the economy and practicality.

 

2002 ST220 222BHP @ 6150 rpm & 280Nm Torque @ 4800 rpm 3 V6 litre engine

2008 A4 3.0tdi 237 BHP @ 4000-4400 rpm Torque 500Nm @ 1500-3000RPM 3 litre V6 engine More power more torque more mpg.......

[Paxtond]

It takes around 12k a year to see the saving over a petrol car, and diesals have there own bag of problems, bigest being bloody Dpf filters

 

i run 2 cars

 

2007 457Bhp 2.0TFSI golf gti with a average of 16.2mpg

 

and a

 

2012 110bhp 1.7cdti astra with a mpg of 55.6mpg ( company car )

 

i love performance cars and have done for ever but with current prices im finding my golf is getting less and less use.

 

The astra is dull and boring to drive but i cant overlook the fact i did 719miles to £75 of juice.

[BerettaSV10]

I need a large size car, this year bought a deisel estate and my mpg has gone from 20 mpg to a average of 44 mpg around town. One thing to be aware of if your deisel car is fitted with a DPF (deseil particular filter) and only do short around town journy's you will wreck the filter within a very short time and will be a costly item to replace.

 

Its a case of seeing what you are going to use the car for, road tax, mpg in trhe car petrol vs deisel and insurance. If going for a auto gearbox this reducies the mpg even more. I looked at the more eco freindly version of mine, the bhp was 25 bhp less, car tax was £60 lower and I think the mpg was only about 1 or 2 mpg less, in the end opted for the standard version as at least there was enough go in it for getting up big hills.

[gixer1]

It takes around 12k a year to see the saving over a petrol car, and diesals have there own bag of problems, bigest being bloody Dpf filters

 

i run 2 cars

 

2007 457Bhp 2.0TFSI golf gti with a average of 16.2mpg

 

and a

 

2012 110bhp 1.7cdti astra with a mpg of 55.6mpg ( company car )

 

i love performance cars and have done for ever but with current prices im finding my golf is getting less and less use.

 

The astra is dull and boring to drive but i cant overlook the fact i did 719miles to £75 of juice.

 

A 457bhp golf??? are you sure? :blink:

 

no contest in my opinion, I average around 14k a year so diesels win hands down - you don't see many petrols turning 200k miles but you do with diesels!

 

although in a smaller engine car you probably get better value in a petrol - but then look at the blue motion polo diesels - 80 odd MPG!

 

Regards,

 

Gixer

[bedwards1966]

Now there is a really outdated approach! I drive the missus 1.4 petrol and my 1.9 common rail diesel......... the petrol is slower to accelerate (smaller lighter car) returns less MPG, per mile costs are similar, is top end slower and only slightly better in the bends. With masses of torque plenty of power modern diesels offer performance and power to go with the economy and practicality.

 

2002 ST220 222BHP @ 6150 rpm & 280Nm Torque @ 4800 rpm 3 V6 litre engine

2008 A4 3.0tdi 237 BHP @ 4000-4400 rpm Torque 500Nm @ 1500-3000RPM 3 litre V6 engine More power more torque more mpg.......

 

Your comparing a Mondeo to an Audi?

Have some sense, one is an engineered piece of high quality German world-leading innovation, one is a Ford runabout.

Compare anything similar, in terms of quality and engine capacity, and the petrol wins hands down. Petrols do have power low down, always out accelerate diesels, and anybody who things that the sound the same needs their ears testing, the sound is a world apart! Diesels clatter and knock, they are still nothing like petrols - they might be good, and much more 'refined' than ever, but they aren't the same.

[HDAV]

Your comparing a Mondeo to an Audi?

Have some sense, one is an engineered piece of high quality German world-leading innovation, one is a Ford runabout.

Compare anything similar, in terms of quality and engine capacity, and the petrol wins hands down. Petrols do have power low down, always out accelerate diesels, and anybody who things that the sound the same needs their ears testing, the sound is a world apart! Diesels clatter and knock, they are still nothing like petrols - they might be good, and much more 'refined' than ever, but they aren't the same.

 

Erm a top of range ST220 Mondeo and an A4 very similar cars (4 door saloons/estates similar size) although the Audi will cost more new and hold value better I used the ST220 as previously quoted.

 

There are plenty of examples of performance diesels, but for those not competing in the BTCC as everyday cars very very little to choose between them on performance (need to be driven differently to get the best out of them) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_winners since 2006 every le mans winner is a diesel.......

 

I'm not saying petrol is rubbish, I'm not saying there are no good petrol cars but the days of the Montego with a perkins engine are long long gone!

[gixer1]

Your comparing a Mondeo to an Audi?

Have some sense, one is an engineered piece of high quality German world-leading innovation, one is a Ford runabout.

Compare anything similar, in terms of quality and engine capacity, and the petrol wins hands down. Petrols do have power low down, always out accelerate diesels, and anybody who things that the sound the same needs their ears testing, the sound is a world apart! Diesels clatter and knock, they are still nothing like petrols - they might be good, and much more 'refined' than ever, but they aren't the same.

 

Have you been at the crack pipe old chap??? have you ever heard a straight 6 BMW or Audi V6 diesel diesel?? or even a discovery TDV6 or RR TDV8 they have a fantastic growl - I have have had people ask if its a petrol or diesel!

 

and a 320i is 8.7 to 60mph, a 320d is 8.0 seconds to 60 so where you get your "petrols always out accelerate" i don't know...

 

go drive a modern diesel...

 

Regards,

 

Gixer

[welsh1]

Your comparing a Mondeo to an Audi?

Have some sense, one is an engineered piece of high quality German world-leading innovation, one is a Ford runabout.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: B)

 

You have never been in an st220 then,mine is an estate that smacks the **** off a lot of cars.And all done without a turbo in sight, just good honest 3l v6 grunt.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1OBqrfIQOM