New petrol or diesel car?

[slippyjim]

Hiya,

I am thinking about getting a new car but can’t decide between a petrol or diesel engine. I live on Tenerife and drive approximately 2,250 km a month (approx 27,000km a year), most of this is done in short journeys, under 20 minutes, the longest journey I do is approx 80km there and 80km back again, this is probably only once or twice a month though.

I was going to get a diesel because of the better fuel economy and diesel is approx 20% cheaper than petrol here (65 cents per litre - diesel, 80 cents for petrol), but yesterday I was told that diesel engines are not very good for lots of short journeys due to taking longer to warm up than petrol engines. Is this true?

I am looking for the cheapest engine to run in the long run so would you recommend a petrol or diesel engine?

Also any recommendations for cars? I am looking at a small car e.g.
Toyota Yaris
Nissan Micra
VW Polo
Ford Fiesta
Renault Clio
Seat Ibiza
Citroen C2

Many thanks,
Steve

[plane_boy2000]

Historicaly diesel engines were slow to warm up but technology has moved on. My partner has a VW with the 1.9 TDi engine and it warms up as quickly if not quicker than my small petrol car.

Given your mileage and the fact that for you diesel is cheaper then for me it would be an easy choice.

None of the cars you have picked are bad, but I would think that the C2 is a little smaller than the rest. Take them out for a test and see which you like best - my choice would be the Polo.

[vikingaero]

The cost of diesel and your mileage means that diesel would be better for you.

[30111987]

The Grande Puto 1.3 Diesels are apparently very good (smooth and fuel efficient). I have a 1.2 Petrol GP, nice large (small) car.

[dieselglider]

I'd imagine the Yaris is the best car, where-as the C2 would be the cheapest.

Diesels' are meant to be better for short journeys, due to not using fuel-enrichment like petrols', there-by not washing oil off the bores with excess fuel. Although, generally speaking, they do take longer to warm up. Is that really an issue in sunny Tenerife?

Probably a good idea to test drive a diesel and petrol of the same type of car to form an opinion. The diesel will cost more to purchase, but some of that will be returned through better mpg, and better retained value. I personally find the 'combined' mpg figures to be more or less attainable when comparing fuel figures.

I'd also dare to say the Japanese and French cars would be the most economical, and the Japanese definitely the most reliable.

[DealDrivers company representative]

Based on your mileage go for diesel.

Diesels tend to work out better economy in the long terms if your annual mileage is over the break-even point of 12-15k miles pa.

Diesels don't return fabulous mpg if your journeys tend to be mainly regular short sub-20miles trips, but if you do a lot of motorway cruising you'll get your money's worth.

I'm currently running a 163ps diesel purported to deliver an average 48mpg but as most journeys lately have been just short local ones to the office it is returning just 40-42mpg over the past month.

[MiserlyMartin]

I have a 306 2.0 Hdi and my main use is to and from work which is only a 7-10 minute drive. I get about 45-50 MPG, but this is not stop start town driving - its a good 50-60 MPH drive because the road system is quite traffic free here. Don't know how this situation compares to the road speeds in tenerife and how this would affect a choice of petrol or diesel but my economy is no worse than my old petrol car

[slippyjim]

Hia,

Thanks for everyones suggestions so far.

I forgot to say that, virtually every journey I do will involve about 10 minutes driving on the 120kph motorway as I live out of town, away from most of my clients, and then after that it can be a bit stop-start but somewhere around 40kph.

Also I can't get a diesel Toyota Yaris over here as they only do petrol, which is a shame as i really liked the Yaris' interior, it's really funky whereas the VW Polo is just so dull and boring.

Thanks again,
Steve

[dieselglider]

The petrol Yaris should easily be capable of averaging over 50mpg for the 1-litre engine, although the new model may be a fair bit heavier than the older one, which would probably hurt economy.

Again I would say to go with what you enjoy driving, and maybe not focus so much on fuel costs, after all, you'll be taking quite a hit with depreciation costs if buying new.

[ixwood]

Diesel, all day long!! Especially as it's actually cheaper than petrol.

For ultimate money saving, make your own biodiesel!!

I'd also say never ever buy new. It's a mugs game.

[divadee]

The Grande Puto 1.3 Diesels are apparently very good (smooth and fuel efficient). I have a 1.2 Petrol GP, nice large (small) car.


i have just bought the grande punto 1.3 multijet diesel, when it arrives i will give you an update!!

i bought it for the mileage that it gives and the fact that its only £35 a year road tax. the multijet engine also has some great reviews online.

[slippyjim]

Diesel, all day long!! Especially as it's actually cheaper than petrol.

For ultimate money saving, make your own biodiesel!!

I'd also say never ever buy new. It's a mugs game.

It might be a mugs game for to buy second hand as I have no idea about cars really, what to look for, what to listen for, etc etc. Also over here you have to be really careful about buying second hand as any debt e.g. parking fine or existing finance is a debt on the car not the person so if you buy a car with a debt it then becomes your debt.

[slippyjim]

Thanks to everyone who replied, all useful info. I think I will try and get a diesel assuming the extra cost of a diesel engine isn't too much.