Diesel vs Petrol

goldspanners

PurpleDog wrote: »

I'm going to need a car soon and have been doing some research...
I need a practical family car, cheap to run but fun to drive and I've narrowed the decision down to a Ford Focus.

Looking at the costs (fuel, road tax and insurance) a new shape Focus 2.0 diesel would cost me about £500 per year less than an old shape 2.0 petrol while offering similar performance (9.1s 0-60 as opposed to 8.9s) - so far so good.

The thing is that I could get an old shape 2.0, say an 04/54 with 40k miles for £5k or shell out £6k for a 05/55 2.0 TDCi with 70-80k miles on it.

The price difference will pay for itself in a couple of years, and I'm happy with that, but my concern is whether it makes sense to buy an 80k car? Is a 3 year-old car that's done 25k a year going to fall apart and cost me a bomb in repairs? I'm guessing the diesel engine itself is well capable taking that mileage and doing it all again, but what about the rest of the car?

Any thoughts?

the focus is a pretty solid car,ive got a 1.6 04 plate,last of old shape. its got 57k on it and only ever needed servicing,brakes and an intermediate drive shaft bearing (£30 for parts and 1 hour labour).
the best thing to do is drive each car. my dad has an 08 plate focus, he says mine feels a better driver,everything feels a bit stiffer on mine compared to his considering mine is 4 years older.

have a drive in both and then decide.

Brooktop

I currently have a Clio 182 which I love, but with a young family it's becoming impractical. It's a company car, so the purchase cost/depreciation/road tax aren't really an issue for me. It all boils down to a fuel cost argument. I do about 12,000 miles per annum, of which around 4,000 will be long distance motorway business miles. The rest is short, cold runs through town (ie stop/start). My understanding is that diesel is better in such circumstances.

I want a car that is larger but also fun to drive. My early research has brought me to the sporty diesel Seat Leon FR TDI (170 bhp). Is this a realistic option or would I be better with a petrol car? I did test drive a Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC petrol and though I like the looks and the performance was ok (I realise none of these will be as 'spunky' as my Renaultsport), I think I prefer the Leon (I've yet to test drive one but a friend has the Leon Stylance which is a less sporty model - and he loves it).

Comments/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

isplumm

Hi,

I have a 51 plate ford focus TDCi 1.8, so bought new in 2001 - now has done 200000 miles - very little has gone wrong with it - very good drive !!

Mark

Hintza

Not a problem if you have a younger diesel but those running slightly older cars need to factor in the possibility of replacing the "dual mass flywheels" in older diesel cars.

You probably want to do some research into thid prior to buying.

jakedee010

I have recently given up on my Opel Corsa 97 1.4 Unleaded for a Opel Corsa 2.0 diesel. Im seeing better news for my wallet but....... it's mutch noisier in the front and slower by 2-3 mph. I do however think i will stick with diesel because its mutch more quicker and reliable on the 07-09 models of car.
:beer:

saurya_s

edde wrote: »

Other things to consider are insurance can be less on a diesel depends on mdels some are more expensive.

Road tax can be more on a peterol

Most importantnly though diesels have a premium when you come to see so whereas it might be £1k more and 127 payback it might get grandf more at resale so that 127 saved a year

So if one gets diesel and petrol car at same cost assuming everything else equal, one should go for diesel. Somehow I have not driven any diesel car, so am slightly apprehensive.

saurya_s

Brooktop wrote: »

I currently have a Clio 182 which I love, but with a young family it's becoming impractical. It's a company car, so the purchase cost/depreciation/road tax aren't really an issue for me. It all boils down to a fuel cost argument. I do about 12,000 miles per annum, of which around 4,000 will be long distance motorway business miles. The rest is short, cold runs through town (ie stop/start). My understanding is that diesel is better in such circumstances.

I want a car that is larger but also fun to drive. My early research has brought me to the sporty diesel Seat Leon FR TDI (170 bhp). Is this a realistic option or would I be better with a petrol car? I did test drive a Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC petrol and though I like the looks and the performance was ok (I realise none of these will be as 'spunky' as my Renaultsport), I think I prefer the Leon (I've yet to test drive one but a friend has the Leon Stylance which is a less sporty model - and he loves it).

Comments/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Did you try the diesel version of Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi SE ?
Thanks

rictus123

Having had only petrol cars and now my diesel van all i can say is diesels should be vans unless bigger engines(2l minimum) or they just sound like a van!

pitkin2020

rictus123 wrote: »

Having had only petrol cars and now my diesel van all i can say is diesels should be vans unless bigger engines(2l minimum) or they just sound like a van!

They do sound a bit chuggy but i wouldn't go back to petrol after driving diesel, they are just as quick (some are a lot quicker than petrols) and you have better fuel economy to boot. Diesels run cooler too.
Plus if you run out diesel you can use oil, can't do that with petrol.

saurya_s

So if one gets diesel and petrol car at same the price assuming everything else are equal with both cars, one should go for diesel. Somehow I have not driven any diesel car, so am slightly apprehensive plus I don't do more than 6000miles per year.