Diesel vs Petrol

bigjl

My Mondeo 130 TDCi has a book time to 60 in the mid 9's, and a book speed of 131mph.

It cost £2500 two years ago and can crack 60mpg on a long motorway run at 70/75mph. In fact I average 52mpg usually.

It has power steering, cruise control, leccy windows, aircon and metallic paint.

I learned to drive in a Renault 14 TS, it did 0-60 in 11secs, it was a 1360cc petrol car, and ugly as sin.

Don't know why I would want an economy low emission spec Passat though, drove a decent spec one as a company car for a month or two a few years back when doing a sub contract job, leather, DSG box, seat that could cripple you and even when you held it back could barely get 40mpg, no throttle response when pulling away, like driving a rubber band instead of a throttle.

I just wouldn't have a new shape Passat, the old one was more comfy, and to be honest, a better car. Not as nice to look at, but all the people that I know that had and old Passat and then "upgraded" to a new one, regretted it.

mikecheltenham

foxylady wrote: »

The cheapest fuel for motoring is LPG or vegetable oil.
Buy a duel-fuel car or convert your own. Conversion
costs from £1600, this money saved in 1-2 years depending on milage. 40p per litre.



you will need to declare you are using veg oil and duty will need to be paid on it if used on the road:(

patman99

You do have to register with HMRC when making your own bio-diesel or using veggie-oil, but you pay no duty on the first 2500 ltrs.

As for LPG conversions, take your car to Holland and get it done. Costs about 50% of what it will cost you over here.

Rolandtheroadie

patman99 wrote: »

You do have to register with HMRC when making your own bio-diesel or using veggie-oil, but you pay no duty on the first 2500 ltrs.

I dont think you have to register as a private individual using less than 2500 litres per year, but you should still keep records incase they ever come a calling.
I registered for a waste management licence exemption all the same so that businesses could give me the oil and I could supply them with a WTN and these 2 covers their liability (in Scotland at least).

trev012

Well personally speaking, if I thought I was going to keep my car for anything between 6 and 8 years, I'd far rather outlay an extra grand at time of purchase and then reap the rewards of getting 600+ miles out of every tankful of derv. :beer:

Considering the difference between diesel and petrol is now about 16p per gallon the extra miles I would get simply outways the same petrol model. (60mpg as against 35 - 40 mpg) That and the difference in road tax makes it a no brainer.

Of course, there's nowt to stop the new government increasing the price of diesel.:mad:

burnsco

Hi Y'all
I am considering buying a new Vauxhall diesel automatic Insignia.
However, as I only do around 8 to 10 K per year I have been told by the Vauxhall dealer that it would be unwise to buy a diesel because it would require frequent replacement of the " Particulate filter " at great expense. Another dealer said that this was rubbish.
I am confused.
Can anyone help please.

thescouselander

burnsco wrote: »

Hi Y'all
I am considering buying a new Vauxhall diesel automatic Insignia.
However, as I only do around 8 to 10 K per year I have been told by the Vauxhall dealer that it would be unwise to buy a diesel because it would require frequent replacement of the " Particulate filter " at great expense. Another dealer said that this was rubbish.
I am confused.
Can anyone help please.

The important thing is that the DPF gets regenerated when required. To do this the car has to travel constantly at a minimum speed while particulates are burnt off (this happens automatically). In practise this means driving along the motorway or a fast road for about 15 mins at the correct time.

If you always drive on slow roads in the city this process never gets a chance to happen and the DPF blocks. So it all depends on the sort of driving you do.

worried_jim

mikecheltenham wrote: »

foxylady wrote: »

The cheapest fuel for motoring is LPG or vegetable oil.
Buy a duel-fuel car or convert your own. Conversion
costs from £1600, this money saved in 1-2 years depending on milage. 40p per litre.



you will need to declare you are using veg oil and duty will need to be paid on it if used on the road:(

I thought this incorrect rumour was put to bed years ago. You don't have to declare anything unless you exceed 2500 litres a year.

daveyjp

burnsco wrote: »

Hi Y'all
I am considering buying a new Vauxhall diesel automatic Insignia.
However, as I only do around 8 to 10 K per year I have been told by the Vauxhall dealer that it would be unwise to buy a diesel because it would require frequent replacement of the " Particulate filter " at great expense. Another dealer said that this was rubbish.
I am confused.
Can anyone help please.

Well done to the first dealer in providing you with very sound advice. Low mileage and DPFs can cause problems.

I have just swapped a DPF diesel auto for a petrol as my trips went from regular motorway distances to short hops and the car hated it - regular DPF regenerations and greatly reduced service periods.

bigjl

Auto diesel and DPF are as already mentioned a recipe for disaster.

Not just leading to DPF replacement as mege cost but alsi the excess diesel that is chucked in to be burnt of in the dpf to get rid of these particulates ends up in the sump when regens are not completed properky.

This leads to turbo failure and engines going pop.

Yes, my current employer has had to replace hundreds of engines over the last 6 yrs since buying automatic diesels.

Everybody that used the vehicles said they should have been petrol autos. Never had these problems with the previous vehicle we used.