Diesel vs Petrol?

~Chameleon~

Which is likely to be more economical long term for a relatively low mileage user? An Audi A3 2.0T or 1.9/2.0 TDi?

I've been told diesels aren't fond of short journeys (say 5 miles) which would be the usual trip but it would also need to do a 120 mile round journey once or twice a week.

In terms of tax and servicing, is there much difference in cost?

Foxy-Stoat_3

Take a look on the autotrader site for cars you want to buy, they tell you the tax group in the vehicle info.

Petrol will be more to tax than the diesel, nearly double the cost, depending on the year of vehicle.

2.0ltr turbo petrol will not be very economical on a good day, let alone on short runs.

Define low mileage.

Diesels normally aren't worth the extra unless your doing 15,000+ a year.

Hintza

A decent small petrol car, especially if you are keeping it for any length of time.

The perceived wisdom is that 15k miles is roughly the cut off mileage you need to do to make a diesel worthwhile (I suspect in this day and age it is probably a bit more now).

Some of these small petrol engines are pretty nippy and return good fuel economy.

If however you change your car every 3 years any issues that low mileage diesels can have will not be your problem.

You haven't said your mileage but from what you imply then a petrol would be my choice.

neilmcl

OP, are you talking about new or older cars? If new have you considered the 1.4 TFSI petrol engined A3?

Angry_Fanboy

Agreed.

This seems like a good trade-off between economy and performance.

Although it's relatively early days for this trend towards smaller petrol-driven turbo engines and has gone unnoticed by many, I've read some very promising reviews recently.

getmore4less

If doing a long trip once a week that will keep a DPF in order.

Short trips can be an issue for diesel they don't warm up as quick and consumption will be far from the quoted numbers.

drive the models and see what you like.

Never that convinced by the 15k brigade, you need to do your own numbers.

if you want to save money dump tha idea of an Audi get a Skoda, same parts different badge.

~Chameleon~

neilmcl wrote: »

OP, are you talking about new or older cars? If new have you considered the 1.4 TFSI petrol engined A3?

Mid-range, less than 10yrs old. Wouldn't have thought anything less than 2.0 would be worth having in a car the size of an Audi? I don't want to drive a slug lol

Hintza wrote: »

You haven't said your mileage but from what you imply then a petrol would be my choice.

Probably average around 5000-6000 miles annually.

Foxy-Stoat_3

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Mid-range, less than 10yrs old. Wouldn't have thought anything less than 2.0 would be worth having in a car the size of an Audi? I don't want to drive a slug lol

Probably average around 5000-6000 miles annually.

With that sort of mileage buy what ever car you like!

Drive a car that does 50mpg (1.9 tdi) and the diesel will cost you around £900 a year. £160 road tax.

Drive a car that does 30mpg (1.8t petrol) and the fuel will cost you around £1600 a year around £260 road tax.

LandyAndy

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Mid-range, less than 10yrs old. Wouldn't have thought anything less than 2.0 would be worth having in a car the size of an Audi? I don't want to drive a slug lol



Probably average around 5000-6000 miles annually.

Think again

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/2013-audi-a3-1-4-tfsi-122-review/264473

getmore4less

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I've been told diesels aren't fond of short journeys (say 5 miles) which would be the usual trip but it would also need to do a 120 mile round journey once or twice a week.

120*52 =6240 + the odd extra 120 + the 5mile round trips

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Probably average around 5000-6000 miles annually.

Which is it?

~Chameleon~

getmore4less wrote: »

120*52 =6240 + the odd extra 120 + the 5mile round trips



Which is it?

Sorry, should have said not every week. Probably 24/52 weeks.