Petrol vs Diesel

moneymuffin

Thank you for all your replies.

After much toing and froing have decided to still consider the diesel, but only if if doesn't have a dpf, if it has won't be touching it. I know we don't do high mileage but am still be swayed by MPG figures.

The next choice will be the 1.6 which looking at the figures is way faster although the mpg figures are a lot lower. My only concern about going back to petrol is that I will be constantly having to refill it.

We have a petrol courtesy car at the moment and the petrol just doesn't seem to last long, it's only a 1.2 corsa but seems quite thirsty. I don't know if this may be down to my driving style not being very economical for that car, it seems very underpowered so have to go a lot higher up in the revs before changing gear to avoid losing whatever power you've built up, especially going up hill.

I'm going to take advice given and see about test driving both the 1.6 and diesel models In a way it would be easier if we prefer the petrol as there are a lot more of them around on the market, diesels are very hard to come by.

daveyjp

At 10,000 miles a year you will probably need a full fill every couple of weeks. My B class, old technology petrol engine gets 40 round town, similar to every diesel I have had.

getmore4less

for short trips the petrol warms up a lot quicker
so catch up on economy and much nicer in the winter months

don't just look at mpglook at cost of ownership

eddie864

I'd go for a petrol. The diesels are better for higher speed runs and their economy is only really apparent over higher mileage. Diesel is dirty and smelly at the pump too. My ex has a petrol Nissan Note, 2011 model. She loves it and it's apparently very cheap despite being an auto. Might be an idea to go for an ex Motability car, the Note is a popular choice.

Ultrasonic

eddie864 wrote: »

Diesel is dirty and smelly at the pump too.

There are reasons to not buy a diesel but that isn't one of them. Dirty? No idea what you're on about. Smelly? Never notice it myself, but then I'm pretty tall and so further from the nozzle than most I guess. But certainly not so smelly that it should put anyone off buying a diesel!

anotherbaldrick

eddie864 wrote: »

I'd go for a petrol. The diesels are better for higher speed runs and their economy is only really apparent over higher mileage. Diesel is dirty and smelly at the pump too. My ex has a petrol Nissan Note, 2011 model. She loves it and it's apparently very cheap despite being an auto. Might be an idea to go for an ex Motability car, the Note is a popular choice.

Having only owned petrol cars for 50 years I recently bought my first ever diesel. I am very happy with the comparison, 48+ miles per gallon and although I only do 10K per year have had no hassle from the DPF . Diesel is only smelly if you spill it over your boots, improve your pump skills or get the wife to do it. Do use one of the plastic throw away gloves though.

moneymuffin

Well we have bought a car today, and surprise surprise it is a diesel. I think we're so used to having a diesel it's something we're more comfortable with. The diesel definitely had the better performance of the cars we test drove yesterday. Luckily the car we're getting does not have a dpf so at least we don't have to worry about that.

I know what you mean about diesel being smelly though. My hands always stink after putting diesel in the car, never had that problem with previous petrol cars. You'd think I'd remember to use the plastic gloves provided but for some reason it never crosses my mind, well not till afterwards anyway.

Thank you for all your replies/input.

Johnmcl7

I was going to say, if the Note you're looking at doesn't have a dpf then I think it would be fine. I haven't ended up doing a lot of miles in my last couple of cars but still liked having the diesel for the economy and the lazy power delivery, it's only the DPF which would make me reconsider a diesel car. Having said in over three years on a car with a poor DPF implementation, the only issue I've had with it is a sensor fault.

John