To buy a Diesel car or not?

sconran99

Based on the recent court case, does it make sense to buy a used Diesel car at the moment? especially as they are likely to be financially penalised over the next few years (After we were all encouraged to buy them!)

There's a big advantage to them at the moment but is it likely to vanish soon?

photome

what is your annual mileage?

less than about 12000 a petrol is best...IMO

BeenThroughItAll

Depends on the driving you do. If you're doing much less than 15-20K per year in decent runs, I'd stick to a petrol, personally*.


*unless buying earlier, more basic diesel technology, that is.

wiltsguy_2

diesels can be very costly to repair compared to petrol models. Turbos and fuel pumps cost a fortune on a diesel, not if, when they go...

If you are not travelling many miles is it cost efficient to have a diesel? bearing in mind that diesels normally cost more to buy(new & used) compared to petrol equivalents, plus diesel is about 10 per litre more expensive than unleaded.....

some petrol cars can achieve good MPG.

I am biased, i prefer petrols, derv engines should be for tractors and cement mixers only, not on the road spilling their oil slicks for bikers...:rotfl:

BeenThroughItAll

wiltsguy wrote: »

I am biased, i prefer petrols, derv engines should be for tractors and cement mixers only, not on the road spilling their oil slicks for bikers...:rotfl:

As a biker, and a diesel driver, I would just make the comment that only badly maintained, or overfilled diesel vehicles cause that problem (excluding accidents), so it's a little unfair to tar them all with that brush.


Petrols have their place. I have both diesel and petrol vehicles in the fleet, but for towing, and long trips, I'll take diesel torque and economy every time over petrol power and thirst.

Strider590

wiltsguy wrote: »

I am biased, i prefer petrols, derv engines should be for tractors and cement mixers only, not on the road spilling their oil slicks for bikers...:rotfl:

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

As a biker, and a diesel driver, I would just make the comment that only badly maintained, or overfilled diesel vehicles cause that problem (excluding accidents), so it's a little unfair to tar them all with that brush.

Actually guys it's not oil at all and it's not really cars.

It's truck and van drivers brimming the tank with cold diesel fuel from underground tanks, diesel expands quite a lot with heat, so when the tank is brimmed and starts to warm up, it starts expelling excess diesel out onto the roads...... Usually assisted by gravity on the nearest roundabout.

motorguy

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Depends on the driving you do. If you're doing much less than 15-20K per year in decent runs, I'd stick to a petrol, personally*.


*unless buying earlier, more basic diesel technology, that is.

+1

Totally agree.

Retrogamer

motorguy wrote: »

+1

Totally agree.

Agree also.

I've a modern(ish) Turbo diesel just now. A Ibiza FR TDi 2006.
It's good on fuel but with the dual mass flywheel, dozens of sensors, VNT turbo, EGR etc those savings on fuel are quickly used up when something breaks down.

If anything happened to this i'd go for something like a 306 1.9 D turbo instead.
Nice basic ECU and turbo set up (common rail injection)
Older ones have no EGR and all have no DMF
Cheap as chips to service and repair.

motorguy

Retrogamer wrote: »

Agree also.

I've a modern(ish) Turbo diesel just now. A Ibiza FR TDi 2006.
It's good on fuel but with the dual mass flywheel, dozens of sensors, VNT turbo, EGR etc those savings on fuel are quickly used up when something breaks down.

If anything happened to this i'd go for something like a 306 1.9 D turbo instead.
Nice basic ECU and turbo set up (common rail injection)
Older ones have no EGR and all have no DMF
Cheap as chips to service and repair.

Totally where i'd be too. Maybe even a 2.0HDI in a 406 or 307 - they run forever.

nickcc

motorguy wrote: »

Totally where i'd be too. Maybe even a 2.0HDI in a 406 or 307 - they run forever.

Hope they do as I've got the 2.0HDI in my 308 Auto. The 307 and 308 also have the additive and particulate filter so hopefully more environmentally friendly.

arcon5

Strider590 wrote: »

Actually guys it's not oil at all and it's not really cars.

It's truck and van drivers brimming the tank with cold diesel fuel from underground tanks, diesel expands quite a lot with heat, so when the tank is brimmed and starts to warm up, it starts expelling excess diesel out onto the roads...... Usually assisted by gravity on the nearest roundabout.

What nonsense.